Postdoctoral position in Metamorphic Petrology M/F

Job Description

Missions

As part of the PEPR NTRACK project, the postdoctoral researcher will focus on identifying and characterising carbon compounds and the associated mineralogy (particularly phases containing Fe, S and radionuclides, which are essential for H2 production and the sustenance of life) in metamorphic rocks. The aim is to reconstruct the metamorphic history of carbon compounds from their formation and storage deep within the lithosphere. The postdoctoral researcher will (i) use a suite of high-resolution techniques to identify and characterise carbon-bearing phases of abiotic origin as opposed to carbonaceous material of biological origin in the samples and (ii) determine the metamorphic microhabitats of these phases to identify which processes may lead to their devolatilisation and the formation of H₂ and CH₄.

Activity

Petrological characterisation of metamorphic samples (thin-section observations, SEM and EPMA analyses), thermodynamic quantification (Perplex) and spectroscopic characterisation of organic compounds (Raman, FTIR, SNOM, etc.).

Your Profil

Skills

- A good knowledge of metamorphic petrology,
- Proficiency in software tools such as Perplex,
- Experience in the characterisation of carbonaceous materials at the micro-scale,
- The ability to work within an interdisciplinary and international team, as well as excellent communication skills, will be taken into account.

Your Work Environment

The Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris is a world-renowned geosciences research institute founded in 1921, affiliated with the CNRS, a constituent institution of Université Paris Cité, and employing over 500 people. The IPGP covers all disciplines of Earth and planetary sciences through observation, experimentation and modelling, across all scales of time and space. Research topics are organised around four major overarching themes: Earth and Planetary Interiors, Natural Hazards, Earth System, and Origins. The IPGP is also responsible for accredited services in volcanology, seismology, magnetism, gravimetry and erosion. In particular, the IPGP's permanent observatories monitor the four active French overseas volcanoes in Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion and Mayotte (REVOSIMA). The IPGP houses powerful computing resources and state-of-the-art experimental and analytical facilities, and benefits from first-rate technical support. The IPGP's Department of Training and Doctoral Studies offers its students geoscience programmes that combine observation, quantitative analysis and modelling, reflecting the quality, richness and thematic diversity of the research conducted by the IPGP's teams.

The postdoc will be an integral part of the IPGP's LOMs team. This interdisciplinary group brings together (micro-)biologists, biogeochemists, spectroscopists and petrologists who are developing innovative methods for micro- and nano-scale imaging and chemical characterisation of bio-organo-mineral interfaces in aqueous media or rocks (terrestrial and extraterrestrial), giving the group unique expertise in the characterisation of any geobiological sample. The themes addressed by the team focus on the deep cycle of organic carbon, the characterisation of microbial ecosystems within the Earth or in extreme environments (analogues of primitive environments), and understanding how these microbial communities function during their interactions with their immediate environment. In particular, the team combines fieldwork, petrology, spectroscopy, microscopy, molecular biology and bioinformatics to understand how carbon and hydrogen transfers between the planet's interior and its surface impact the development of biological systems (e.g. hydrothermalism), as well as the influence of microorganisms on the formation or dissolution of minerals (stromatolites, hydrothermal vents, caves, deep subsurface).

The post falls within the scope of the Protection of Scientific and Technical Potential (PPST) scheme and therefore, in accordance with the regulations, requires your appointment to be authorised by the relevant authority at the Department for Education, Universities and Research (MESR).

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

Between €3,131.32 and €4,341.70 gross per month, depending on experience

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

The research professions