Contract Researcher in Sustainable Metallurgy for the Reduction of Iron Ores (M/F)

Job Description

Missions

The recruited researcher will contribute to the NEWIRON project, which aims to develop low-carbon routes for the production of iron and steel by replacing carbon-based reducing agents with gases containing hydrogen from renewable sources. The project will notably investigate direct reduction using H₂/NH₃, hydrogen plasma smelting-reduction, and solar reduction of iron ores.

Within IJL, the mission will mainly focus on the experimental study of iron ore reduction using hydrogen, ammonia, and hydrogen plasma. The aim will be to produce kinetic, chemical, and microstructural data to improve the understanding of reduction mechanisms, the effect of ore impurities, and the performance of the processes studied.

The recruited researcher will take part in carrying out experiments, characterizing the products obtained, analyzing the results, and promoting the scientific outcomes of the project.

Activity

• Carry out iron ore reduction experiments under controlled atmospheres: H₂, NH₃, and gas mixtures.
• Study the influence of temperature, gas composition, ore type, and the presence of impurities such as SiO₂, Al₂O₃, or P₂O₅.
• Contribute to hydrogen plasma smelting-reduction experiments on iron oxides or partially reduced ores.
• Monitor operating parameters during the experiments: reduction kinetics, process stability, energy consumption, and off-gas composition.
• Prepare samples and carry out or coordinate their characterization: metallography, optical microscopy, SEM/EDS, X-ray diffraction, and possibly EBSD.
• Identify the phases formed: metallic iron, residual oxides, possible nitrides, and impurity-rich phases.
• Process the experimental results and establish simple mass and energy balances.
• Contribute to the drafting of reports, deliverables, conference communications, and scientific publications.
• Interact with the partners of the NEWIRON consortium.

Your Profil

Skills

• PhD required in metallurgy, materials science, process engineering, or materials physical chemistry.
• Strong knowledge of oxide thermodynamics and chemical kinetics.
• Knowledge of iron and steelmaking processes would be appreciated: direct reduction, electric arc furnace, hydrogen reduction, or plasma processes.
• Very good command of materials characterization techniques: metallography, SEM/EDS, XRD; EBSD would be appreciated.
• Ability to process experimental data: kinetics, mass/energy balances, uncertainties, and reproducibility.
• Scientific English required.

Your Work Environment

The Institute Jean Lamour (IJL) is a joint research unit of CNRS and Université de Lorraine.
Focused on materials and processes science and engineering, it covers: materials, metallurgy, plasmas, surfaces, nanomaterials and electronics.
By 2026, IJL has 258 permanent staff (33 researchers, 133 teacher-researchers, 92 IT-BIATSS) and 389 non-permanent staff (146 doctoral students, 43 post-doctoral students / contractual researchers and more than 200 trainees), from some seventy different nationalities.
Partnerships exist with 150 companies and our research groups collaborate with more than XX countries throughout the world. Its exceptional instrumental platforms are spread over 4 sites ; the main one is located on Artem campus in Nancy.

The study will be carried out in the Process Engineering team within NEWIRON. The recruited researcher will work under the scientific supervision of Thibault Quatravaux and interact with academic partners involved in other work packages: solar reduction, biomass gasification/pyrolysis, microstructural characterization, modelling, and life-cycle assessment.

Constraints and risks

• Work on high-temperature equipment.
• Use of reducing or reactive gas atmospheres.
• Strict compliance with safety rules related to gases, plasma devices, and high-power electrical equipment.
• Occasional travel may be required to project partners or conferences.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

4258.87 € monthly gross

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