Missions

The postdoc fellow will join the Priority Exploratory Research Program and Equipment (PEPR Risques) team at ISP Nanterre-Saclay. Their research will be conducted as part of the RISC collective project (Risks and Societies in the Era of Global Environmental Change: Challenges, Knowledge, and Politics).
RISC aims to respond to the challenges posed by ongoing global changes, which are exposing human societies to an unprecedented increase in risks and disasters linked to the combination of the impacts of climate disruption and human activities.

In close collaboration with the CNRS Project director, he/she will contribute to original research work on knowledge and/or policies relating to global environmental risks in France, in particular by producing a state of the art report on existing knowledge, conducting research on a topic defined jointly with the program director, and contributing to the organization and scientific leadership of an international network of researchers on this topic of the new practices of law, of trial as a manner to publicise the scientific expertise or to defend a neglected interest (victims of climate consequences : flooding etc)

The postdoc fellow should have a background in humanities and social sciences (e.g., political science, sociology) and strong expertise in law. They will also engage regularly with experts in geophysics and climate science. In addition, the candidate will participate in project activities and contribute to the dissemination of research findings through communications and publications.

Activités

- Conduct a scientific state-of-the-art review on how global environmental risks have fueled new conflicts between citizens, the state, and the private sector.
- Map key actors who have shaped new legal knowledge and analyze relevant case law, with a primary focus on France and comparative insights from the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
- Organize and contribute to scientific events, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration.
- Engage with non-academic stakeholders, including citizen associations, lawyers, and judges, to bridge research and practice.
- Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals or books, advancing scholarly discourse on environmental risks and governance
- Contribution to to scientific outreach and communication, in particular the design of podcasts on a book or current public debates on risks and disasters.
- Creation of podcasts or other media to engage broader audiences in discussions on environmental challenges.

Compétences

- PhD in Social Sciences, with a focus on Political Science, Sociology of Law, Legal Studies, Science and Technology Studies (STS), Sociology, or related fields. Research experience in environmental issues, risks and disasters, and/or the intersection of science and politics is highly desirable.
- Interdisciplinary interest in the scientific fields associated with PEPR RISQUES (e.g., geosciences, climate sciences).
- Research experience in economy, actor networks, theory, and relationships with private-sector stakeholders.
- Strong synthesis and writing skills, with a demonstrated ability to produce high-quality academic and outreach content.
- Rigor, initiative, and organizational skills, with a proven capacity for independent and collaborative work.
- Teamwork and coordination abilities, including experience in interdisciplinary or multi-stakeholder projects.
- Experience engaging with non-academic actors, such as policymakers, NGOs, or industry representatives.
- Fluency in English and French (written and spoken); proficiency in another Mediterranean language is a plus.
- Digital Humanities skills (e.g., data visualization, digital archiving, or computational methods) are an asset

Contexte de travail

PEPR RISQUES (Integrated Risks Management for More Resilient Societies in the Era of Global Change) is a research program funded by France's 4th Investment for the Future Program (PIA4) under the France 2030 initiative. Its mission is to unite teams researching natural and technological risks, fostering collaboration across disciplines. The program is co-led by CNRS, BRGM, and Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), and is structured around focused and open projects.

This postdoctoral position is part of the COCHAIR Work Package 3 (WP3) on Risk Policies in the Face of Climate Change, led by Principal Investigator Sylvie Ollitrault (CNRS). The project addresses the exponential rise in risks and disasters resulting from the interplay of climate change impacts and human activities, compounded by long-standing major risks. Its goals are to:
- Analyze current risk and disaster management methods,
- Develop innovative frameworks for risk analysis and management, particularly in contexts of multiple vulnerabilities,
- Design inclusive governance mechanisms to sustainably reduce risks and disasters,
- Strengthen an interdisciplinary and international Social Sciences and Humanities (SHS) community focused on risks and disasters.
For more details, visit the PEPR RISQUES website.


The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Sylvie Ollitrault (Co-Leader, COCHAIR WP3) within the PEPR RISQUES team, based at the ISP joint research unit located in Nanterre.

Le poste se situe dans un secteur relevant de la protection du potentiel scientifique et technique (PPST), et nécessite donc, conformément à la réglementation, que votre arrivée soit autorisée par l'autorité compétente du MESR.

Contraintes et risques

The position is located in a sector subject to the Protection of Scientific and Technical Potential (PPST) regulations. Therefore, in accordance with the applicable rules, your appointment must be authorized by the competent authority of the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MESRI) before you can begin.