Post-doctoral position in geosciences M/F

Job Description

Missions

At CNRS, ISTO, the main mission of the postdoctoral position is to model reactive transport in the unsaturated zone (UZ), on tentative representative scale of the Beauce aquifer. Thanks to the characterization of O-ZNS materials in the laboratory, petrophysical and hydrodynamic parameters determination over the entire unsaturated zone a hydrogeological model will be developed. The targeted model is to provide an in-depth understanding of the vadose structure and to identify the key physicochemical processes with their multilevel couplings and inter- dependencies across different scales and fluid phases. The O-ZNS observatory, located at an agricultural site in Villamblain (Centre Val de Loire, France), offers a unique observation/monitoring setup composed of an exceptional well having a depth of 20 m and a diameter of 4 m, along with a variety of boreholes and environmental sensors suitable for geochemical, microbiological, and hydrogeological investigations (https://www.isto-orleans.fr/2022/03/17/installation-de-lobservatoire-o-zns-a-villamblain-pour-le-suivi-et-la-protection-de-la-nappe-de-beauce/). The observatory instrumentations allow the deployment of innovative sensors that can provide quantitative, massive, and highly resolved 3D measurements related to fluid flow and heat/mass transfer processes within the vadose zone (including reactive chemicals, redox processes/barriers, soil water content, electrochemical and electro-kinetic signals, etc.).
The retained applicant will integrate the O-ZNS platform team and the “GeoEnergies & Environment” group of ISTO. She/he will have in charge of developing the hydrogeological model of the O-ZNS observatory, by integrating different types of available geoscientific data and concepts (geology, geophysics, hydrogeology, bio-geochemistry, etc.) and ongoing and continuously updated monitoring's. The researcher will benefit from a network of specialists in the three key areas: i) thermos-kinetics, ii) physico-chemistry of interfaces & iii) multiphase reactive transport modelling. He/she will contribute to the choice of smart environmental monitoring tools to be installed in the O-ZNS well in Villamblain (35 km north-west of Orléans, Centre Val de Loire, France).

This contract could be extended for one year more

Activity

The postdoc sought will interact with the O-ZNS project leaders (ISTO) and BRGM reactive transport modelling teams to conduct the following activities:
- Critical analysis of geochemical and mineralogical data acquired on the O-ZNS site
- Compilation of bibliographic kinetic data for mineral and organic matter reactions and microbiological respiration
- Organize heterogeneous and multi-domain databases to ensure their interoperability aiming to develop the O-ZNS digital twins for RTM
- Interpret observation data using numerical models of mass/heat transfer in UZ, and identify the fate and pathways of agricultural pollutants
- Contribute to the conceptualisation of lab experimentation using the soil columns of ISTO and the analytical techniques to characterize the water, gases and minerals involved in the reactive transport columns
- Contribute to the scientific valorisation and presentation of the project results in workshops and international conferences
- To interact constructively with the network of partners of the O-ZNS project (National and European partners of EQUIP-G project) and to be a contributing force of proposals for future ANR, Région Centre, Horizon Europe projects.

Your Profil

Skills

- Demonstrated skills in the numerical modelling, thermos-kinetic mechanisms, processing and interpretation of geochemical data (water quality, mineralogy, petrophysical properties, …)
- Knowledge in numerical modelling/numerical geology and coupling between thermos-hydro-bio-geo-chemical processes softwares (HYDRUS, PHREEQC, TOUGH2, MARTHE, Matlab, COMSOL Multiphysics, etc.)
- In-depth skills in the theoretical analysis of multiphase reactive hydrosystems results and the exploitation of different data types (geophysics, hydrogeology, geology, etc.)
- Skills in measuring the physical, chemical, electrokinetic and electrochemical properties (redox process of geological bodies and associated fluids
- Exploiting of hydrogeophysic knowledge's will be a plus
- Taste for teamwork and strong curiosity to interact with specialists in related fields (as geologists, geophysists, microbiologists,…)
- Good level in computer science programming languages (Fortran, Python, C, C++, etc.)
- Ease of writing scientific papers for the valorisation of the results
- Excellent English language skills (written and spoken).

Your Work Environment

The ISTO laboratory (Orléans) is developing an observatory (O-ZNS platform) on the unsaturated zone (UZ), as part of the regional PIVOTS program, in order to understand how the water-rock-biosphere interactions evolve in time and space in a dual porosity media, driven by the mass (water and contaminants) and heat transfers. The main goal of this project is to characterize the vadose zone structure and improve the understanding of its hydro-bio-chemical dynamics, from the ground surface to the groundwater table of the Beauce aquifer, throughout the entire UZ thickness (around 20 m at the study site). The long-term objective is to identify the key processes promoted by the anthropogenic pressure and water pathways along the soil-aquifer continuum, founding stone of a new generation of predictive modelling tools efficient for policy makers and / or industrials decision helping for a better groundwater management.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

2991, 58 € gross monthly if experience less than 2 years

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

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