Postdoctoral Position: Improving Snowpack Modeling in the Presence of Bushes in Arctic Regions (M/F)

Job Description

Missions

Our team is seeking a postdoctoral researcher (12-month part-time fixed-term contract) in the field of snow-vegetation interaction modeling (energy, water, and carbon budgets). He or she will work on modeling snowpack dynamics in cold, high-latitude regions in the presence of shrubs and herbaceous vegetation using the ORCHIDEE land surface model, the land component of the climate model developed by the Institut Pierre Simon Laplace (IPSL). In this model, terrestrial vegetation is represented by a set of 15 Plant Functional Types (PFTs) that distinguish between trees and ground cover with different radiative, aerodynamic, and biogeophysical properties. In the standard version, shrubs are not represented, but recently, three new PFTs have been defined to model these ecosystems (Kirchner et al., 2026).
The objective of this position is to adapt the snow model to these three new PFTs. The responsibilities of the position will therefore include (1) implementing and validating a simple equation for snow-shrub interactions in the ORCHIDEE terrestrial ecosystem model, (2) producing site-specific simulations to calibrate the biogeophysical parameters of the snow model (albedo, compaction, thermal conductivity, etc.), and (3) to validate the model on a pan-Arctic scale using spatial data on albedo, soil temperatures, snow cover fraction, and snow water equivalent (SWE). This work will be carried out in close collaboration with other researchers working on snow modeling in ORCHIDEE.

Activity

The successful candidate will be responsible for: • validating the new PFT maps used in the ORCHIDEE model • selecting the observation sites to be used for calibrating the parameterizations • proposing the necessary adjustments to better simulate albedo, snow cover fraction, heat transfer, and melting within the snowpack in the presence of shrubs • generate simulations using this new model and compare them with observations • calibrate the parameterizations • generate larger-scale simulations across the Pan-Arctic region using two distinct atmospheric forcings, validate them, and continue large-scale calibration using relevant spatial data.

Your Profil

Skills

Computer skills: Fortran, Python - Strong interest in numerical modeling. Familiarity with at least one of the following areas is a plus: model-data comparison, process modeling, environmental physics and chemistry, data assimilation, data science, and big data. • Fluency in English is required; • Fluency in French is a plus.

Your Work Environment

The position will be based at the LSCE laboratory (https://www.lsce.ipsl.fr). This is a world-class research laboratory resulting from a collaboration between the CEA, the CNRS, and the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin (UVSQ). The LSCE employs approximately 300 researchers, engineers, and administrative staff, including many Ph.D. and master's students. Location: approximately 20 km from the center of Paris, in the greenbelt area of L'Orme des Merisiers. The postdoctoral fellow will be part of the MOSAIC team and will also work with partners.

Constraints and risks

None

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

Gross salary between €1,565.67 and €1,784.92 per month for a part-time position (50%)

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