Missions

A call for applications for a postdoctoral positionin humanities and social sciences is launched as part of the ANR OCEANLINKS project [Bound by Seas and the Ocean: Coastal Anchoring and Networks of the International Scientific Community]. Within this project, the postdoc will contribute to the task entitled 'Field site and regionalisation of knowledge', which focuses on the role played by marine research stations in the production of oceanic knowledge.

OCEANLINKS is a research project in the geography of science field bringing together researchers and lecturers from the UMR Géographie-Cités, a Lecturer from the University of Western Brittany and a Professor from the University of Edinburgh.

The objective of this postdoctoral position is the use of qualitative and quantitative approaches to study the links between the geography of marine research stations and the geographical distribution of the field sites (oceanic areas) covered by scientists working in marine stations. The specific case of scientists working at the interface between oceans and polar regions will be considered, as well as the specific case of the Indian Ocean, often perceived as an 'under-studied ocean'.

This contract will enable the successful candidate to join a collective research programme (ANR) and a research unit specialised in geography and planning research, UMR Géographie-Cités (UMR 8504), located on the Condorcet campus in Aubervilliers.

She/he will be supported by all members of the team throughout her/his participation in the project. Scientific supervision will be provided by Marion Maisonobe (Research Fellow at the CNRS). She will be assisted in the technical aspects of this task by Hugues Pécout, research engineer and member of the project.

Activités

The research activity will include:
• Identifying stations working on polar regions (highly indicative of geopolitical ambitions) and on the Indian Ocean (still considered under-studied today, see UNESCO report, 2020).
• Bibliometric research based on a method of identifying field sites in publication corpora.
• The production of world maps highlighting the regionalisation and perimeters of the different field sites covered by marine stations.
• Qualitative research through interviews with a selection of scientists to examine the links between polar sciences and ocean sciences through the lenses of stations, field sites and research objects.
• The production of a reproducible computational article presenting the method for identifying and mapping field sites based on bibliometric data, in collaboration with the project team involved in this task.
• Participation in the drafting of deliverable R2: 'A research note on the link between the Ocean and the Poles – interactions between research objects and environments', which could then lead to the publication of an article in science studies on the scientific interface between the Oceans and the Poles.
• An ability to link the results obtained to an understanding of the drivers behind the structuring of the international scientific community around global issues and spaces, such as the concept of "One Ocean "

Compétences

The candidate must hold a PhD in humanities and social sciences, preferably in geography or science studies.
A good knowledge of research methods in humanities and social sciences, particularly semi-structured interviews, is required.
Knowledge of databases and bibliometric approaches is welcome. Knowledge of thematic mapping and geomatics would be an advantage.
The ability to conduct research independently must be demonstrated by at least one publication related to the theme and activities of the project described above.
Good writing skills and fluency in spoken French are essential, as is a good level of spoken and written English for interviews, oral presentations of results, etc.
The ability to work in a collective and interdisciplinary environment is key.

Contexte de travail

The postdoctoral position is part of a collaborative research project (ANR PRME project) within the UMR Géographie-cités. More broadly, it is part of a series of research projects conducted over several years on the geography of scientific collaborations and marine stations: 'Roscoff: a small town and science' - POPSU Territoire project (2019-2021, coord. J. Tallec); 'geography of scientific collaborations' - GEOCOLLAB Project (2022-2024, coord. N. Vermeulen, M. Maisonobe, M. Meyer) and 'Marine Science Collaborations in Oban' - MASCICO Project (2024-2025, coord. Josselin Tallec). Within the UMR Géographie-cités, the ANR project brings together the TERMS and PARIS teams.

On a scientific level, the post-doctoral research will contribute to advancing knowledge on the drivers that structure the international scientific community around global issues. The work carried out will contribute to recent methodological advances in the field of spatial scientometrics. In qualitative terms, the aim is to gain a better understanding of the links between sub-communities doing field research and the global structuring of environmental sciences.

The working environment (workstation, field missions, etc.) will be provided by the UMR Géographie-Cités, Campus Condorcet. The person recruited will be supervised by Dr. Marion Maisonobe.

Contraintes et risques

Travel within France and abroad to visit and meet scientists at marine stations and at international conferences may be organised. It will also be possible to arrange video conference interviews to limit certain travel.
Participation and involvement in events and meetings organised within the ANR project will be required.