Missions

The project is a follow-on to a project conducted at CAMS on modeling the spread of the 2005 urban riots in France (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-18093-4). It will draw on data concerning these riots, the 2007 urban riots in the Ile-de-France region, and the Yellow Vests movement. Data from social media, or data on similar events in other countries, may also be used.
This will involve (i) formatting and analyzing the data, (ii) developing a mathematical model of the propagation dynamics specific to these riots, and comparing models and data, and (iii) studying the properties of the models mathematically or using theoretical physics tools.

Activities

State of the art and review of literature on the propagation of social movements and other diffusion phenomena (epidemics, dissemination of opinions or false information).
Develop modeling that may use epidemic propagation or reaction-diffusion models, or any other type of approach (deterministic or stochastic) motivated by the nature of the data.
Calibrate models based on data (data-driven modeling). Perform theoretical analysis of the models.
Participate in project working meetings and contribute to laboratory activities (particularly by participating in seminars).

Skills

Prerequisites: PhD in applied mathematics or physics with a strong theoretical component
Strong skills and/or experience desired:
• in at least one, and preferably two, of the following areas: applied mathematics, particularly in nonlinear PDEs, theoretical physics (statistical physics and/or dynamical systems), epidemiological modelling, data analysis (statistics, machine learning).
• in scientific programming (preferably Python, Matlab, R)
Genuine interest in the analysis and modeling of empirical data (not necessarily large) and interdisciplinary exchanges.
Proficiency in scientific English, written and spoken

Work Context

The postdoctoral position is part of the project ReaCh (Reaction-diffusion: new Challenges), funded by the ANR (French National Research Agency), https://projet-anr-reach.math.cnrs.fr/
The host laboratory will be the Center for Analysis and Social Mathematics (CAMS https://cams.ehess.fr/), CNRS-EHESS, located in Paris in the 6th arrondissement. CAMS is a multidisciplinary research unit bringing together mathematicians, physicists, computer scientists and researchers in cognitive and social sciences. The postdoctoral researcher will interact at CAMS and within the ReaCh project with colleagues from various disciplines: mathematics, physics, computer science and sociology.
The project on urban riots is in collaboration with the social science laboratory PACTE (CNRS UMR 5194, Grenoble, France).
• Flexible start date between February 2026 and October 2026.
• Health insurance included (French fixed-term contract).