PhD (M/F) : From climate data to local action. Participatory modelling for adaptation to socio-[...]

European Commission; France; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A prominent research organization in France is offering a PhD position focused on developing participatory methods for climate adaptation and engaging local actors in decision-making. The ideal candidate will have a Master's degree in environmental science or related fields and experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection. This role is crucial for addressing socio-climatic challenges and fostering collaboration between science and society.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field is required.
• Familiarity with qualitative and quantitative data collection is necessary.
• Ability to engage with a range of stakeholders is essential.

Responsabilités

• Conduct research on socio-climatic knowledge and adaptation strategies.
• Develop participatory methods for climate adaptation decision-making.
• Engage with local actors and citizens in the research process.

Connaissances

Master's degree in geography, environmental sciences, social sciences, or engineering school in the environmental field

Previous experience in communicating with various audiences

Experience in collecting and processing quantitative and qualitative data

Experience in designing Coupled Human and Natural Systems approaches

Good analytical and writing skills in French and English

Ability to work in a team and interdisciplinary context

Description du poste

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Organisation/Company CNRS Department Institut des géosciences de l'environnement Research Field Environmental science Political sciences » Science and society Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Country France Application Deadline 18 Aug 2025 - 23:59 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Nov 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

This thesis is part of the kNOW-HOW+4°C project, which was recently selected for funding under the PEPR TRACCS call for projects. This project aims to explore socio-climatic knowledge and narratives that enable the implementation and dissemination of systemic territorial adaptation to a +4°C future. The PhD will be co-supervised by Galateia TERTI, Senior Lecturer at UGA, and Sandrine ANQUETIN, Director of Research at CNRS.
The doctoral research will be conducted at the IGE, more specifically within the HydroMeteorology, Climate and Interactions with Societies (HMCIS) team, which has expertise in serious games and participatory simulations, which have explored the use of probabilistic forecasts for weather crisis management.
This doctoral research is also linked to the GREC Alpes-Auvergne science-society intermediation structure, affiliated with OSUG, and offers numerous opportunities for collaboration within the IGE's current and future initiatives.

The growing threats associated with global change constitute a global emergency to which sectors and individuals must adapt. Recognizing this need, France has launched its third National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (PNACC3), which envisages a territorial adaptation strategy for France at +4°C by 2100. This growing focus on adaptation highlights the need for climate services that provide actionable knowledge to support decision-making and public policy planning. However, existing climate services mainly target specific economic sectors (energy, agriculture, tourism), whereas territorial adaptation requires a cross-sectoral approach that integrates climate interactions, critical thresholds, and socio-ecosystem interdependencies.
Effective adaptation relies on transformative decisions based on reliable and usable climate data, tailored to local vulnerabilities and capacities. The main obstacles to the widespread adoption and use of climate services lie in the need for mutual understanding between scientific and socio-technical perspectives, as well as effective collaboration between science and society. A knowledge-sharing approach that integrates a diversity of expertise is therefore essential to adapt climate information to the needs of decision-makers, their vulnerabilities, and institutional contexts.
In this context, this inter- and transdisciplinary thesis aims to develop participatory methods and narrative-based decision-making tools to design inclusive experiments involving scientists, local actors, and citizens in climate adaptation. This research is part of the emerging literature on participatory climate services, where the co-production of knowledge plays a central role. Co-production is understood here as a normative practice involving “the deliberate collaboration of different people to achieve a common goal.”
The research will be examined through the lens of the specific socio-climatic challenges faced by local actors in the Alps and Jura regions, which are recognized as areas sensitive to climate change due to their vulnerability to biodiversity loss, habitat degradation, freshwater quantity and quality issues, and landscape changes. Issues related to hydrological stress and extreme weather events will be analysed from individual, sectoral, and community perspectives, allowing for comparisons between the two pilot sites: the greater Grenoble area and the Jura mountains.
Skills :
- Master's degree in geography, environmental sciences, social sciences, or engineering school in the field of the environment
- Previous experience in communicating with a variety of audiences (non-academic stakeholders; academic stakeholders)
- Experience in collecting and processing quantitative (hydroclimatic observations or projections) and qualitative data is desirable (interviews, participatory workshops)
- Experience in designing Coupled Human and Natural System (CHANS) approaches is desirable
- Good analytical and writing skills in both French and English
- Ability to work in a team and in an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary context

Research Field Political sciences » Science and society Years of Research Experience None