Post-doctoral position in geosciences M/F

CNRS - National Center for Scientific Research; France; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

CNRS – Institut des Sciences de la Terre d’Orléans seeks a postdoctoral researcher to model reactive transport in the unsaturated zone (UZ) at the Beauce aquifer, integrating geoscience data to build a hydrogeological model. You will work with the O-ZNS observatory, using multi-physics tools to interpret geochemical data and develop digital twins for RTM.

The role involves collaboration with ISTO and BRGM teams, developing codes and methods, and presenting results at international venues.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated skills in numerical modelling, thermos-kinetic mechanisms, processing and interpretation of geochemical data.
• Knowledge in numerical modelling and coupling between thermos-hydro-bio-geo-chemical processes softwares (HYDRUS, PHREEQC, TOUGH2, MARTHE, Matlab, COMSOL Multiphysics, etc.)
• In-depth skills in theoretical analysis of multiphase reactive hydrosystems results and the exploitation of different data types (geophysics, hydrogeology, geology).
• Skills in measuring the physical, chemical, electrokinetic and electrochemical properties (redox processes of geological bodies and associated fluids).
• Exploiting hydrogeophysic knowledge would be a plus.
• Teamwork mindset and curiosity to interact with specialists in related fields.
• Proficiency in programming languages (Fortran, Python, C, C++, etc.).
• Strong writing ability for scientific papers.
• Excellent English language skills (written and spoken).

Responsibilities

• 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 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 lab experimentation conceptualisation using ISTO soil columns and analytical techniques for water, gases and minerals.
• Contribute to scientific valorisation and presentation of results in workshops and international conferences.
• Interact with network partners of the O-ZNS project and contribute to proposals for ANR, Horizon Europe projects.

Skills

Numerical modelling

Thermo-kinetics

Data interpretation

HYDRUS

PHREEQC

TOUGH2

MARTHE

MATLAB

COMSOL Multiphysics

Fortran

Python

C

C++

English

Tools

HYDRUS

PHREEQC

TOUGH2

MARTHE

MATLAB

COMSOL Multiphysics

Job description

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Institut des Sciences de la Terre d'Orléans Research Field Geosciences Biological sciences Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 17 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 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

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-... ). 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).

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

This contract could be extended for one year more

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.

• 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).