Postdoctoral contract on mathematical modeling and data analysis of social movements such as ur[...]

CNRS; France; Sur place; EUR 36 000 - 46 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A French research organization is seeking a postdoctoral researcher in applied mathematics or physics to model social movements. The role involves developing epidemic-based models and participating in interdisciplinary projects at a respected research center in Paris. A PhD and experience in applied mathematics or theoretical physics are required, along with proficiency in scientific programming. The position offers health insurance and a flexible start date between February and October 2026.

Prestations

Flexible start date

Health insurance

Qualifications

• PhD in applied mathematics or physics with a strong theoretical component.
• Strong skills and/or experience in applied mathematics, theoretical physics, or epidemiological modelling.
• Proficiency in scientific programming, preferably Python, Matlab, or R.
• Interest in analysis and modeling of empirical data.

Responsabilités

• Conduct literature review on the propagation of social movements.
• Develop models using epidemic propagation or reaction-diffusion approaches.
• Calibrate models based on data.
• Participate in project meetings and contribute to laboratory activities.

Connaissances

Applied mathematics

Theoretical physics

Epidemiological modelling

Scientific programming (Python, Matlab, R)

Data analysis

Genuine interest in interdisciplinary exchanges

Formation

PhD in applied mathematics or physics

Description du poste

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Centre d'analyses et de mathématiques sociales Research Field Physics Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Country France Application Deadline 11 Dec 2025 - 23:59 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Feb 2026 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

Project Overview

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.

Responsibilities

• 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).

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).

Benefits and Conditions

• Flexible start date between February 2026 and October 2026.
• Health insurance included (French fixed‑term contract).

Qualifications

• 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).
• 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.