Research Engineer in Remote Sensing Applied to Coastal Marine Ecology – Sargassum Monitoring

European Commission; France; À distance; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Une opportunité passionnante pour un ingénieur de recherche au sein du projet Sarg’Alien, visant à étudier la dynamique des algues envahissantes. Le candidat idéal aura un Master à Doctorat en télédétection ou en écologie marine, avec des compétences en traitement de données et en collaboration interdisciplinaire. Le poste est situé à la Marine Station de Luc-sur-Mer et propose un contrat à durée déterminée de 48 mois.

Qualifications

• Expérience en traitement et analyse d'images satellite.
• Maîtrise de R, Python ou Matlab.
• Formation en écologie marine appréciée.

Responsabilités

• Concevoir des protocoles de surveillance écologique pour Sargassum.
• Développer des algorithmes pour la détection par satellite.
• Intégrer et traiter des données multi-sources.

Connaissances

Algorithmes de classification

Outils SIG (QGIS, ArcGIS)

Traitement de données (R, Python, Matlab)

Écologie marine

Campagnes côtières

Écriture scientifique

Formation

Master à Doctorat en télédétection ou en écologie marine

Description du poste

Organisation/Company Université de Caen Normandie Research Field Environmental science Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Other Positions Country France Application Deadline 15 Sep 2025 - 23:59 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time 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

The Sarg’Alien project aims to study the invasive dynamics of Sargassum muticum in the Bay of Seine. This invasive macroalga is rapidly expanding and could serve as an indicator of coastal water eutrophication. The project uses a multidisciplinary approach combining biology, marine ecology, and remote sensing.

The project is built around three complementary actions:

• Sargassum proliferation analysis: study of offshore floating mats and strandings.
• Remote sensing tool development: mapping and biomass quantification offshore and in intertidal areas.
• Bioindicator assessment: potential of Sargassum muticum as a coastal eutrophication indicator.

Main Responsibilities

• Design and implement ecological monitoring protocols for Sargassum muticum in intertidal and subtidal areas (field campaigns, biometry, strandings).
• Develop and validate satellite image processing algorithms for Sargassum detection and mapping.
• Integrate and process multi-source data (satellite, drone, field), and ensure calibration/validation with in situ data.
• Develop models linking Sargassum biomass to environmental indicators (eutrophication); assess their bioindicator potential.
• Contribute to regulatory tools (e.g., Water Framework Directive).
• Disseminate results (technical reports, scientific publications) and collaborate with the interdisciplinary project team.

Research Team

The position is based at the MERSEA laboratory (University of Caen Normandy), in collaboration with CEVA and CNAM/Intechmer. The engineer will join the FORSEAS team and work closely with a marine biology technician also recruited for the project.

MERSEA is a marine science research unit studying organisms from molecules to ecosystems. It addresses both global challenges (climate change, contamination, anthropogenic pressures) and local applications (fisheries, aquaculture in the English Channel and beyond) through its two teams:

• PHARE: focused on physiology and molecular biology
• FORSEAS: focused on organisms and ecosystems

Research addresses both broad fundamental challenges (warming, contamination, human impact) and local applications (fisheries, aquaculture in the English Channel and abroad).

Master’s degree to PhD (Bac +5 to Bac +8) in remote sensing, geomatics, or a related discipline in environmental sciences, oceanography, or any field involving significant satellite image processing. Experience in marine ecosystem research is appreciated.

Required Skills

Scientific and Technical:

• Experience with classification algorithms (machine learning / deep learning)
• GIS tools: QGIS, ArcGIS
• Data processing and modeling (R, Python, Matlab)
• Knowledge in marine ecology and macroalgae (appreciated)
• Fieldwork: experience in coastal campaigns and sampling protocols
• Scientific writing and interdisciplinary collaboration

Personal Qualities:

• Strong analytical and synthesis skills
• Teamwork and project management abilities
• Autonomy, rigor, and organizational skills
• Interest in both fieldwork and coding
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral, in French and English)

Location: Marine Station of Luc-sur-Mer (14, France)
Contract: Fixed-term contract (48 months), from November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2029
Workload: Full-time
Salary: 2785€/month
Recruitment Level: Category A – Research Engineer

Job Classification:

• Option 1: E145 – Scientific Computing Expert / BAP E – Computer Science, Statistics and Scientific Computing. Preferred experience: marine domain or agroecology/forestry
• Option 2: A1A41 – Biologist Engineer in Data Analysis / BAP A – Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences. Preferred experience: satellite image processing and analysis

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Université de Caen Normandie - MERSEA research unit Country France City Luc-sur-Mer Postal Code 14530 Street 54 rue du Docteur Charcot Geofield