Researcher in Environmental Sciences M/F

CNRS; France; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading research organization in France is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to work on sustainable agriculture using nanopesticides. The project focuses on developing environmentally friendly solutions to reduce pesticide usage while investigating their ecological impacts. Candidates should have a background in chemistry, geosciences, or environmental sciences, and experience with pollutants. The position is full-time and offers a chance to contribute to important research in environmental sustainability.

Qualifications

• Experience in the behavior and fate of pollutants in the environment.
• Proficient in specific physical and chemical analysis of pollutants.

Responsabilités

• Conduct literature review on the topic.
• Set up experiments in mesocosms.
• Prepare samples for various analyses.
• Process data and disseminate results in writing and orally.
• Integrate data into an environmental database.

Connaissances

Autonomy and initiative

Organization and rigor

Ability to work in a team

Proficiency in the necessary computer tools

Formation

Background in chemistry, geosciences, or environmental sciences

Description du poste

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Centre de Recherche et d'Enseignement des Géosciences de l'Environnement Research Field History » Ancient history History » Archaeology History » Medieval history Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Application Deadline 4 Feb 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Jun 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

Offer Description

In the face of the challenge of sustainably feeding 10 billion people by 2050, agriculture relies heavily on pesticides, whose widespread use leads to serious health and environmental impacts. Nanotechnologies offer a promising alternative through the development of more targeted and less harmful nanopesticides. This project aims to ecodesign hybrid nanopesticides based on biopolymines and metals, produced via biosynthesis or green synthesis, capable of releasing active substances only in response to plant signals or pathogen attack. An ecodesign approach integrating efficacy, ecocompatibility, and cost will enable the selection of the best candidates through toxicity assessments, evaluation of impacts on non-target organisms, and performance tests under controlled and field conditions. The project will thus contribute to more sustainable agriculture and to a better understanding of interactions between nanoparticles and the environment.
Objectives. Indoor aquatic mesocosms will be used to investigate how the biotic component of a lentic ecosystem (i.e., bacteria, algae, and invertebrates) is altered following exposure to nanopesticides developed by the partners of the ANR ORGANIC project. Such a lentic ecosystem represents an example of a secondary non-target ecosystem that may accumulate nanoparticles over time. Exposure and effects of nanopesticides on organisms will be assessed through chemical analyses (ICP-AES and ICP‑MS), physicochemical analyses (DLS, zeta potential), structural analyses (XRD, XANES, EXAFS), X‑ray imaging (2D and 3D), microbial community analyses, and monitoring of behavioral markers in aquatic invertebrates. The resulting data will then be integrated into an environmental exposure database for nanomaterials.

• Literature review on the topic
• Setting up experiments in mesocosms
• Sampling and sample preparation for various analyses
• Data processing
• Dissemination of results in writing and orally
• Integration of data into an environmental database

The postdoctoral researcher will be hosted at CEREGE, Technopôle de l'Arbois, Aix-en-Provence (Research and Teaching Center in Environmental Geosciences). CEREGE is a joint research center bringing together multidisciplinary expertise in environmental geosciences. He/she will be part of the Sustainable Environment group, which conducts studies on the life cycle (from production, use, to end‑of‑life) of materials and contaminants to understand the biophysical and chemical processes governing their reactivity, emission, transfer, and impacts across different ecosystems. Mesocosm experiments will take place in the CIRENE facility at the Technopôle de l'Arbois.

The candidate should have a background in chemistry, geosciences, or environmental sciences (or related fields) and experience in the behavior and fate of pollutants in the environment and/or in the specific physical and chemical analysis of pollutants.

• Autonomy and initiative
• Organization and rigor
• Ability to work in a team
• Proficiency in the necessary computer tools