Junior Research Scientist in environmental physics - Landscape scale measurement of gazeous flows

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INRAE presentation

The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (INRAE) is a public research establishment under the dual authority of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Research.

INRAE is recruiting researchers by open competition and offering permanent position.

It is a major player in research and innovation created on 1^st of January 2020. INRAE is a research institute resulting from the merger of INRA and IRSTEA. It is a community of 12,000 people with more than 200 research units and 42 experimental units located throughout France.

The institute is among the world leaders in agricultural and food sciences, in plant and animal sciences, and is 11^th in the world in ecology and environment. INRAE’s main goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. In the face of the increase in population, climate change, scarcity of resources and decline in biodiversity, the institute develops solutions for multiperformance agriculture, high quality food and sustainable management of resources and ecosystems.

Work environment, missions and activities

The ECOSYS unit (Functional Ecology and Ecotoxicology of Agroecosystems, associating INRAE and AgroParisTech) aims to understand how agroecosystems function by integrating biogeochemical processes, matter and energy flows, and the functions of organisms in their environment. Within this unit, you will join the Eco&Phy team, which seeks to assess the impact of agriculture on climate change and air pollution, and to explain how agroecosystems function under the effect of biotic and abiotic factors.

Assessing and predicting emissions and deposition of key compounds (greenhouse gases, ammonia, pesticides, volatile organic compounds) between the atmosphere and land surfaces in agricultural areas is a major challenge in the context of climate and land use change. From this perspective, taking into account the impact of heterogeneity in land use mosaics on these flows remains a major scientific challenge. The objectives of this profile are (1) to develop innovative experimental approaches for measuring spatialised flows between the surface and the atmosphere, (2) to produce original knowledge on the variability of these flows and the uncertainties associated on a territorial scale.

These developments are essential for validating continental surface models on scales used to assess public policies. You will develop new approaches or combinations of approaches for measuring spatialised flows. In particular, you will be able to adapt the turbulent covariance method for measurements on tall towers, aircraft, or drones, as well as develop spatialised measurements using LIDAR or scintillometers. You will have to combine these measurements of flows, concentrations, and flow drivers, at different spatial resolutions (surface measurements, tall towers, airborne measurements, terrestrial and spatial remote sensing), and use surface and atmospheric transfer models to map flows on a territorial scale. The ICOS (climate) and ACTRIS (atmospheric chemistry) research infrastructures, as well as the models developed by the laboratory and its partners, will be made available for your activity.

Our research team tells you more about your future job

You will carry out observation campaigns in field conditions, in France and abroad, sometimes requiring several weeks' travel. You will work in collaboration with engineers, researchers and technicians from the laboratory and from partner laboratories in France and abroad. You will be required to work at height (towers).
A driving licence is recommended, and you may be required to pass the E driving licence to transport certain instruments in the field.

Training and skills

Candidates must have a PhD or equivalent.
Specialisation in the measurement of surface-atmosphere flows with a strong experimental dimension enabling the successful candidate to develop innovative methods based on the physical measurement of the atmosphere is highly recommended. These methods will require strong skills in complex data processing (Python programming, Labview, or other), as well as the ability to use surface and transfer models to combine spatial measurements of determining factors, geo-referenced data, and flows on different spatial scales.

Training and knowledge in environmental sciences, including biogeochemical cycles and physical measurements (especially in micro-meteorology) is desirable.

Experience in the physical measurement of gases or aerosols in the atmosphere and their flows or spatial variability is desirable. The ability to design, implement or develop complex data acquisition and processing chains associated with these measurements is recommended.
Experience in combining observation, surface models, and spatialized data would be a plus.

The ability to work as part of a team and coordinate complex experimental campaigns is particularly desirable.
Candidates should have a good command of English (both written and spoken), and long-term international experience would also be desirable. Successful candidates who have not yet acquired this experience abroad will be required to do so after their probationary period (1st year).

INRAE's life quality

By joining our teams, you benefit from:

- 30 days of annual leave + 15 days "Reduction of Working Time" (for a full time);
- parenting support: CESU childcare, leisure services;
- skills development systems: training, career advise;
- social support: advice and listening, social assistance and loans;
- holiday and leisure services: holiday vouchers, accommodation at preferential rates;
- sports and cultural activities;
- collective catering.

For international scientists: please visit your guide to facilitate your arrival and stay at INRAE.