Postdoctoral research position in data analysis

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INRAE presentation

The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) is a major player in research and innovation. It is a community of 12,000 people with 272 research, experimental research, and support units located in 18 regional centres throughout France. Internationally, INRAE is among the top research organisations in the agricultural and food sciences, plant and animal sciences, as well as in ecology and environmental science. It is the world’s leading research organisation specialising in agriculture, food and the environment. INRAE’s goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. Faced with a growing world population, climate change, resource scarcity, and declining biodiversity, the Institute has a major role to play in building solutions and supporting the necessary acceleration of agricultural, food and environmental transitions.

Work environment, missions and activities

The candidate will work as part of the INTERREG Alpine space DiMark project (https://www.alpine-space.eu/project/dimark/). His/her main tasks will be to develop a model to improve our knowledge on the development of cyanobacterial blooms, identify the environmental conditions associated with these blooms and propose a predictive tool. The work will begin with the compilation and standardization of time-series from the DiMark project lakes. The next step will be to analyse the data by using traditional and innovative methods based on machine learning.

Expected outcomes
- Predictive model for cyanobacterial blooms
- Advanced scientific results to be presented in top-level international conferences and journals

 

DiMark Project: 

DiMark Transnational Network for Linking Digital Earth Observation to Freshwater Markers for Better Understanding of Water-connected Climate Change Adaptation and Risk Prevention in Alpine Region
Project duration: 36 months (01.09.2024 – 31.08.2027)
Alpine lakes are facing anthropogenic challenges led by touristic pressures and eutrophication, worsening over time with climate change. Frequent cyanobacterial and algal blooms caused by eutrophication make waters unsuitable for drinking, recreation, and industry. Blooms are accompanied by decreased biodiversity and oxygen depletion, posing a risk to water ecosystem; cyanotoxins in blooms pose also a health risk. The challenges mentioned above can be addressed using novel satellite-based solutions and improved cooperation between academia and decisionmakers.
The project objective is to improve freshwater management, using novel ecosystem-based approaches for climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention. The project will develop two innovative ready-to-use solutions:
(1) an online visualisation tool with maps of the Alpine area for inspecting and comparing the water state, based on important freshwater markers, and
(2) a model for cyano-risk prevention, enabling sustainable lake management while minimising health risk.
Solutions will be developed using a multi-stakeholder co-development process, including academia, policy, SME, NGO and citizen stakeholders. The DiMark Transnational Network and Alpine lakes management strategy will enhance the sustainability of project results. The innovative aspect of the DiMark project is linking freshwater markers to satellite data. Establishing these links in a transnational approach is essential because some countries have experts for satellite data analyses,while others have experts for freshwater markers. In addition, water state depends on watersheds stretched across more countries (including border Alpine lakes). The project's main beneficiaries will be national/regional lake managers, decision makers and citizens who will experience better water quality and safety.
Main results/changes are:
(i) improved water quality,
(ii) better response in case of water disaster management and
(iii) improved lake biodiversity.
PROJECT PARTNERS:
1. National Institute of Biology, Slovenia
2. Slovenian Environment Agency, Slovenia
3. University of Innsbruck, Austria
4. Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Austria
5. Edmund Mach Foundation, Italy
6. Regional Agency for Environmental Protection and Prevention of Veneto, Italy
7. National Research Council, Italy
8. University of Konstanz, Germany
9. French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, France
10. E-institute, institute for comprehensive development solutions, Slovenia
11. Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Swiss
The project is co-funded by the European Union through the INTERREG Alpine Space programme.

Training and skills

Qualifications
- PhD in a field involving limnology, oceanography, applied math or similar - Demonstrated data analysis skills, especially in machine learning (using R, MatLab and/or Python)
- Knowledge of the ecology of phytoplankton is highly desirable - - Good written and oral communications skills in English

INRAE's life quality

By joining our teams, you benefit from (depending on the type of contract and its duration):

- up to 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.

How to apply

I send my CV and my motivation letter