Postdoctoral position OT-30546
Postdoctoral researcher: modelling of soil organic carbon dynamics
34060 MONTPELLIER
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
You will join the Joint Research Unit SolAE (formerly Eco&Sols) in Montpellier, France, which has 110 permanent staff from INRAE, IRD, Cirad and Institut Agro Montpellier. You will join the AMG-LAB project, which aims to improve the simulation of soil organic carbon dynamics in diversified cropping systems.
Your mission will be to improve and evaluate the AMG model, which simulates changes in soil organic carbon stocks in response to agricultural practices and soil and climate conditions. The AMG model is being developed by a consortium of agronomic research and development organisations.
You will be more specifically in charge of:
- Improving the modelling of the soil organic carbon mineralisation, in particular by taking into account the vertical stratification of carbon inputs and stocks within the soil profile, as well as the priming effect.
- Assessing the impact of these modifications on the model’s performance, and that of different methods for estimating crop-related carbon inputs to the soil and for initialising the size of the model’s pools. To do this, you will use a dataset of long-term experiments, compiled as part of the AMG-LAB project.
- Writing a scientific paper presenting the new version of the model and its evaluation.
Training and skills
Desired knowledge: Biogeochemical cycles, agronomy and soil organic matter dynamics. Soi modelling and model calibration. Data processing and analysis.
Appreciated experience: Previous experience in using, evaluating or calibrating a model is required. Proficiency in the R programming language and in handling large and varied datasets. Experience of using a software forge (GitHub, GitLab, etc.) and/or another programming language (Python, etc.) would be appreciated.
Skills: rigour and organisational skills, autonomy and initiative, ability to work in team.
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
All persons employed by or hosted at INRAE, a public research establishment, are subject to the Civil Service Code, particularly with regard to the obligation of neutrality and respect for the principle of secularism. In carrying out their functions, whether or not they are in contact with the public, they must not express their religious, philosophical or political convictions through their behaviour or by what they wear. > Find out more: fonction publique.gouv.fr website (in French)