Sorbonne University

POSTDOCTORAL POSITION (12 MONTHS) – EXPECTED TO OPEN IN SPRING 2026
Analysis of Agrarian and Pastoral Systems for Land-Use Modeling in the Sahel Region (M/F)

We are planning to recruit a postdoctoral researcher (12 months) for a research project focused on the analysis of land-use systems and their modeling in the Sahel region of West Africa.

Work location: Paris (Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences – iEES)
Contract type: Fixed-term contract
Duration: 12 months
Expected start date: Spring 2026
Working time: Full-time
Required education level: PhD
Experience required: None

Scientific Background

Major global land-use models rely on aggregated representations of agricultural systems, typically at the scale of large world regions (e.g., MagPIE, IMAGE, GLOBIOM). This raises significant challenges when applying these tools at finer spatial scales. Besides, these approaches were originally developed for the most industrialized regions, which may limit their realism in representing production systems for other parts of the world.

This postdoctoral project aims to improve the representation of agrarian and pastoral system dynamics in the Sahel region within global land-use models (e.g., MagPIE). Using databases, expert knowledge, and spatial analyses, the project will identify concrete and priority modifications to be incorporated into such global land-use models for Sahelian contexts.

Responsibilities

The postdoctoral researcher will organize their work around the following activities:

1. Collection, harmonization, and structuring of observational datasets (e.g., FAO statistics, grey literature, existing high-resolution spatial databases);
2. Based on this information, characterization of dominant land uses and associated agrarian systems (including pastoral systems);
3. Analysis of the spatial organization and of the typical scales of these agricultural and pastoral systems, identifying key biophysical and socio-economic drivers relevant for modeling;
4. Familiarization with a reference global land-use model such as MagPIE, through literature review and exchanges with the team at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK, Potsdam, Germany), including the participation in a workshop in June 2026.

Work Environment and Collaborations

The postdoctoral researcher will:

• Interact closely with the supervisor throughout the project to discuss parameterization issues, spatial representation, and model structure;
• Participate in a training workshop in June 2026 at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (Potsdam), dedicated to new users of the MagPIE model.

Expected Outcomes

• Well-documented datasets and a typology of agricultural and land-use systems relevant for global land-use models;
• An analysis of the spatial scales involved;
• Methodological proposals for representing these land-use systems in MagPIE;
• At least one international peer-reviewed scientific publication.

Candidate Profile

• PhD in geography, agronomy, environmental sciences, Earth system science, or similar;
• Experience with or strong interest in land-use modeling (e.g. MagPIE, GLOBIOM, IMAGE, LPJmL,..);
• Strong and autonomous skills in data analysis and spatial analysis;
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment;
• Excellent command of scientific English (written and spoken).

Please send a cover letter, CV, list of publications, and contact details of two referees to caroline.pierre@cnrs.fr