IRD

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The IRD invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in aquatic biogeochemistry and hydrology. The successful candidate will join the Centre de Recherche et d’Enseignement des Géosciences de l’Environnement (CEREGE) in Aix-en-Provence, France, and contribute to a new research program (GHG-STREAMS) investigating greenhouse gas dynamics in tropical streams and wetlands.

About the project

Streams, rivers and wetlands play a critical role in global carbon and nitrogen cycling, acting as biogeochemical reactors and major sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs; CO2, CH4 and N2O) to the atmosphere. However, tropical inland waters remain poorly represented in global assessments due to limited spatial coverage and a lack of high-frequency observations capturing their temporal variability and human impacts.

The GHG-STREAMS project aims to improve our understanding of GHG dynamics in tropical inland waters across natural and human-impacted landscapes. The project will establish a new tropical aquatic GHG observatory in Kenya, combining high-frequency sensor observations, regional field campaigns, biogeochemical tracers and spatial modelling approaches. It will focus on streams and wetlands across a land-use gradient, ranging from relatively intact ecosystems to agricultural and urban catchments. The project will address three key questions:

* How do land use and hydrological events regulate GHG dynamics in tropical inland waters?

* How can natural and anthropogenic sources of GHG emissions be distinguished?

* How can local measurements be scaled up to regional estimates relevant for carbon accounting?

Role of the postdoctoral researcher

The successful candidate will lead the development of the Kenyan component of the project, working closely with the principal investigator and local collaborators. The postdoctoral researcher will:

- Establish and operate a high-frequency monitoring network in tropical streams, including sensors measuring dissolved CO2, oxygen, conductivity and hydrological variables;

- Coordinate field campaigns across tropical catchments with contrasting land use;

- Develop approaches to quantify GHG emissions, identify their environmental controls and upscale site-level observations to larger scales;

- Lead the analysis and publication of research findings;

- Contribute to mentoring and support of PhD and MSc students involved in the project.

The position offers substantial scientific independence, with opportunities for the candidate to develop their own research questions within the project framework.

Candidate profile

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher with a strong interest in tropical aquatic systems and global environmental change.

Essential requirements

- PhD degree (completed within the 3 years preceding the date of recruitment or close to completion) in environmental sciences, hydro(geo)logy, (bio)geochemistry or a related discipline;

- Experience with environmental field measurements and data collection;

- Strong quantitative skills and experience analysing environmental datasets using programming languages such as R, Python or MATLAB;

- Demonstrated ability to publish research results in peer-reviewed journals;

- Interest in conducting research in the Global South and participating in extended field campaigns.

Desirable experience

- Previous field experience in tropical environments;

- Experience measuring GHGs in aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems;

- Knowledge of isotopic tracers and/or groundwater–surface water interactions;

- Experience with spatial modelling and remote sensing.

- Some knowledge of French and/or willingness to learn.

Working environment

The successful candidate will be hosted at CEREGE, a multidisciplinary research centre that brings together expertise in climate science, geochemistry, geology and hydrology (https://www.cerege.fr/en/).

The project provides opportunities for collaboration within a growing international network investigating tropical aquatic GHG dynamics. The Kenyan component will be developed in close collaboration with researchers at the Technical University of Kenya and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany). At CEREGE, the candidate will work under the supervision of Clément Duvert (IRD/CEREGE) and interact with experts in hydrology, geochemistry and environmental change, including Thomas Stieglitz (IRD/CEREGE).

For questions about the position, please contact Clément Duvert at clement.duvert@ird.fr

To apply, please send your CV including publication record, a cover letter describing your research interests and motivation for this position, and the contact details of two referees. Applications must be submitted through the IRD recruitment platform: https://emploi-recrutement.ird.fr/offre-de-emploi/emploi-chercheur-en-biogeochimie-des-hydrosystemes-tropicaux-h-f_837.aspx