General information
Organisation
The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is a key player in research, development and innovation in four main areas :
• defence and security,
• nuclear energy (fission and fusion),
• technological research for industry,
• fundamental research in the physical sciences and life sciences.
Drawing on its widely acknowledged expertise, and thanks to its 16000 technicians, engineers, researchers and staff, the CEA actively participates in collaborative projects with a large number of academic and industrial partners.
The CEA is established in ten centers spread throughout France
Reference
2024-32854
Division description
The CEA's Fundamental Research Directorate (DRF) conducts scientific activities in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology and health, materials sciences, climate and environmental sciences, and digital technology. It brings together more than 6,000 people at the Cadarache, Grenoble, Marcoule and Paris-Saclay centers, who develop and implement technologies and instrumentation at the cutting edge of research and innovation.
Description de l'unité
The LSCE is a joint research unit (UMR 8212) between the CEA, the CNRS and the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin en Yvelines (UVSQ), located at Orme des Merisiers. It is part of the Pierre Simon Laplace Institute (IPSL), a Paris region federation of nine climate and environment research institutes. The LSCE brings together around 320 researchers, engineers and administrative staff, including 150 permanent staff from the 3 supervisory authorities and around fifty doctoral students. Since January 2015, the LSCE has been organized into three scientific themes: i) Archives and Tracers ii) Biogeochemical Cycles and Transfers in the Environment iii) Climate and Cycles - Modeling their variabilities and interactions. Each of these themes brings together between 4 and 7 research teams formed around common tools and/or research topics. The LSCE also relies on three platforms: PANOPLY for analytical geochemistry (shared with the GEOPS laboratory), ICOS (for greenhouse gas monitoring), and the Earth system modeling platform (managed by IPSL). Scientific activity is facilitated by the three support teams (Administration/Management, IT, Security/Infrastructure).
Position description
Category
Environment and climate science
Contract
Fixed-term contract
Job title
Post-doctorate in geochemistry
Socio-professional category
Executive
Contract duration (months)
36
Job description
In the GeoTrac team of the theme "Archives and tracers", the position is part of the ERC-StG AGROCHRONO project which studies the development of agropastoralism in the Indo-Iranian border regions. The objectives of the project are to obtain and specify the chronological, cultural, economic and environmental framework in which the first agropastoral populations of the region evolved from the 7th millennium BC.
The successful candidate will work on geochemical analyses of organic matter from archaeological and environmental matrices with molecular and isotopic approaches whose aim is to contribute to the reconstruction of ancient diets, management of plants and domestic animals and the paleoenvironmental framework in which populations evolved.
The candidate will work closely with the members of the AGROCHRONO project team who are experts in archaeology, archaeobotany, archaeozoology and palynology of the region and experts in organic geochemistry. He will also have the opportunity to participate in the field work to collect and select the samples to be analyzed. The LSCE GeoTrAc team has an organic geochemistry laboratory equipped with all the necessary instruments to carry out the isotopic and molecular analyses of the project.
On a daily basis, the successful candidate will be in charge of:
• Managing the database of samples analyzed during the project with their monitoring from the field to the laboratory and conditioning.
• Carrying out molecular (lipid) and isotopic analyses of the organic matter contained in archaeological materials and environmental matrices of various natures such as archaeological ceramics, plant remains, bone remains or sediment cores. This includes the chemical preparation and analyses of samples by gas chromatography (GC), mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). The successful candidate will be supported in this task by a technician or assistant engineer who will join the project at the middle of the first year.
• Study the preservation of lipids in stone vessels and develop methods for their routine analyses.
• Establish a local modern reference on lipid profiles and stable isotope values of carbon and hydrogen in plant and animal products potentially exploited by ancient societies.
• Data processing and interpretation.
• Dissemination of research results through oral presentations at international conferences and publications in international peer-reviewed journals.
To apply, send your CV and covering letter before 09/30/24 to Emmanuelle CASANOVA emmanuelle.casanova@lsce.ipsl.fr
Applicant Profile
Education/Expertise
• The successful candidate should have obtained or nearly completing a PhD in geochemistry, analytical chemistry, environmental or archaeological sciences or any other related field.
• Expertise in organic matter analysis, particularly in molecular and isotopic analyses.
• Rigor and autonomy to work in a chemistry laboratory and manage large data sets.
• Proficiency in scientific English for publication in international peer-reviewed journals and presentation at international conferences.
It is recommended but not necessary to have
• Expertise in biomolecular archaeology or paleoclimatology (strongly recommended)
• Expertise in the use and maintenance of chromatography, mass spectrometry and isotope ratio mass spectrometry instruments
• An interest in working with ancient and unique archaeological and environmental samples will be appreciated.
Soft skills
• Teamwork, communication, respect
• Rigor and autonomy
In line with CEA's commitment to the integration of disabled people, this job is open to all. The CEA offers accommodation and/or organisational possibilities for the inclusion of disabled workers.
Position location
Site
Saclay
Job location
France, Ile-de-France, Essonne (91)
Location
Gif-sur-Yvette
Requester
Position start date
02/01/2025