Offre de post-doc : Estimation de la contribution de l’ammoniac aux concentrations en particules dans l’atmosphère en zone rurale (H/F) en CDD 18 mois à IMT Nord Europe

Discipline : data science applied to atmospheric pollution

Line Manager : Esperanza PERDRIX, Laurent ALLEMAN

Workplace : IMT Nord Europe, CERI Energy & Environment, 59500 Douai, France.

Type of contract and duration : Fixed-term contract (18 months) - Full time

CONTEXT :

Public establishment belonging to IMT (Institut Mines-Télécom), placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, IMT Nord Europe has three main objectives: providing our students with ethically responsible engineering practice enabling them to solve 21st century issues, carrying out our R&D activities leading to outstanding innovations and supporting territorial development through innovation and entrepreneurship. Ideally positioned at the heart of Europe, 1 hour away from Paris, 30 min from Brussels and 1h30 from London, IMT Nord Europe has strong ambitions to become a main actor of the current industrial transitions, digital and environmental, by combining education and research on engineering and digital technologies.

Located on two main campuses dedicated to research and education in Douai and Lille, IMT Nord Europe offers research facilities of almost 20,000m² in the following areas:

•              Digital science,

•              Energy and Environment,

•              Materials and Processes.

For more details, visit the School’s website : www.imt-nord-europe.fr

The position is to be filled within the Centre d'Enseignement, de Recherche et d'Innovation Energie Environnement (CERI EE) at ITM Nord Europe. Part of CERI EE's mission (https://recherche.imt-nord-europe.fr/energie-environnement-ceri/ ) is to carry out technical and scientific work for the French Ministry of the Environment, within the framework of the Laboratoire Central de Surveillance de la Qualité de l'Air (LCSQA, https://www.lcsqa.org/fr ) and the Observatoire de Mesure et Evaluation en zone Rurale de la pollution Atmosphérique à longue distance (MERA, https://www.lcsqa.org/fr/le-dispositif-mera ). In consultation with the French Air Quality Monitoring Associations (AASQA), CERI EE is responsible for proposing and qualifying the measurement methods to be deployed, defining protocols, assessing data quality and managing the MERA observatory, which is part of the French regulatory air quality monitoring system.

Scientific background and post-doctoral assignments:

CERI EE has an 18-month temporary vacancy in the Observations, Sources and Processes in the Atmosphere (OSPA) research axis. The OSPA axis focuses on the physicochemistry of atmospheric trace species through laboratory and field experiments, with the aim of improving the understanding of the characteristics, sources and fate of atmospheric pollutants.

The position is part of the CAPARA project (estimation de la Contribution locale du secteur Agricole sur les concentrations en Particules dans l'atmosphère et Appropriation des Résultats par le monde agricole pour Adapter ses pratiques), carried out in partnership with the regional air quality monitoring network Atmo Hauts-de-France and the Chambers of Agriculture of Nord and Oise, and funded by the public environmental agency ADEME.

The aim of the CAPARA project is to better inform and mobilize the agricultural sector on air quality. To this end, the project is working with farmers to study the influence of agricultural activities on the levels of atmospheric particle matter.

Atmospheric particles are a major health, environmental and climate issue. The Hauts-de-France (HdF) region is regularly affected by episodes of particulate pollution. At present, the influence of local agricultural activities on local particle concentrations is still poorly understood, as it is linked to complex atmospheric processes. Moreover, air quality modelling and forecasting systems have difficulties in correctly predicting local particle pollution episodes, particularly in relation to the formation of secondary aerosols, to which agricultural emissions contribute. The link between local agricultural activity, transported pollution and locally measured concentrations also needs to be clarified.

Atmospheric observations were carried out in two rural communes of the Hauts-de-France region, one to the north of the HdF region and under the influence of agricultural emissions transported from Belgium and the Netherlands, the other to the south of the HdF region under the influence of more local agricultural emissions.

In this context, this project aims to: (1) estimate the local contribution of the agricultural sector to atmospheric particle concentrations in these two contrasting territories, and (2) gain a better understanding of the formation of secondary inorganic aerosols in rural areas in relation to local agricultural practices, atmospheric conditions and transported pollution.

In collaboration with the CERI EE functional managers, the candidate will be responsible for processing the data measured at each of the two sites, during the spring and autumn periods of agricultural soil fertilization. For each site, the database consists of 180 days of observations, with more than fifty gaseous and particulate atmospheric species measured at variable frequencies (minute, hour, day).

Data processing includes several steps:

1) Verification of data consistency (mass balance closure) and estimation of measurement uncertainty, using established methods, to consolidate the database.

2) Characterization of the temporal variations of the atmospheric species observed, in conjunction with the information provided by the local farmers on their spreading practices during the measurement campaigns, in collaboration with the Chambers of Agriculture.

3) Investigation of atmospheric particle sources using PMF (Positive Matrix Factorization) factor analysis.

4) Study of the consistency of ground-based measurements of ammonia (a tracer gas for agricultural activities) with simultaneous remote sensing measurements from IASI and/or CRIS satellites. Depending on the results, an innovative methodology based on satellite observations may be developed to monitor ammonia transport and better distinguish transported ammonia from locally emitted ammonia.

5) Pooling the results of the measured data processing with the results of the atmospheric modelling carried out by Atmo Hauts-de-France, and interpretation of the differences.

6) Scientific exploitation of the research work, in collaboration with the CAPARA project partners, in the form of articles in peer-reviewed journals and oral presentations at conferences in the field. It will also be necessary to communicate the results and ensure the transfer of skills in the methods developed.

Teaching activities may also be envisaged, depending on the wishes of the person recruited.

Candidate profile: (Prerequisites/ Diploma)

The candidate must have a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences or Data Science and be able to write in English, and French if possible.

REQUIRED PROFILE :

Skills

• Scientific rigor

• Good organizational skills and ability to work independently

• Good oral and written communication skills,

• Ability to work in a team and with different partners

Knowledge

• Fluency in technical English, both written and spoken

• Proficiency in programming (R, python…)

• Multivariate Statistical Analysis

• Positive Matrix Factorization

• Atmospheric Physical Chemistry

CONDITIONS :

The position is available from March 2025.

Tasks will be carried out at the Bourseul Campus of IMT Nord Europe in Douai, France.

The type and duration of the contract is a full-time 18-month fixed-term contract.

Possibility of partial teleworking (maximum of 2 days per week, adjustable according to service requirements)

Many days of leave

Collective catering available

Public transport to and from work covered (50%), free in the city of Douai

Sustainable mobility package (for carpooling or cycling)

Family supplement depending on family structure

Wide range of social benefits

INFORMATION AND APPLICATION METHODS :

For any information on the missions, please contact  

PERDRIX Esperanza, assistant Professor, esperanza.perdrix@imt-nord-europe.fr ; Tél. +33 327 71 26 15

ALLEMAN Laurent, assistant Professor, laurent.alleman@imt-nord-europe.fr, Tél. +33 327 71 26 24

For any administrative information, please contact the Human Resources Department: jobs@imt-nord-europe.fr

In addition, the position can be adapted for a disabled person.

Applicants are invited to provide:

• A CV specifying in particular your activities in research (including a list of publications and conference presentations)

• Add the names and contact details of two referees, who will be contacted separately.

• Copies of Master and PhD diploma,

• A letter of motivation.

DEADLINE DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS : Febuary 28, 2025