Job summary:

This industrial research Chair is based on a scientific partnership between the National Radioactive Waste Management Agency (Andra) and the University of Lorraine in the framework of the LabEx RESSOURCES21 Priority Research Action-PRA n¢X6 the objective of which is to develop new sensors for field experiments that permit analysis of the response of ecosystems to anthropogenic perturbations, acquisition of observational data and development of the theoretical tools needed to treat the large data flux generated by an operational observation system.

The chair is focused primarily on research concerning methods for sustainable observation, experimentation, archiving and data processing in the context of environmental research to be carried out within Andra's project for deep geological disposal of radioactive waste. Chair activities will therefore be closely linked to a 900 km2 national environment observatory in the eastern region of France dedicated to long-term environmental monitoring. The overall objective of the observation system is to furnish a dynamic view of the zone's ecosystem services and the quality of the functions offered by continental surfaces over the long term (up to a hundred years). The chair aims at increasing the observation system monitoring capacity based on a variety of innovative experimental approaches and a wide range of redundant sensors designed to supply spatially resolved and real-time information about hydric, mechanical, thermal, biological and chemical behaviour of all environmental compartments (soils, sediments, rivers...) in a diversity of ecosystems (forest, prairie...). In many cases, functional rather than analytical information is ultimately desired. In this framework, the development of statistical methods will aim at giving insights into the experimental sensor network design and data interpretation.

The chair will be involved in the work of RESSOURCES21 and will reinforce the research competences of OTELo (the Lorraine Earth and Environment Observatory) on environmental issues linked to major innovation and research projects. The chair holder will coordinate, or be tightly associated with, the SOERE OPE (the ANDRA Perennial Observatory of the Environment) missions and could, if the person's experience fits, become the chairman of the Scientific Council.

Responsibilities:

The Chair's scientific and technical programme is associated with the process of achieving project information integration within a regional observatory and to furthering knowledge progress through:

• the acquisition of observation data,
• the development and exploitation of appropriate sensors or through the elaboration of required theoretical tools.

The chair holder will be responsible for:

• conducting and animating the "Biogeochemical sensors" issue within Otelo (the Lorraine Earth and Environment Observatory), being involved in implementing observation missions mainly in association with the SOERE OPE (the ANDRA Perennial Observatory of the Environment) at the site of Meuse/Haute-Marne.
• developing scientific research aiming at qualifying mineral, organic or biological agents which can be a point of departure for environmental sensors (due to their sensitivity to various physical-chemical local variations). It will focus on considering integration conditions of those agents in measuring instruments that must show some characteristics such as: ready integration within studied systems, non-invasive (do not impact the functioning of the system), stable and long operating life.
• animating a research topic on the development of innovative physical-chemical, optical and electrochemical methods to obtain functional information on subsurface environments (i.e. information about the effect of a disturbance on ecosystem health). Possible perspectives are: application of microsensor technologies and signal/data processing routines to environmental diagnostics and monitoring (benchmarking)*, validation of measurement devices or systems in which a biological, organic and mineral component will be used as the recognition element, development (with industrial partners if necessary) of new scalable and non-invasive environmental sensors or sensor networks, hard sensors, remote sensing and teledetection.
• participating in training programs provided by the University of Lorraine on a basis of 64hours/year (Master degree, engineering school and PhD). Teaching subjects should be linked to observation topics and environmental data acquisition or signal processing.

A permanent position as a(n associate) professor in the university of Lorraine may be open after the chair

Requirements

Applicants must hold a PhD (or equivalent) as at the date of application (i.e. dissertation successfully defended).

• The candidate must justify recognised skills in the field of Biogeochemistry (environmental physicochemistry, physics of condensed environment, mineralogy and/or biology) and/or of environmental sensing and signal processing (optical and electrochemical measurements, spectrometry, multi-functional sensors, micro-fluidics, multivariate statistical signal processing, chemometrics ¡K)
• Applicants must be fluent in one of the working languages of the host laboratories; fluency in French or English.
• Experience and quality of the candidate: demonstrate that you distinguish yourself as a world-class researcher or as a leader in your field
• Quality of the project / Research programme proposal
• Complementary skills and competences in metrology, programming and data processing system will be appreciated

How to apply

Applications are to be sent per mail to ressources21-contact@univ-lorraine.fr Each file must include:

1. the information sheet (appendix)
2. a curriculum vitae
3. a cover letter
4. a list of publications
5. a detailed research project proposal in English or in French: describe the program in detail (5 to 10 pages) including objectives, context, methodology, and calendar of actions.
6. An estimation of necessary technical and human means

Next steps :

• 31/08/2013: Deadline for application
• between the 14^th and 18^th of October in Paris: Interviews
• beginning of November 2013: communication of results
• Opening of position: January 2014