Job Information
Organisation/Company: CNRS
Department: HydroSciences Montpellier
Research Field: Environmental science, Biological sciences, Geosciences
Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2)
Country: France
Application Deadline: 19/01/2023 – 00:59 (UTC)
Type of Contract: Temporary
Job Status: Full-time
Hours Per Week: 35
Offer Starting Date: 01/03/2023 – 12:00
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?: Not funded by an EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?: No
Offer Description
Description of the activities. The post-doctoral fellow will contribute to the definition of the sampling strategy, in consultation with the researchers of HSM and LCA laboratories involved in the project. He/she will be in charge of the organization of the field campaigns, and will benefit from the logistic support of a dedicated team from HSM. He/she will monitor, archive and exploit the results of the measurement of water quality parameters (pH, Eh, conductivity, temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, alkalinity, concentrations of major anions and cations, dissolved organic carbon, Se, and other trace elements, reduced species of iron and sulfur), with analyses performed by competent permanent technical staff of HSM (ABIHS analysis platform) and the ICP-MS AETE-ISO platform of OSU OREME, at the University of Montpellier. He/she will implement the speciation analysis of Se (selenite, selenate and possibly pool of reduced Se and organic Se) at trace levels by HPLC-ICP-MS coupling, using a hydrogen collision cell, in collaboration with HSM researchers and analytical chemists. He/she will validate a sample preservation methodology for Se speciation in aqueous matrices typical of sulfide mining environments. He/she will implement solid phase characterization techniques such as X-Ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and possibly surface analysis, and will apply sequential extraction protocols if relevant. He/she will use geochemical modeling software (Phreeqc type) for equilibrium speciation calculations. He/she will contribute to the project meetings and valorization of the results in the form of publications and communications in international journals and conferences.
Scientific background. Selenium is a metalloid commonly found in sulfide mineralization and its behavior in the environment deserves special attention. Selenium exists in different oxidation states, Se(-II), Se(-I), Se(0), Se(IV), Se(VI), and its mobility depends strongly on its speciation. The Se(IV) and Se(VI) species are soluble, while the Se(-II), Se(-I) and Se(0) forms are very little soluble. This speciation depends on redox conditions and microbial activity (kinetic effect). To date, uncertainties remain about the solubility of Se in natural environments in the context of redox gradient. To address this issue, observations will be carried out on a watershed draining tailings storage areas resulting from the exploitation of sulfide ore. This type of environment offers a variety of geochemical contexts in terms of redox, pH, organic matter concentration and iron and sulfur concentrations, two elements that can modify and/or control the speciation of Se through their redox properties and the formation of solid phases. The aim is to elucidate the behavior of Se and to specify the limits of its solubility in this context.
-The post-doctoral position is part of a project financed by ANDRA and involves two research units: HydroSciences Montpellier (HSM) and the Laboratoire de Chimie Agro-industrielle (LCA) Toulouse. The post-doctoral fellow will be based at HydroSciences Montpellier where he/she will join the research team “Pollutions Environnement SantĂ© Territoires (PEnSTer)
(http://www.hydrosciences.org/index.php/2021/05/06/penster/). He/she will work in close collaboration with the LCA research team.
Supervision:
– Corinne Casiot (Research Director at CNRS, head of the PEnSTer team at HSM).
– Philippe Behra (University Professor at the Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, ENSIACET).
Requirements
Research Field: Environmental science
Education Level: PhD or equivalent
Research Field: Biological sciences
Education Level: PhD or equivalent
Research Field: Geosciences
Education Level: PhD or equivalent
Languages: FRENCH
Level: Basic
Research Field: Environmental science
Years of Research Experience: 1 – 4
Research Field: Biological sciences
Years of Research Experience: 1 – 4
Research Field: Geosciences
Years of Research Experience: 1 – 4
Additional Information
Eligibility criteria
Scientific background of the candidates: The candidate should be a (geo)chemist with a strong background in aqueous solution chemistry and geochemical modeling. If possible, he/she should have knowledge in analytical development. He/she must demonstrate the ability to work in a team, participate in sampling campaigns, and have good communication skills in English.
Additional comments
B license strongly recommended for field campaigns (see above under “activities”)Website for additional job details
https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR5151-CORCAS-001/Default.aspx
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: HydroSciences Montpellie
Country: France
City: MONTPELLIER
Where to apply
Website: https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Candidat/Offre/UMR5151-CORCAS-001/Candidater.aspx
Contact
City: MONTPELLIER
