Postdoctoral position in Sustainable Bioeconomy Strategies
Federal University of Toulouse, INSA, Engineering of biological systems and processes (LISBP) Toulouse, France
You dream to carry out research that will have real impact? You want to contribute to a cutting-edge “Make Our Planet Great Again” project and to develop the most comprehensive and integrated bioeconomy strategy in Europe? Here is your chance!
The Cambioscop team at the Department of Engineering of biological systems and processes (LISBP) is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher to pursue applied research at the interface of disciplines that include consequential Life Cycle Assessment, Geospatial analysis, Agroecology & soil science, Environmental & Natural resources economics, Process engineering & metaheuristics and to some extent Energy System Analysis. We are seeking exceptional early-career scholars committed to connecting interdisciplinary research to important sustainability challenges.
About the position and required qualifications
The postdoc will focus on developing the French residual biomass baseline. The targeted streams include residues likely to be found in high density in France, namely: agricultural (crop, manure), forestry (logging residues), grass (garden/park waste, unused meadows), seaweed, wastewater effluents as well as food waste (primary waste never entering any supply chain, household waste and selected industrial streams, e.g. wineries). A spatial quantification of these resources will be performed, identifying the current use of these streams (counterfactuals). Developing this baseline also involves a life cycle inventory (detailed quantification of substance, material and energy flows) capturing the current situation in terms of annual carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and other relevant substance flows from today’s management of these residues. The postdoc will, further, contribute to develop an understanding of the conditions shaping the availability of the selected biomass resources.
The ideal candidate will hold a PhD in Geography, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Engineering or a related field; have experience with GIS and remotely sensed imagery (command of ArcGis or QGIS), be comfortable working in an interdisciplinary team & collaborating with practitioners and managers. Candidates should also be creative, possess strong analytical & system-thinking skills, have strong communication (spoken and written) & interpersonal skills, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Experience with Life cycle Assessment and/or environmental economics is a strong plus.
The postdoc will be supervised by Drs. Lorie Hamelin and Ligia Barna.
We expect the postdoc will develop additional collaborations with GIS scholars and practitioners internal and external to the University (e.g. Cesbio/THEIA). Proficiency in English is a requirement; knowledge of French is an advantage (but not a requirement).
The position is available for 1.5 years, and is based at INSA-Toulouse. Salary follows national directives including full social and health benefits, and is adjusted for work experience. The successful applicant will have opportunities for professional development (e.g., media and communications training) offered by INSA-Toulouse, for presenting his/her research results at international conferences, and for research stays with the Cambioscop partners. Expected start date: first trimester of 2019.
Project Context
Cambioscop is among the 18 first projects selected within the framework of the “Make Our Planet Great Again” initiative launched by the French President in 2017. The overall aim is to build a foundation for establishing geo-localized, time-dependent and sustainable strategies for the development of bioeconomy in France, which strive to optimize carbon circularity. Among others, the environmental- and cost-efficiency of 300 bioeconomy conversion pathways will be assessed, towards the horizon 2050. The vision is to contribute to the most comprehensive and integrated bioeconomy strategy in Europe.
The project benefits from an advisory board including JRC-Sevilla (Circular Economy unit), Utrecht University (Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development), IINAS, University of Minnesota and Aarhus University (Centre for a Circular Bioeconomy). The project involves a total of 20 researchers (agronomists, engineers, biochemists, economists) from LISBP, INRA-Rennes, INRA-Grignon and Toulouse School of Economics.
Application
To apply, please submit the following by email to [email protected] using Cambioscop Postdoc PDF APPLICATION in the subject line of your email:
- Cover letter describing your interest in, and fit for, the project
- Curriculum vitae Research statement
- Names and contact information of 3 referees
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but those received by November 18th, 2018 will be guaranteed full consideration. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.
Main responsibilities
The successful candidate will:
- Determine the suitable resolution for the assessment
- Quantify the maximal availability of the selected residual biomass streams at the national and selected spatial scale
- Identify (and quantify, when necessary) the counterfactual uses of the selected streams
- Determine & quantify the conditions shaping the availability of the selected biomass resources
- Contribute to develop the system of equations for the life cycle inventories of the baseline system
- Perform a consequential LCA on the baseline
- Prepare articles to be published in international academic journals
- Have the possibility to contribute to a bioeconomy position paper
Research in France
For more information about life and research in France, you may refer to the Campus France website or to the Business France website: .