Postdoctoral position /Research Engineer in numerical modelling of nature-based solutions

Updated: about 2 months ago
Location: La Rochelle, POITOU CHARENTES
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 31 Dec 2025

5 Dec 2025
Job Information
Organisation/Company

La Rochelle Université
Research Field

Computer science » Programming
Computer science » Database management
Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)
Positions

Postdoc Positions
Country

France
Application Deadline

31 Dec 2025 - 20:00 (Europe/Paris)
Type of Contract

Temporary
Job Status

Full-time
Offer Starting Date

2 Mar 2026
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

La Rochelle University is recruiting within the LIENSs Laboratory a 1-year postdoc or a research engineer to improve the numerical modelling of nature-based solutions in coral reef and saltmarsh environments using the numerical modelling system SCHISM.

Key words: numerical modelling, numerical methods, nature-based solutions, saltmarsh, coral reefs.

Employer and hosting lab description

In a higher education and research landscape that has been profoundly reshaped for more than a decade, La Rochelle Université has chosen to structure its research around a thematic by positioning its scientific and academic strengths on societal and environmental issues. This approach has led to the creation of a teaching and research institute called the LUDI Institute, SmUCS in English (Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability), operational since the 1st September 2021.

Website to consult: click here

Research context / Description of the research project

Coastal risks are increasing due to ongoing climate changes combined with the growing attractivity of coastal zones, calling for a better understanding of underlying processes and the development of adaptation solutions. In the scope of the research projects La Rochelle Territoire Zéro Carbone 2040 (LRTZC hereafter) and PPR Océan et climat FUTURISKS, we are studying the effects of coastal vegetation and coral reefs on wave dissipation and mitigation of extreme sea levels and flooding, combining field observation and high-resolution numerical modelling. However, the high computional cost associated with the numerical modelling approaches that we use at LIENSs (SCHISM modelling system ; Zhang et al., 2016), partially developed at LIENSs (e.g. Bertin et al., 2020; Martins et al., 2022), prevents the performance of simulations on sufficiently-long time scales to assess the impacts of climate change. In this context, we are exploring solutions to improve the numerical efficiency of SCHISM when applied to coastal environments characterized by very rough bottom.   

Missions of the postdoc/research engineer

In order to meet with the scientific objectives described above, we are hiring a 1-year postdoc or research engineer to improve the numerical efficiency of the modelling SCHISM. For coral reef environments, the improvements will concern the implicit treatment of vertical mixing terms in the circulation model, already implemented for vegetation, but that will deserve adaptations and verifications, namely against comprehensive field experiments collected in the scope of the project FUTURISKS. For saltmarsh environments, efforts will focus on the morphodynamic module of SCHISM, which enables to simulate the coupled evolution of the seabed and the salt marsh. In fact, solving an advection-diffusion equation for different sediment grain sizes and vertical levels rapidly dominates the computational time and does not currently allow to perform numerical simulations over more than a few years (e.g., Bertin et al., 2020). Alternative methods such as the Eulerian-Lagrangian Method (ELM), which remain stable with much larger time steps, will be explored. For these two projects, the GPU-based version of SCHISM under development will also be tested. 

Type of recruitment 

12-month postdoctoral contract based in La Rochelle (17) in the LIENSs Laboratory

If the candidate obtained his/her doctorate less than three years ago, a postdoctoral contract may be offered. After 3 years, an equivalent contract will be offered.

Salary: about ~€2569.69 gross per month, depending on the level of qualification.

Contact for information on the position to be filled

Xavier Bertin ( xbertin@univ-lr.fr ) and Kevin Martins (kmartins@univ-lr.fr )


Where to apply
Website
https://recrutement.univ-lr.fr/filo2/login

Requirements
Research Field
Computer science
Education Level
PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

We are seeking a highly-motivated candidate, skilled in numerical model development (programming in FORTRAN, numerical methods, HPC environment). Experience in numerical methods on unstructured grids and/or GPU would be strong assets. 


Internal Application form(s) needed
Postdoc_LRU_Model_SFN_VE.pdf
English
(84.15 KB - PDF)
Download
Additional Information
Selection process

How do I apply?

Your application must include:

  • Cover letter
  • detailed curriculum vitae
  • copy of highest diploma

This application must be submitted using the dedicated application accessible by clicking here  (Job reference: RECH/LIENSs/25-17).

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS OR THOSE SENT BY E-MAIL WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Recruitment process: 

After a review of the applications, selected candidates will be invited to an interview, preferably in person but through visioconference for foreign candidates who cannot travel to France. 

Please note that the position if located in a sector where scientific and technical potential are protected and therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that the arrival of the candidate recruited be authorised by the competent authority of the French Ministry for Higher Education and Science (MESR).

  • Application deadline: 31/12/2025
  • Starting date: March 2026

Work Location(s)
Number of offers available
1
Company/Institute
La Rochelle Université
Country
France
State/Province
Nouvelle Aquitaine
City
LA ROCHELLE
Postal Code
17000
Street
21 avenue Albert Einstein
Geofield


Contact
State/Province

Nouvelle Aquitaine
City

La Rochelle
Website

https://www.univ-larochelle.fr
Street

23 avenue Albert Einstein, BP 33060
Postal Code

17031
E-Mail

pierre.labardin@univ-lr.fr

STATUS: EXPIRED

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