General information

Reference

2025-3849  

Position description

Category

F12 Management of polluted soils and waste - Engineer / Researcher

Job title

Post-Doc Researcher Experimentation and numerical modelling in fluid mechanics

Contract

Post-doctoral contrat

Contractual hours

Full-time

Contract duration

12 months

Context and contributions of the position

As a national geological service, BRGM is the reference public institution in Earth science applications for managing soil and subsoil resources and risks (www.brgm.fr). Its action is oriented towards scientific research, support for public policies and international cooperation.

As part of the Risques sites et sols pollués (RSSP) unit of the Direction des risques (DRIS), you will be involved in research into the transfer of pollutants in multiphase media.

Identifying, monitoring and treating pollution induced by light refined petroleum hydrocarbons (gasoline, diesel, motor oil, etc.) is a major environmental challenge. These pollutants are part of LNAPLs (Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids), which are immiscible liquids that are less dense than water. In high concentrations, they accumulate at the top of the water table, forming a pure-phase product known as supernatant.

Job description

Seasonal variations in the water table can cause LNAPLs to spread across the capillary fringe, favoring their remobilization into the dissolved and gaseous phases of the soil. The means usually used for diagnostics are limited to: 1) soil, soil gas and water analyses, and supernatant thickness measurements; 2) extrapolation of data between measurement/analysis points. The aim of this project is to combine these methods with complex electrical resistivity in geophysics, to improve the characterization of LNAPLs. The work will consist in laboratory measurements as well as numerical modelling to describe pollutant flow and relate it to the geophysical signal to estimate their residual content in soils, with a view to improving supernatant recovery.

As part of your mission, you will be mainly responsible for:
- Performing a bibliographic synthesis to establish a state of the art on coupled multiphysical (hydro-geophysical) modeling integrating multiphasic phenomena (water/pollutant/air) that are essentials for the study of LNAPL behavior.
- Carrying out laboratory measurements to monitor and describe chemical and hydraulic phenomena that occur during the multiphase redistribution of the LNAPL at different scales (1D and 2D tanks);
- Developing a computation code to couple the models of the tri-phasic flow to predict the hydro-geophysical behavior. This code will be validated by laboratory experiments.
- Valorizing results (conferences and rank A publications).

Profile

Requested start date: 01/10/2025
Education: PhD
Experience: 1 - 5 years

You have a PhD degree (within the last 5 years) with a specialization in numerical modeling of multiphase flow in porous media. You have research experience in the field of multiphysics modeling attested by A-rank publications. Knowledge of geophysics and geophysical modeling is a bonus.

You will use the following skills and qualities:
- Proficiency in multiphase flow modeling of porous media.
- Good knowledge of electrical and/or electromagnetic geophysical methods would be plus.
- Interest in experimentation: a first experience of laboratory experiments would be a plus.
- Proficiency in English (read, written, spoken).
- Interest in multidisciplinary teamwork.
- Initiative and autonomy.

Working conditions

This full-time position for 12 months may involve travels in France and abroad.

Within an environment that promotes a healthy work/life balance, particularly thanks to remote working, BRGM prides itself on providing a friendly and caring place to work.
Awarded HRS4R certification in 2021, we are committed to supporting you throughout your career at BRGM. We provide you with a range of tools for developing your skills and expertise, with scope for career progression and geographic mobility.
At BRGM, you will gain from such benefits as a 13th month salary, days off compensating for unpaid overtime, a company canteen, sports facilities as well as holiday and leisure options.

At BRGM, you are guaranteed a transparent recruitment process. To apply, please send us your application (up-to-date CV and cover letter) by 05/09/2025.
Because diversity matters to us at BRGM, all of our job vacancies are open to everyone!

We will examine your application as soon as the closing date has passed. If your application is short-listed, we will contact you for recruitment interviews during which you will have the opportunity to talk with the recruitment and HR departments as well as a cross-functional department.

Position location

Job location

France, Centre-Val de Loire, Loiret (45)

Location