Job offer

Organisation/Company Sorbonne Université Research Field Environmental science Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Leading Researcher (R4) Other Profession Positions Postdoc Positions Country France Application Deadline 28 Feb 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Paris) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Apr 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

To disseminate knowledge, understand the world and meet the challenges of the 21st century, a new university was born on 1er January 2018, resulting from the merger between the universities of Paris-Sorbonne and Pierre and Marie Curie. Sorbonne University is a multidisciplinary, research-intensive and world-class university. Anchored in the heart of Paris, it is committed to the success of its students and strives to meet the scientific challenges of the 21st century.

The Institute Pierre-Simon Laplace (IPSL; ) and its Climate Modelling Centre ( ) are coordinating the Climaviation project with ONERA, an ambitious research project into the role of aviation in climate change. Climaviation is funded by the Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC, French Ministry of Ecological Transition).

One of Climaviation's objectives is to study the impact on the atmosphere and climate of condensation trails and cirrus clouds generated by aircraft. The IPSL's contribution focuses on quantifying their climatic effects. This activity is based on the LMDZ atmospheric model, which now includes a representation of the formation of contrails and their evolution into induced cirrus clouds. The IPSL is looking for a post-doctoral student to determine the role of the initial characteristics given to the contrails in the model, and to evaluate the parameterisation with satellite observations. The post-doctoral student will be part of the Climaviation team, which currently numbers around 10 people, and will work with Nicolas Bellouin and Etienne Vignon.

Location : Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace premises on the Sorbonne University Pierre-et-Marie-Curie campus (Jussieu, Paris 5ème). Working meetings in Palaiseau (ONERA) and Saclay (LSCE) are possible.

Typical occupation or job : Researcher

Category : A - IGR or Researcher

Main tasks and activities

Mission :

The researcher will determine the role of the initial characteristics given to the trails in the LMDZ climate model, and will evaluate the parameterisation with satellite observations.

Main activities :

• Quantify the dependence of global contrail properties in the LMDZ climate model on their initial properties (e.g. height and shape).
• Evaluate the parameterisation of contrails in LMDZ by comparison with satellite observations, with additional constraints from ground-based instruments where possible.
• Present the results and write the scientific papers associated with these developments and the results obtained.

Line management responsibilities: NO

Where to apply

E-mail

Requirements

Research Field Environmental science Education Level PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Cross-cutting knowledge required:

• Engineering degree/doctorate in atmospheric and climate sciences or related field
• First experience of large-scale modelling
• Solid experience of a programming language (e.g. Python, Matlab, C or Fortran) and scientific libraries
• Basic knowledge of Unix / Linux and bash programming
• Knowledge of atmospheric physics

Know-how:

• Ability to test parameterisations and have them evaluated on the basis of observations
• Excellent ability to write scientific articles in English
• Good oral communication
• Ability to plan one's work

Personal skills:

• Scientific rigour
• Initiative-taking and adaptability
• Excellent autonomy compatible with partly remote supervision
• Ability to work with teams with varied expertise

Languages FRENCH Level Excellent

Additional Information

Selection process

Type of contract: 12 to 16 monthfixed-term contract between the starting date and April 2027 included

Gross monthly salary: Starting at 36k€ gross, according to experience,

Desired start date: As soon as possible before April 2026