RESEARCH ENGINEER / POSTDOC IN SENSORS INSTRUMENTATION AND PHYSICO-CHEMISTRY

IMT Nord Europe is a prestigious French engineering school founded in 1878 and a member of the Institut Mines Télécom (www.imt-nord-europe.fr). Its main missions are to educate the engineers of tomorrow and conduct high-value innovative research. Located at the crossroads of Europe, with convenient access being just one hour from Paris, 30 minutes from Brussels, and 1.5 hours from London, IMT Nord Europe benefits from over 20,000 square meters of laboratory space to provide high-level education and conduct excellent research in the following domains: Digital Systems, Energy and Environment, and Materials and Processes

The candidate will join the CERI EE (https://research.imt-nord-europe.fr/energy-and-environment/), in the thematic axis « Observations, Sources et Atmospheric Processes » (OSPA). Its research area focuses on the physicochemistry of trace air species and its fields of application in outdoor ambient air (troposphere). They aim to gain a better understanding of the processes of generation and transformation of air pollutants and propose solutions adapted to the needs of society and economic stakeholders. It is therefore essential to understand all the mechanisms and challenges related to the atmosphere such as climate change, biodiversity, air quality, and environmental health.

Scientific context of the study:

Part of the job is in links with the activities of the CERI EE for the French National Reference Laboratory (LCSQA; https://www.lcsqa.org/fr). LCSQA is the designated institute for technical coordination of French air quality networks. Its main missions are: (i) to guarantee the quality of the data, devices or methodologies and their adequacy with the European requirements and the needs of the national network, (ii) to assure the distribution and the exploitation of the data produced by the national network, (iii) to improve the scientific and technical knowledge of the national network to help the implementation of action plans and anticipate the future monitoring strategy and, (iv) to coordinate the national network. In this context, the candidate will participate in metrological activities for ambient air pollutants and for definition of new measurement methodologies, in particular through carrying out inter-comparison exercises and deploying sensor systems.

The other part of the job will be link with two research projects: (i) a European project QuantiAGREMI « On farm quantification of ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from livestock production » aiming in providing a SI-traceable field measurement infrastructure for accurate determination of animal houses emissions as well as nitrogen footprints. CERI EE involvement is for producing and deploying on site ammonia sensors, (ii) a French project AMICA « Multi-Instrumental Analysis of Ammonia Concentrations » planning to compare at an urban site near Paris, the response of different ammonia measuring systems, including ammonia sensor under development in CERI EE.

Activities:

The successful candidate will provide scientific and technical support to CERI EE studies and research projects related to the development and qualification of sensors dedicated to the characterization of air quality. He or she will contribute to the development and maintenance of specific experimental devices for current projects or to the establishment of new experimental platforms.

The first step will be to complete an ammonia sensor demonstrator in line with the criteria of the QuantiAGREMI project. The work concerns the optimization of the electronic acquisition card, the improvement of the sensor box and the development of the IHM. Metrological performance evaluation tests in laboratory will be carried out, as well as the deployment of systems developed during field campaigns as part of various national and European projects dedicated to the monitoring of ammonia concentrations in the air or improving knowledge of emission processes.

In addition, the successful candidate will also participate in the implementation of intercomparison exercises for the measurement of atmospheric pollutants and will contribute to the statistical exploitation of the associated results (20% of the time).

You will be able to participate in teaching and/or supervision tasks linked to IMT Nord Europe students (10% of the time).

Finally, you will follow the performance of analytical instruments (sensitivity, detection limit, etc.) (5% of the time), write technical reports, experimental protocols, user manuals, in English and in French, on the activities cited above and will participate in the dissemination of the results within the French air quality monitoring system or to any other project partner and you will contribute to bibliographic monitoring on air quality monitoring techniques of interest (5% of the time).

Candidate profile: (Prerequisities/Degree)

- Engineering degree or a Master's degree with a strong focus on instrumentation and physics (electronics, instrument calibration, programming, data processing, etc.)

- Excellent analytical and on lab and field deployment skills, with a critical mindset

- Proficient in scientific communication (written/oral) and teaching

- An excellent English level is waited for the international collaborations

- The candidate will have to demonstrate a real team spirit, as he will have a predominant role in the good continuity of the project between different research teams located in different countries.

- A PhD or a proven experience in a research laboratory would be a plus

- Driving licence strongly recommended

Abilities:

- Scientific rigor and writing quality

- Communication and teamwork skills

- Organized, rigorous, autonomous, and responsive

- A good level of English is necessary for international collaboration

Conditions:

Travel in France and Europe can be planned.

The position is available from 01/11/2024 for 24 months (Fixed-term contract (CDD)).  

This job is offered to civil servants on a mobility basis, or on a contractual basis under public law.

In addition, the position can be adapted for a disabled person.