French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)

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As part of the international REFUGE-ARCTIC project (https://refuge-arctic.ulaval.ca/index.html), the La Rochelle University and French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), France, invite applications for a 18-month postdoctoral position in Arctic coastal ocean and glaciers modeling:

The laboratory
LIENSs is an Interdisciplinary Joint Research Unit part of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and La Rochelle University. The laboratory focuses on addressing the challenges related to the sustainability of coastal areas, which are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of global warming and anthropogenic activities. It hosts approximately 80 researchers, 29 permanent engineers and technicians, 24 postdoctoral and invited researchers, as well as 40 Ph.D. students.

Project
The Arctic climate is transitioning into a new state due to rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gasses. As a result, the years 2015–2022 have been the warmest on record, with a significant average temperature increase of +5°C in January since 1900. This warming has led to rapid changes in the Arctic Ocean’s hydrographic properties (e.g., salt and heat content), circulation, and sea ice. Since the 1970s, summer sea-ice extent has decreased by more than 40% and its thickness has reduced by 65%, with first-year ice replacing thicker multi-year ice. From 2000–2010, the volume of liquid freshwater in the upper Arctic increased by over 11% (8,000 km³) compared to 1980–2000, driven by river discharge, net precipitation, and melting sea ice and glaciers. Increased inflows of glacial meltwater and freshwater from fjords and river mouths are significantly altering coastal biogeochemical cycling, biodiversity, and primary productivity. Regions with multi-year ice and ice-dependent ecosystems have become rare and are now considered the last refuges of Arctic endemic biomes. The Lincoln Sea/Nares Strait system lying between Canada and Greenland is one of these key ecoregions because it is remote and difficult to access, and still poorly documented.

In the summer of 2024, the international REFUGE-ARCTIC project (https://refuge-arctic.ulaval.ca/index.html) will undertake an extensive and unprecedented fieldwork program in the Lincoln Sea and Nares Strait to investigate the impact of melting glaciers on the coastal Arctic Ocean. This postdoctoral project will integrate into this initiative, using the ECCO-Darwin ocean biogeochemistry model to simulate how glacier melt influences primary production, air-sea CO2 fluxes, carbon export to depth, and sediment burial. The candidate will develop a high-resolution regional model of the Lincoln Sea/Nares Strait (Shroyer et al., 2015 2017) with the latest numerical developments in glacier melt modeling (Carroll et al., 2015, 2016; Cowton et al., 2015). This role is crucial for advancing our understanding of coastal biogeochemical dynamics. As a member of our team, you will collaborate with a diverse and enthusiastic group of researchers from the USA (Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, San José State University; NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Canada (Université Laval, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Memorial University of Newfoundland, University of Victoria, Fisheries and Océans Canada), and France (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, École Pratique des Hautes Études, Université de Bordeaux, Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier, Sorbonne Université, Aix-Marseille Université, Université Versailles-Saint Quentin, Université d’Angers, Université Grenoble Alpes, Université de Bretagne Occidentale), engaging in both national and international research initiatives, offering ample opportunities for networking and collaboration. Key collaborators include Dr. Dustin Carroll (MLML/SJSU), Dr. Dimitris Menemenlis (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Dr. Mathieu Ardyna (Université Laval), and Prof. Vincent Le Fouest (La Rochelle University). The selected candidate will be hosted at La Rochelle University in northwest France.

References
Shroyer, E. L., et al. (2015), Modeled ocean circulation in Nares Strait and its dependence on landfast-ice cover, J. Geophys. Res. Oceans, 120, 7934–7959, 10.1002/2015JC011091
Shroyer, E. L., et al. (2017), Seasonal control of Petermann Gletscher ice-shelf melt by the ocean’s response to sea-ice cover in Nares Strait, Journal of Glaciology, 63(238), 324–330, 10.1017/jog.2016.140
Carroll, D., et al. (2015), Modeling Turbulent Subglacial Meltwater Plumes: Implications for Fjord-Scale Buoyancy-Driven Circulation, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 45, 2169–2185, 10.1175/JPO-D-15-0033.1
Carroll, D., et al. (2016), The impact of glacier geometry on meltwater plume structure and submarine melt in Greenland fjords, Geophys. Res. Lett., 43, 9739–9748, 10.1002/2016GL070170
Cowton, T., et al. (2015), Modeling the impact of glacial runoff on fjord circulation and submarine melt rate using a new subgrid-scale parameterization for glacial plumes, J. Geophys. Res. Oceans, 120, 796–812, 10.1002/2014JC010324

Skills and requirements

• Ph.D. in Oceanography or equivalent engineering qualifications
• Strong expertise in coastal ocean dynamics and modeling
• Proficiency in programming, with a minimum requirement of Fortran and Python
• Excellent English skills, both written and verbal, with effective communication abilities

Employment
Full-time and fully-funded position for at least 18 months. Starting date in January 2025. The candidate will be hosted at the LIENSs laboratory, La Rochelle University, located in the coastal city of La Rochelle, France.

How to Apply
Interested candidates are invited to submit the following documents to Vincent Le Fouest at vincent.le_fouest@univ-lr.fr:

• A cover letter detailing your motivation and qualifications
• A comprehensive curriculum vitae, including an educational background
• Contact information for one or two academic references

For inquiries about the position, please feel free to contact Vincent Le Fouest at the provided email address.