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State University (France), Browse similar opportunities
Reference: PV-2021-904/1
Department/Office:
Duration of contract:3 ans
Start date:
Deadline for applications:02/05/2021
The Institute and the recruiting department
A pioneer in ocean science, IFREMER’s cutting-edge research is grounded in sustainable development and open science. Our vision is to advance science, expertise and innovation to:
- Protect and restore the ocean
- Sustainably use marine resources to benefit society
- Create and share ocean data, information & knowledge.
With more than 1,500 personnel spread along the French coastline in more than 20 sites, the Institute explores the 3 great oceans: the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific oceans. A leader in ocean science, IFREMER is managing the French Oceanographic Fleet and its dedicated scientists create ground-breaking technology to push the boundaries of ocean exploration and knowledge, from the abyss to the atmosphere-ocean interface.
Well-established in the international scientific community, our scientists, engineers and technicians are committed to advance knowledge about our planet’s last unexplored frontiers. They provide the science we need for informed decision-making and public policy and they transfer this knowledge and technology to businesses to fulfill public and private needs. Core to our mission is also to strengthen public awareness about the importance of understanding the ocean and its resources, and empowering future generations of leaders through education and outreach national campaigns.
Founded in 1984, IFREMER is a French public organization and its budget approximates 240 million euros. It is operating under the joint authority of the French Ministry for Higher Education, Research and Innovation, the French Ministry for the Ecological and Solidary Transition, and the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
General areas of responsibility
The thesis will take place at IFREMER within the Laboratory of Physical and Spatial Oceanography (LOPS, https://www.umr-lops.fr/en). The PhD student will find within LOPS a community of physicists (~60 researchers, ~30 PhD students, ~20 post-docs) specialized in the study of marine currents through measurements during sea campaigns, numerical modeling and theoretical approaches. The thesis is in the continuation of the cooperation initiated with the Laboratory of Geodynamic and Sedimentary record (LGS) of IFREMER and within the framework of a European exchange network on the dynamics along continental slopes.
Summary
Continental slopes are a key oceanic zone in a context of rapid anthropisation. Underwater canyons incising the ocean slope are also major areas for marine biodiversity. They play a major role in the exchange of matter, carbon, nutrients, chemical contaminants, microplastics and heat between coastal areas and the deep sea. Physical processes in canyons (e.g. upwelling, internal tides, local circulation) are complex, and the way they interact is not yet fully understood. Improving our knowledge of hydrodynamic processes in canyons is essential to better represent the transport of material offshore and to the bottom, and to shed light on benthic and pelagic habitats, connectivity and contaminant transfer at canyon and slope levels.
Within this framework, the thesis proposal aims to characterise the physical processes, their interaction and associated energy transfers in two contrasting underwater canyons using numerical models (MARS3D, CROCO), by performing field observations and analysing experimental results. In the Mediterranean Sea, the Cassidaigne canyon, located east of the Gulf of Lions and subject to upwellings and under the influence of the Northern Current, will be considered. In the Bay of Biscay, the focus will be on the Capbreton canyon, in an area where internal tides are generated and propagate. The proposal also aims to characterise the influence of extreme events (storms, heat waves) on the circulation in the canyon. The identification of the mechanisms governing the processes at the bottom of the canyon will be carried out with the aim of improving their reproduction in numerical models (parameterisation, forcing) and proposing an adapted observation strategy.
Key words
Ocean circulation, submarine canyons, Cassidaigne, Mediterranean Sea, Capbreton, Bay of Biscay, physical processes, upwelling, internal tide, storms, modelling, oceanographic campaign
Required Knowledge, skills, and characteristics
Expected profil
Specific working conditions
PhD is a real opportunity to work on Ifremer's scientific and technological priority themes. It entitles the holder to a gross monthly salary of 1900 euros for a period of 3 years, which cannot be combined with other scholarships.
How to apply for this position?
Your application file must include :
Your application must be compiled into 2 PDF files, up to 1.5 MB for each file:
In case of any problem in attaching your documents, please upload your CV on this page (this step is mandatory for your application to be considered) and send all the documents to the thesis supervisor: pierre.garreau@ifremer.fr
The deadline for applications is 2nd May, 2021. Nevertheless, we strongly urge you to let us know as soon as possible of your intention to apply, by contacting the subject supervisor. The co-supervisors of the thesis are at your disposal for a meeting (on-site or virtual) and a more detailed presentation of the subject.
Doctoral students' contracts will start as of October 1st, 2021, subject to the submission of administrative documents authorizing Ifremer to recruit the doctoral student (certificate of completion of the Master 2 or engineering degree + visa for foreign doctoral students outside the EU).
How to apply for this position
Deadline for applications: 02/05/2021
All applications are processed exclusively via our website. Interested candidates can apply by clicking the “Apply” button.
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