[ES_JOBS_NET] Postdoc in geomicrobiology modelling: microbial dormancy in Earth's ecosystems and biogeochemistry - Marseille, France

James Bradley jbradley.earth at gmail.com
Wed Sep 10 07:30:36 MDT 2025


*Postdoc in geomicrobiology modelling: microbial dormancy in Earth's
ecosystems and biogeochemistry M/F*



*Apply: *
https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR7294-SYLJOV-024/Default.aspx?lang=EN



*Application Deadline :* 30 September 2025 23:59:00 Paris time



*Reference :* UMR7294-SYLJOV-024
*Workplace :* Marseille, France
*Contract Period :* 24 months
*Expected date of employment :* 1 February 2026

*Missions*

We are seeking postdoc (M/F) in modelling of geomicrobiology (PhD-level
position) in Marseille, France, to work on the European Research Council
funded Starting Grant project 'SIESTA: The Role of Microbial Dormancy as an
Ecological and Biogeochemical Regulator on Earth'. The position is under
the supervision of Dr. James Bradley (https://www.jbradleylab.com/). The
recruited person will work with the principal investigator and will
participate in theoretical and numerical modelling work, as part of a
project team that includes doctoral students and technical staff. The main
objective of this postdoc position is (1) to develop theoretical modelling
approaches (bioenergetics, thermodynamics, ecological modelling,
individual-based modelling) to investigate the activity and dormancy of
microbial communities in extreme environments (including the cryosphere),
and (2) to link the activity and dormancy of these communities to
ecological and biogeochemical processes. This work will feed into wider
project goals to understand the role of dormancy as a regulator of
biogeochemical cycles, and to link dormancy to the emergence, survival and
evolution of microbial populations.

Applicants should hold a Ph.D. in in a relevant natural science discipline,
have specialist knowledge and demonstrable experience in numerical,
bioenergetic, ecosystem and/or habitability modelling, strong mathematical
skills and programming experience, and experience with analysis of
observational and/or model-derived datasets. The CDD is offered for 2 years
and is renewable on an annual basis, contingent on satisfactory performance
evaluations. We expect a flexible start date from around February 2026,
adjustable based on the candidate's availability and the requirements of
the project.

Applicants should submit IN ENGLISH 1) a current curriculum vitae; 2) a
cover letter (maximum 2 pages) stating their motivation for applying to
this position, research interests, relevant skills, training and
experience; 3) contact information for at least two and up to three
professional references. Please combine these documents into a single PDF.
Important: Please also email Dr. James Bradley (
james.bradley at mio.osupytheas.fr) to confirm your intention to apply. Apply
as soon as possible. The application window will remain open for three
weeks after the date that it is advertised online, and on a rolling basis
thereafter (depending on whether or not a candidate has been selected).
Contact Dr James Bradley (james.bradley at mio.osupytheas.fr) with any
questions.



*Activities*

The postdoc (M/F) will contribute to different research aspects on the
project:

·      Develop, implement and apply ecological modelling tools
(bioenergetics, thermodynamics, ecological modelling, individual-based
modelling, biogeochemical modelling) to study the activity and dormancy of
microorganisms.

·      Determine energetic and environmental parameters limiting the
activity, dormancy and survival of microbial communities.

·      Determine and assess catabolic and anabolic activity as well as
plausible rates of energy-generating and energy-requiring reactions for
active and dormant microorganisms.

·      Connect the physicochemical characteristics of an environment (and
the changes it is subject to) with the activity (and dormancy) of its
resident microbial population.

·      Assess the extent to which activity and dormancy of microorganisms
(and transitions between active/dormant states) regulate ecological
processes (biomass, diversity, function) and biogeochemistry (geochemical
composition and elemental fluxes).

·      Publish (as lead and co-author) in leading academic journals,
participate in scientific conferences, outreach activities.

·      Collate and catalogue data for deposition and archiving in data
repositories.



*Skills*

·      PhD (by time of appointment) in a relevant natural science
discipline, and a track-record of research productivity, including
peer-reviewed publications.

·      Specialist knowledge and demonstrable experience in numerical,
bioenergetic, ecosystem and/or habitability modelling.

·      Strong mathematical skills and programming experience.
Experience with analysis of observational and/or model-derived datasets.

·      Strong understanding of microbial processes in the context of
microbial ecology, habitability, astrobiology and/or extreme environments.

·      Write and execute code in R, Python, GitHub etc., high-performance
computing.

·      Evidence of ability to publish research results in international
peer-reviewed journals.

·      Ability to organize and prioritize own work, and organize research
within the project timetable.

·      Strong oral and written communication skills in English.

·      Ability to work independently and flexibly.

·      Ability to work harmoniously as part of a team.





*Work Context*

The successful candidate (M/F) will work at the Mediterranean Institute of
Oceanology (MIO), in Marseille Luminy. The MIO is an Oceanography research
laboratory of the Universities of Aix-Marseille, Toulon, CNRS and IRD. It
is integrated into OSU Pythéas. Its objectives are to better understand the
ocean system and its evolution in response to global change. It constitutes
a center of expertise in biology, ecology, biodiversity, microbiology,
fisheries, physics, chemistry, biogeochemistry and marine sedimentology.
Its frameworks are the world ocean, its interfaces with the continent, the
atmosphere and the sediment. The MIO has more than 250 people, including
around a hundred researchers (CNRS, IRD) and teacher-researchers from
universities, around sixty engineers and technicians, more than 50 doctoral
students and an administrative team serving research. The candidate (M/F)
will join the MEB team, working in the ERC project SIESTA led by James
Bradley. The successful candidate (M/F) will enjoy a vibrant research
group, access to excellent research facilities and platforms at the
Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography and Aix-Marseille University, and
be embedded in a team committed to high scientific integrity, open and
reproducible science, and promoting inclusivity. Marseille is an
affordable, vibrant and historic city on the Mediterranean coast, with
culinary excellence, diverse cultural experiences, and a large
international community. The Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, on
the Luminy campus of Aix-Marseille Université, is surrounded by nature
being nestled among the spectacular Calanques National Park.



*Constraints and risks*

The work will involve travel to scientific meetings for dissemination of
results. The work may (depending on project needs and keenness of the
candidate) involve travel and fieldwork in remote (glaciated, Arctic)
environments for field collection of samples.
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