Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Desert Dust & Climate

About Position/Job

LISA UMR7583 invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Scientist position focused on the optical, physical, and chemical properties of desert dust and its influence on the Earth’s climate system. The successful candidate will join the OPENDUST project, a collaborative effort between LISA and IPGP under the UnivEarthS LabEx of Université Paris Cité. This 24-month postdoctoral position will start no later than 1 January 2026 and is based in Créteil, France. The project combines field data collection in southern Africa, laboratory experiments, spectroscopic measurements, and numerical optical modeling to advance understanding of mineral dust impacts on climate. The postdoc will lead the creation of a soil and aerosol databank and the determination of the complex refractive index of dust particles, contributing to global climate models and remote sensing capabilities.

Position/Job Details

Position: Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Desert Dust Properties
Institution: LISA UMR7583, Université Paris Cité
Department: Département Administratif
Research Field: Environmental Science » Earth Science
Location: Créteil, France
Number of Posts: 1
Job Type: Temporary, Full-time
Start Date (Anticipated): 1 January 2026
Working Hours: 37.5 hours/week
Salary Range: Competitive, based on experience
Required Degree/Diploma: PhD

Research Area

Mineral Dust Lifecycle and Processes
Optical Properties of Aerosols
Chemical and Mineralogical Analysis
Radiative Transfer Modeling
Climate Impact Assessment
Field and Laboratory Experiments

Eligibility & Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

PhD in Earth Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, Physics, or related fields
Background in dust processes and lifecycle
Experience in computer programming (Python, Matlab)
Strong independent research and teamwork skills
Excellent scientific writing and communication in English

Preferred Qualifications:

Expertise in mineralogical analysis and geomorphology
Experience in optical properties modeling
Field-based data collection linked to dust characterization
Laboratory experiments on dust optical, chemical, and physical properties

Key Responsibilities

Lead the creation of a databank of soils and dust aerosol samples with characterized mineralogical composition and grain size
Retrieve the complex refractive index (CRI) of soils and dust via high-resolution spectroscopic measurements
Perform numerical optical modeling linking soil and aerosol properties
Collaborate with LISA and IPGP teams for interdisciplinary research
Contribute to international climate and remote sensing initiatives