Category
F12 Management of polluted soils and waste – Engineer / Researcher
Job title
PFAS modeling thesis
Contract
Thesis
Contractual hours
Full-time
Contract duration
36 months
Context and contributions of the position
BRGM’s 3SP unit (Sites, Sols et Sédiments pollués – Polluted Sites, Soils and Sediments) is involved in both support for public authorities and the research and development of innovative processes, drawing on its experimental platform PRIME (Plateformes Pour La Remédiation et l’Innovation au service de la Métrologie Environnementale – Platforms for Remediation and Innovation in Environmental Metrology).
The thesis, entitled “Development of a numerical computing platform dedicated to the characterization and remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS)”, is part of the PFAS plan launched by the French governement’s Risk Prevention Department (DGPR). The thesis is supervised by the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP).
The specific physicochemical properties of PFAS mean that groundwater contamination plumes are very large (= km) and highly heterogeneous, making the implementation of treatment methods extremely complex.
This thesis project responds to this demand by developing, for the first time, a modeling tool for mechanistically simulating remediation techniques using non-Newtonian fluids, taking explicit account of contamination “hot-spots” induced by environmental heterogeneities.
Job description
Joining the French Geological Survey (BRGM) means becoming part of France’s leading public institution for Earth Science applications bringing together 1,000 wholeheartedly committed experts across 29 bases in Mainland and Overseas France. BRGM focuses on enhancing geological knowledge and understanding of surface and sub-surface-related phenomena, with a view to meeting the challenges of environmental changes through innovative projects with societal implications.
The main aim of this thesis is to overcome the existing barriers to the implementation of remediation solutions on sites and soils contaminated by PFAS by developing modeling tools to pre-dimension and correctly assess the effectiveness of these treatment methods for large-scale contamination plumes, such as those encountered at sites contaminated by PFAS.
The main tasks of the PhD student are as follows:
– Develop a numerical toolbox to simulate the transfer of dissolved emerging organic pollutants (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS) through the unsaturated and saturated zone.
– Extend the tool’s capabilities to soil and groundwater remediation modeling (e.g. in situ washing using complex fluids developed at BRGM), by developing an appropriate framework (choice of algorithms, codes, mathematical models).
The underlying missions of the PhD student are as follows:
– Propose and implement an approach for coupling transfer models in unsaturated and saturated zones.
– Reassess the choice of equations to be solved for each compartment (unsaturated, saturated) as they generally appear in the literature, in the light of the latest knowledge acquired on the behavior of aqueous film forming foams (AFFF), notably from large-scale experiments carried out at BRGM.
– Adapt the approach in particular to areas of concentrated pollution (“hot-spot”).
– Move beyond the current paradigm based on the use of empirical mathematical formalisms to describe PFAS sorption at interfaces (solid/water and water/air) to enable a mechanistic representation based on the laws of mass conservation and thermodynamics.
Profile
Requested start date : 03/02/2025
Education : MSc or equivalent higher education qualification
Experience : 1-5 years
Master’s degree (or engineering school), with training in engineering, hydrology, geochemistry, computer science, applied mathematics, fluid dynamics.
Knowledge of at least one programming language is required (Python, C++, etc.).
Previous knowledge of numerical modeling of transfers in porous media using numerical codes (e.g. OpenFOAM) is a plus.
You will demonstrate the following skills and abilities :
– Ability to integrate and work in a multidisciplinary team: thermodynamicists, chemists of interfaces, electro-chemists, mineralogists, geochemists, microbiologists, geophysicists, experimenters, etc. ;
– Initiative ;
– Ability to organize daily work independently ;
– Ability to disseminate knowledge internally (trainee supervision) or externally (conference) ;
Fluency in English imperative (reading, writing, speaking).
Working conditions
This full-time position is based at BRGM Orléans and will be attached to BRGM’s Polluted Sites, Soils and Sediments unit (3SP). This position involves national and international travel, the frequency and duration of which will depend on the assignments (field tests, conferences, etc.) to be carried out as part of the thesis.
Within an environment that promotes a healthy work/life balance, particularly thanks to remote working, BRGM prides itself on providing a friendly and caring place to work.
Awarded HRS4R certification in 2021, we are committed to supporting you throughout your career at BRGM. We provide you with a range of tools for developing your skills and expertise, with scope for career progression and geographic mobility.
At BRGM, you will gain from such benefits as a 13th month salary, days off compensating for unpaid overtime, a company canteen, sports facilities as well as holiday and leisure options.
Position location
Job location
France, Centre-Val de Loire
Location
Orléans
