General information
Offer title : Postdoctoral Researcher (M/F) (H/F)
Reference : UMR5566-VINFAU-002
Number of position : 1
Workplace : TOULOUSE
Date of publication : 10 November 2025
Type of Contract : Researcher in FTC
Contract Period : 22 months
Expected date of employment : 1 February 2026
Proportion of work : Full Time
Remuneration : €3,041 to €4,217 gross monthly salary based on experience
Desired level of education : Doctorate
Experience required : Indifferent
Section(s) CN : 19 – Earth System: superficial envelopes
Missions
The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to the implementation of the FLUOREAL project, which aims to better understand the ecological and biogeochemical dynamics of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in large tropical river systems (the Red and Amazon rivers) and their associated coastal areas. He/she will participate in the development of innovative analytical tools, the measurement and modeling of PFAS dispersion, and the study of their trophic transfer in aquatic species of interest to fisheries and aquaculture.
Activities
**Analytical and Metrological Component**
Deployment and optimization of the PFAS analytical toolbox: targeted analyses (LC-MSMS, GC-MSMS), total oxidizable precursor assay (TOPFAS), and non-target screening (NTS, LC-HRMS Orbitrap).
Intercomparison and transfer of analytical protocols to Brazilian (UFRPE) and Vietnamese (USTH) partners.
Participation in cross-training activities (stays at NILU, EPOC, LCE, etc.) and in international training workshops.
**Environmental and Modeling Component**
Analysis of water, sediment, and biota sample sets collected from the Red and Amazon Rivers (LOTUS, PLUME, AMAZEST, and AMAZOMIX campaigns).
Study of spatial and seasonal distributions of PFAS and identification of the key processes controlling their fate (dispersion, transformation, sediment retention).
Contribution to modeling PFAS transport in riverine and coastal environments, in connection with the SCHISM and NEMO-PISCES models developed at LEGOS.
**Biological and Trophic Transfer Component**
Investigation of PFAS bioaccumulation and biomagnification in economically important aquatic species (fish, crustaceans, mollusks).
Calculation of bioconcentration and trophic magnification factors (TMF).
Preliminary assessment of human health risks associated with the consumption of aquaculture products in the targeted tropical regions.
**Dissemination and Outreach**
Preparation of scientific papers for publication in high-impact international journals.
Participation in open-access data management and dissemination.
Involvement in organizing workshops, conferences, and science communication activities aimed at socio-economic and institutional stakeholders (Vietnam, Brazil, Europe).
Skills
**Technical and Scientific Skills**
PhD in analytical chemistry, biogeochemistry, environmental sciences, or a related discipline.
Strong experience in mass spectrometry (LC-MSMS, GC-MSMS, LC-HRMS) and in the processing of complex analytical datasets (TOP assay, suspect/NTS approaches).
Good knowledge of persistent organic contaminants, ideally PFAS.
Experience in environmental modeling or aquatic ecotoxicology would be considered an asset.
**Transversal Skills**
Excellent analytical and scientific synthesis skills.
Strong writing and communication abilities (scientific English required; French appreciated).
Ability to work collaboratively within interdisciplinary research teams.
Capacity to interact effectively with international partners and adapt to multicultural environments.
Work Context
The position is based at UMR LEGOS (Laboratory for Studies in Geophysics and Spatial Oceanography, Toulouse, France), under the supervision of Dr. V. Fauvelle, in close collaboration with EPOC (Bordeaux), NILU (Norway), USTH (Vietnam), and UFRPE (Brazil), within the framework of the international laboratories LOTUS and TAPIOCA.
The project brings together chemists, modelers, and ecologists to develop an integrated approach to understanding the fate of PFAS in tropical environments.
The postdoctoral researcher will work in close interaction with a PhD student and two Master’s students involved in complementary components of the project.
Constraints and risks
Occasional international travel is expected (Vietnam, Brazil, Norway, mainland France) for training sessions, meetings, and workshops.
Laboratory work requires strict compliance with safety regulations related to the use of organic solvents and fluorinated standards.
High analytical demands: operation of high-resolution instruments and processing of large analytical datasets.
Scientific risk is limited thanks to the availability of pre-collected samples, a network of experienced partners, and strong complementarity between the different project tasks.
