General information
Offer title : Postdoctoral Researcher – ANR TRANSPLAST – Assessment of microplastic fluxes and transfer dynamics in urban waters based on the physico-chemical and temporal characterization of combined sewer overflow discharges. M/F (H/F)
Reference : UMR5023-NADBRO-010
Number of position : 1
Workplace : VAULX EN VELIN
Date of publication : 19 December 2025
Type of Contract : Researcher in FTC
Contract Period : 14 months
Expected date of employment : 1 February 2026
Proportion of work : Full Time
Remuneration : from €3,021 gross per month
Desired level of education : Doctorate
Experience required : 1 to 4 years
Section(s) CN : 01 – Interactions, particles, nuclei, from laboratory to cosmos
Missions
Within the framework of the ANR-TRANSPLAST project, the postdoctoral researcher will conduct an in-depth analysis of the characteristics and transport of microplastics in urban environments during rainfall events, with a particular focus on combined sewer overflows (CSOs). Interactions between microplastics and organic or inorganic matter, as well as their influence on transport mechanisms will be investigated. One of the main objectives is to quantify and characterize microplastic contamination in urban environments and to estimate the annual microplastic loads discharged into receiving rivers at the scale of a given territory. In parallel, the postdoctoral researcher will contribute to the development of innovative end-of-pipe solutions aimed at intercepting and reducing microplastic emissions during storm events.
Activities
— Monitor several rainfall events at selected CSOs representative of the diversity of technical configurations and drained surface characteristics (land-use types).
– Independently conduct experimental work dedicated to the extraction and quantification of microplastics in stormwater and urban sediments.
– Integrate the results into the development of a method for estimating microplastic loads discharged to rivers at the territorial scale.
– Supervise an undergraduate (Bachelor’s level) or early Master’s level intern (L3 or M1) carrying out experimental work.
Skills
– PhD in environmental sciences, geosciences, or engineering sciences.
– Strong skills in laboratory work and urban hydrological monitoring.
– Ability to independently conduct experiments focused on microplastic extraction and quantification in urban matrices.
– Proficiency in GIS tools and urban hydrological modeling approaches is an asset.
– Ability to disseminate scientific results in English (scientific papers, oral presentations).
– Teaching skills and experience in supervising interns.
– Team spirit, scientific curiosity, rigor, and strong interest in the project’s research topics.
– Good interpersonal skills and strong organizational abilities.
Work Context
The position is part of the ANR-TRANSPLAST project, which aims to improve understanding of microplastic transfers from urban environments to rivers and to develop innovative microplastic trapping solutions. The postdoctoral researcher will be hosted at the LEHNA laboratory (UMR 5023, University of Lyon / ENTPE / CNRS), within the “Impacts of infrastructure and pollution on hydrosystems” research team at ENTPE in Vaulx-en-Velin. In collaboration with ANR-TRANSPLAST project partners (notably INSA-DEEP and IMP Lyon), the work will combine field campaigns at instrumented combined sewer overflows, experimental laboratory analyses at ENTPE, and data processing. Occasional travel to instrumented sites in the Lyon metropolitan area is expected.
