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Université Côte d'Azur

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Postdoctoral position: Rock weathering experiments with microbial ecosystems under Archean conditions Université Côte d'Azur in France

Degree Level

Postdoc

Field of study

Geology

Funding

Available

Deadline

Nov 22, 2026

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Country

France

University

Université Côte d'Azur

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Keywords

Geology
Chemistry
Environmental Science
Biology
Earth Science
Geochemistry
Astrobiology
Geomicrobiology
Microbiome Research
Dna Analysis
Quantitative Pcr
Metabarcoding
Bioinformatic

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About this position

Postdoctoral position in geomicrobiology at Université Côte d’Azur / CEREEP ECOTRON Île-de-France

This postdoctoral project explores a fundamental question about the early Earth: did life shape the surface of the planet, and how did microorganisms influence rock weathering under Archean-like conditions? The work is embedded in the Pandora project and builds on an experimental set-up already designed and constructed by a PhD student. The platform reproduces rock weathering in an anoxic environment with microbial communities from Lac Pavin, a ferruginous maar lake in the Massif Central, under conditions meant to resemble the Archean Earth.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative environment linking Université Côte d’Azur, CEREEP ECOTRON Île-de-France, and the Genoscope team. The postdoc will lead the biological component of the current experiment, monitor microbial ecosystem functions in incubated versus sterile reactors, and characterize microbial communities using DNA extraction, metabarcoding, and sequencing data analysis. The work specifically mentions Archean-like functional groups such as methanogens, methanotrophs, sulfate-reducing, sulfur-oxidizing, and nitrate-reducing microorganisms.

In addition to managing the ongoing experiment, the postdoc will help organize and conduct a field campaign at Lac Pavin, including sampling anoxic water below 60 m with Niskin bottles and performing in-situ rock incubations. Samples will be transported back under anoxic conditions for use in the experiments. The role also includes designing and running a new experiment based on freshly collected samples, with the expectation of publishing results in international journals and presenting them at conferences.

This is a full-time, 18-month temporary contract (CDD) at the postdoctoral level. The position is based at UMR Géoazur, Campus Azur du CNRS, Sophia Antipolis, with contact in Nice, France. The post is suited to researchers with experience in microbial ecology, geomicrobiology, or astrobiology, especially those comfortable with anoxic microbial cultures, field sampling, and interdisciplinary work at the interface of geology, geochemistry, and biology.

Applications are due on 2026-11-22. Interested candidates should apply by email to [email protected] and refer to position 2026-DDIE06.

Funding details

Available

What's required

Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent in biology, microbiology, geomicrobiology, astrobiology, or a closely related field. Experience is expected in molecular microbiology techniques including DNA extraction, PCR, metabarcoding, and bioinformatic analysis of sequencing data, with anaerobic culture or incubation techniques preferred. Candidates should be autonomous, rigorous, comfortable with field work such as boat-based lake sampling, and able to work in a geochemistry laboratory. Interdisciplinary teamwork across geology, geochemistry, and biology is important, and results should be communicated in English; French is a plus.

How to apply

Apply by email to [email protected] with the required application materials. Use the reference number 2026-DDIE06 and the provided internal application form/PDF if requested. Submit before the deadline.

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