French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)
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Postdoctoral Researcher in Vegetation History, Remote Sensing, and Alpine Treeline Dynamics French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in France
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Ecology
Funding
The temporary, full-time postdoctoral contract is funded through PC MONITOR, part of the PEPR FORESTT programme. The position is 35 hours per week, with a starting date of 1 February 2027. No salary or stipend amount is specified.
Deadline
Nov 26, 2026
Country
France
University
French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)
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About this position
The Alpine Ecology Laboratory (LECA), a joint research unit of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Grenoble Alpes University, and Savoie Mont Blanc University, is seeking a postdoctoral researcher for a project on the recent upslope shift of the treeline in the Alps and the Pyrenees.
The project will examine how vegetation history, historical forests, land-use changes, and present-day site conditions have shaped recent changes in the upper forest limit. One research objective will link changes since 1850 with recent dynamics detected through remote sensing, helping to identify legacy effects that may explain spatial variation in treeline movement.
A second objective will investigate how shrub-dominated vegetation, grasslands, and bare soil influence the rate and spatial extent of forest colonisation. The researcher will use high-resolution vegetation-cover maps derived from Sentinel-2 imagery and AI-based models such as AlphaEarth to quantify patterns of forest expansion across two major European mountain regions.
Planned work includes characterising recent changes using remotely sensed vegetation indices, producing a 20-metre vegetation-cover map of the forest ecotone, developing a geostatistical model of current and historical drivers, and disseminating results through peer-reviewed publications. The postdoctoral researcher will also present findings at project meetings and participate in scientific discussions within the PC MONITOR research community.
The successful candidate will be based at LECA in Grenoble and will join the BIOM (BIOdiversity Monitoring) team. The laboratory brings together researchers, faculty members, doctoral students, and postdoctoral researchers within a collaborative research environment focused on mountain ecology, biodiversity monitoring, and environmental change.
Funding details
The temporary, full-time postdoctoral contract is funded through PC MONITOR, part of the PEPR FORESTT programme. The position is 35 hours per week, with a starting date of 1 February 2027. No salary or stipend amount is specified.
What's required
PhD or equivalent in Ecology or Environmental Sciences. Applicants should have demonstrated experience in optical remote sensing and spatial analysis, proficiency in R and spatial data analysis software such as ArcGIS or QGIS, and a proven record of publishing first-author scientific papers on related topics. Excellent written and spoken proficiency in both French and English is required; basic French is listed in the formal requirements.
How to apply
Apply through the CNRS recruitment portal using the official offer page. Review the postdoctoral requirements and submit the requested application materials before 26 November 2026 at 23:59 UTC.
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Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.