Post-doctoral researcher in Life Cycle Assessment W/M

Employeur

The university of Bordeaux is a great dynamic and responsible university that cares about the well-being of its staff. Joining us means working in a privileged environment within a particularly diverse and open professional community, benefiting from welcome and inclusion schemes, training and internal mobility. It means participating in an academic, scientific and human adventure. It means committing to meeting the challenges of the 21st century.

Join the Institute of Molecular Sciences (ISM)! The ISM brings together a community of organic chemists and physico-chemists interested in molecular structures, working on their design, synthesis, characterization, reactivity and analysis in various environments. The expertise of the Institute is based on a number of key skills: theorists in quantum chemistry, molecular and reaction dynamics, synthetic chemists, physico-chemists (spectroscopy, photochemistry, molecular recognition and analysis), working in 10 research groups and 3 technical platforms.

As part of the project Decarbonization and optimization of industrial glass furnaces –  DEOGLAS, funded by the National Research Agency (ANR) under the SPLEEN priority research program and equipment (PEPR), we are recruiting a Post-Doctoral Researcher in Life Cycle Analysis F/H.

This project aims to apply a direct induction technology to the production of glass in furnaces of different capacities, making it possible to treat a wide range of chemical compositions while ensuring high energy efficiency.

Votre mission

Your assignment will be included in Work Package 3, which aims to assess, in a comprehensive manner, the environmental impacts of the innovation developed in DEOGLAS, using a cradle-to-gate approach., in order to guide technological choices and ensure that the proposed solution effectively leads to a reduction of impacts compared to conventional technologies.

Your role will be to produce a life cycle analysis (LCA), in accordance with ISO 14040/44 standards and to integrate a multi-criteria approach. It will be based on a set of clearly defined environmental indicators to ensure comparability and transparency of results:

•        Impact on climate change (kg CO2-eq per kg of glass produced)

•        Consumption of critical resources (kg of rare or strategic metals per ton of component)

•        Water consumption (L/kg of glass)

•        Primary energy consumption (MJ/kg of glass)

•        Energy efficiency of the furnace (%)

These indicators will constitute the environmental KPIs of Work Package 3.

Thus, the LCA will make it possible to identify critical points and avoid possible transfers of pollution or environmental burdens (burden shifting). The LCA will notably make it possible to verify that the benefits obtained in terms of reducing GHG emissions and energy consumption are not accompanied by a disproportionate increase in impacts on other environmental categories.

Furthermore, this work will assess the implications of DEOGLAS in terms of critical and strategic materials use. This will include comparing the dependence on metals used in ceramic-metal joints with that associated with conventional furnaces (for example: Mo, Ni, Co, Zr).

This analysis will provide useful insights into potential supply-chain vulnerabilities and the criticality of resources used.

# Life cycle analysis of furnace manufacturing

•        You define the objectives and scope of the LCA, choose the materials and manufacturing processes, as well as collect the associated life cycle inventories (LCI)

# Calculation of the performance gains related to the operation of the furnace

•        You acquire and process the prototype’s energy performance data, including energy efficiency, electricity consumption, estimated lifespan, and maintenance requirements. Thermo-hydraulic and electromagnetic simulations carried out in WP2 will also be used to complete the available data and provide input datasets for the LCA

You will participate in the production of deliverables and the writing of scientific articles.

Expected results:

D3-1 – Manufacturing LCA interim report (laboratory scale)

D3-2 – Complete LCA report and comparison with conventional furnaces

D3-3 – Synthesis report: Prospective LCA for industrial development

Vos atouts / Vos talents

Holder of a PhD in Chemical Sciences, you have proven experience in life cycle assessment (LCA), environmental sustainability assessment, industrial ecology, environmental engineering, process engineering, energy systems or a related field.

A research experience in monitoring, modeling and predicting the environmental impacts of industrial processes, particularly in the context of decarbonization and eco-innovation approaches, is expected.

•        Experience in collaborative research environments and interdisciplinary projects will be particularly appreciated.

•        You demonstrate strong listening, analytical and conceptual thinking skills, as well as an ability to work effectively both independently and within a team

•        You demonstrate initiative, adaptability, and perseverance in the face of difficulties and in achieving project objectives.

•        You have excellent written and oral communication skills in English (level C1 / B2) in a multicultural work context.

•        You have already performed modeling using LCA software, such as openLCA, SimaPro, GaBi/Sphera, and/or Brightway.

•        Programming skills, particularly in Python, as well as in MATLAB, SQL, R, Java, or another programming language, are a strong asset.

•        Do you have an interest in interdisciplinary research, teaching and project management activities? Are you motivated to contribute to the development of the research group on life cycle approaches applied to chemicals, materials and energy systems, with the possibility of participating in student supervision? This position is made for you!

More information:

By joining this position, you will work within the "CyVi" group of the Institute of Molecular Sciences of the University of Bordeaux and will be involved in a research consortium bringing together CEA and the University of Burgundy Europe.

Based in Talence, Gironde, FRANCE – access by tramway line B (stop « Peixotto ») buses, bike. The laboratory is near the city-centre of Bordeaux and about 60 Km of the Atlantic coasts.

Specific requirements: You’ll have to comply with the Working Laws in France

NB: the position is based in a laboratory in the Restrictive Zone, which requires an investigation prior to hiring, which can take up to 8 weeks.

This position is located in an area covered by the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST) and therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that your arrival be authorised by the competent authority of the Ministry.

36-month fixed-term contract starting in January 2027

Gross monthly salary: from 2750 € to 3000€ according to salary grid

Why join us?

By joining our establishment, you benefit from a work environment that is attentive to your professional and personal balance, as well as to your career development.

-   A training program adapted to support your entry into the job and your professional development

- Up to 50 days of annual leave from the first year (in proportion to the arrival date)

- Participation in supplementary social protection and access to social action mechanisms

-  75% coverage for the subscription to public transport in Gironde

-  Sustainable mobility package for home–work journeys

-  Access to a staff parking lot

- Leisure, sports and cultural activities for all staff

- Possibility of employee canteen on site

Recruitment process: Applications are reviewed as they arrive.

Candidates selected for an interview will be contacted by the Recruitment Officer for a first pre-qualification phone conversation. An interview with the supervisor will then be organised by videoconference.

Interested applicants should send a CV, brief statement of qualifications and basis for interest in the position, a list of your relevant publications, and the email addresses of 2 appropriate references.