Researcher in watershed-scale modelling of emergent pollutant transport

Université de technologie de Compiègne is recruiting a research engineer for the Avenues Laboratory in the Department of Urban Engineering as part of the TIMéEAU/GESTEAU project. This research project is funded by the Hauts-de-France region through the InSPIR program.

GESTEAU is one of two pilot sites selected for this project, which focuses on the Baugy water catchment that supplies the town of Compiegne. This catchment area has chloridazone concentrations that sometimes exceeds the standard, causing problems for the supply of good quality drinking water.

Your missions

• Contribute to scientific knowledge regarding the behaviour of emerging pesticides and their metabolites in the water and soil environments of the Craie groundwater aquifer

• Develop a decision-support tool for water catchment managers to ensure a secure drinking water supply

Your main activities

• Conduct a review of the literature

• Study the dynamics of pollutant transfer and accumulation at the catchment scale

• Design a suitable model to simulate the transfer of pollutants and their metabolites under different climate scenarios

• Identify the data required for this model, collect it and analyse it

• Interpret modelling results in order to develop recommendations for water managers

• Draft reporting progress reports

Scientific context

GESTEAU (Site 2 – Baugy catchment, Compiègne urban area): a strategic water supply resource, this site is suffering from chronic contamination with chloridazone metabolites. The site provides a framework for studying the behaviour of these pollutants in the chalk aquifer, assessing their transport within the catchment area, and modelling their behaviour under various climatic and hydrogeological scenarios. The aim of the project is to understand the behaviour and transport of these pollutants in the chalk aquifer, a priority resource for drinking water. Field data and laboratory experiments will enable the characterisation of dispersion dynamics and the identification of factors of variability. The work also includes hydrogeological modelling to anticipate the evolution of contamination under different climatic and agricultural conditions. GESTEAU aims to provide managers with scientific and predictive tools to ensure a sustainable drinking water supply.

Additional Information

Application Dates

From __/__/2026 to __/__/2026

Contract Type and Expected Start Date

Fixed-term contract—expected duration of 13 months—starts in October or November 2026

Gross Monthly Salary

Based on experience and funding

Hours per Week

37 hours and 30 minutes per week—1,607 hours per year

Skills

• Modelling in hydrology/hydrogeology

• Fluent use of modelling and spatial analysis tools

• Rigour and organisational skills

• High degree of independence

• Interest in multidisciplinary research

• Excellent writing skills in French and English (B2 level)

Degree

Master’s degree, engineering degree; Ph.D. preferred

Area of study

Hydrology/hydrogeology, water and/or environmental engineering