Mines Saint-Étienne, a leading French engineering school and member of Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT), is inviting applications for a fully funded 3-year doctoral position (Contrat doctoral). The research project focuses on the development and characterization of a multi-sensor platform dedicated to environmental monitoring of onshore geological CO2 storage sites as part of the collaborative CO2MET research initiative.
Position Overview
| Designation | Doctoral Candidate / PhD Researcher (Contrat doctoral) |
| Research Project | CO2MET – Development and characterization of a multi-sensor platform for monitoring onshore CO2 storage sites |
| Host Institution | Mines Saint-Étienne (Member of Institut Mines-Télécom) |
| Research Center / Lab | SPIN Center – LGF (Laboratoire Georges Friedel, UMR CNRS 5307) |
| Location | Saint-Étienne, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France |
| Contract Type / Duration | Fixed-term contract (CDD) – 3 Years |
| Application Review | Evaluated on a rolling basis (interviews organized as applications arrive) |
Research Area
The research is positioned at the intersection of:
- Instrumentation, Metrology, and Sensor Systems (NDIR, photoacoustic, and chemical sensors)
- Environmental Monitoring & Geological Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
- Data Acquisition, Signal Processing, and Multivariate Analysis
- Predictive Algorithms and Machine Learning (Python-based data treatment)
Scholarship & Project Description
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies represent a critical pathway toward industrial decarbonization. While offshore storage solutions have demonstrated technical feasibility, onshore storage is increasingly necessary to scale up capacity and reduce transport logistics. However, proximity to populated areas demands uncompromising environmental safety, long-term monitoring, and public transparency.
Current monitoring setups face limitations in integrating in-situ sensing, numeric simulation, and real-time interactive visualization. Additionally, soil biological activity can produce CO2 concentrations exceeding 10% volume, making source differentiation challenging. The CO2MET consortium—comprising IFPEN, BRGM, Mines Saint-Étienne, and Cerema—aims to overcome these barriers by designing advanced digital monitoring tools.
As the selected PhD candidate at the SPIN Center (Science des Procédés Industriels et Naturels) and LGF, your primary objectives will include:
- Selecting and benchmarking off-the-shelf and custom sensors to design an integrated detection platform.
- Evaluating sensor selectivity under controlled laboratory conditions against interfering gas species using multivariate data analysis.
- Formulating predictive algorithms that account for sensor drift, reproducibility, linearity, and variable ambient conditions (temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure).
- Investigating sensor aging phenomena to build software-based compensation models.
- Deploying and validating the sensor platform during in-situ field campaigns at the Sainte-Marguerite site (Puy-de-Dôme).
Eligibility and Qualifications
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Academic Degree: Hold a Master’s degree (Bac +5 / MSc / Engineering degree) or equivalent by the start date.
- Disciplinary Background: Preferred specializations include Measurement, Instrumentation, Metrology, Sensor Technology, or Data Science/Analytics.
- Technical Skills: Proven competencies in data processing, multivariate statistics, and numerical coding (particularly Python).
- Research Experience: Prior internship or laboratory research experience showing an aptitude for hands-on experimental work. Junior applicants and recent graduates are welcome to apply.
- Languages: Strong written and oral communication skills in English; French proficiency is advantageous.
Benefits of Joining Mines Saint-Étienne
- High-level research infrastructure within a globally recognized French Grande École.
- Generous annual leave scheme (up to 49 days paid leave and RTT).
- 75% public transportation reimbursement, plus sustainable mobility subsidies for cycling and carpooling.
- Teleworking options according to institutional guidelines.
How to Apply
Interested candidates must submit their application file online via the official recruitment portal. Your application should include:
- Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Cover letter explaining your motivation and research interests
- Letters of recommendation (if available)
- Valid government-issued identity document
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for online video interviews conducted on a rolling basis.
Contact Persons
- Scientific Inquiries: Riadh Lakhmi (Assistant Professor) – riadh.lakhmi@emse.fr | Tel: +33 (0)4 77 42 00 70
- Administrative / HR Inquiries: Milica Petkovic (HR Manager) – milica.petkovic@mines-stetienne.fr | Tel: +33 (0)4 77 42 02 08
Last Date for Apply
Applications are reviewed continuously until the position is filled. Early application is strongly advised.
Apply Link
Click Here to Apply via the Official Recruitee Portal
