A fully funded Ph.D. position focusing on the responses of coastal ecosystems to climate change, as well as their interactions with electricity generation sites and marine protected areas (MPA), is available at the National Hydraulics and Environment Laboratory (LNHE) of EDF Lab Chatou in France. The successful candidate will join a dynamic research community at the crossroads of pioneering academic science and applied ecological research. The PhD will be supervised by David MOUILLOT (Pr. Univ. Montpellier, UMR MARBEC), Stéphanie MANEL (Pr. EPHE, UMR CEFE) and Anthony MAIRE (EDF R&D, LNHE). Funding is secured through a CIFRE EDF-ANRT grant.
Context and goals
Coastal ecosystems are subject to a combination of direct human pressures, such as habitat modification, fisheries and biological invasions, and climate change-related stressors, such as warming and heatwaves. Long-term biodiversity monitoring is crucial for detecting ecological changes as early as possible, assessing the effectiveness of conservation and restoration measures, understanding the interactions between offshore infrastructures and biological communities, and identifying the drivers of coastal ecosystem dynamics and functioning. The development of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding now enables entire animal communities to be monitored non-destructively, including cryptic, rare or elusive species . Meanwhile, the rise of machine learning approaches provides new opportunities to analyze complex ecological dynamics and establish causal relationships between biodiversity patterns and forcing factors (environmental conditions, human pressures, management actions).
In this context, the Marine Sentinel Areas (MSA) network was created in 2023: a multi-stakeholder initiative for the long-term, large-scale monitoring of coastal biodiversity in mainland France . Each AMS covers a coastal area centered on a site of interest, such as an offshore wind farm, a marine protected area (more or less restrictive), a thermal discharge from a nuclear power plant or an artificial reef. Marine biodiversity (including fish and crustaceans) is monitored using eDNA inside and outside the zone of influence of each site every summer. Several sites in the Mediterranean have been monitored since 2018, including during the period of the pandemic when there were restrictions on recreational activities. This provides a unique perspective on the impact of human activities using a standardized methodology.
This exceptional dataset will be analyzed for the first time by the PhD candidate, who will focus on biodiversity responses to global changes and local pressures associated with the sites of interest. A wide range of factors will be considered to explain the spatiotemporal variations of the eDNA signal of fish and crustaceans, including distance to the coast, habitat characteristics, local hydrodynamics, management practices and marine activities. Standardizing eDNA results within their socio-environmental context will form the cornerstone of the PhD, with particular attention paid to the influence of hydrodynamics and habitats (1st axis – methodological developments). The candidate will then use causal approaches, such as machine learning, to assess the influence of offshore wind farms and marine reserves on local coastal biodiversity dynamics, by comparing them with control sites (2nd axis – local effects of the sites of interest). Lastly, large-scale biodiversity dynamics monitored since 2018 will be analyzed in relation to latitudinal and climatic gradients, rising temperatures, species range shifts, and the arrival of non-indigenous species (3rd axis – global change effects). Together, these developments will contribute towards identifying the biotic and abiotic factors that shape local and regional biodiversity patterns in coastal ecosystems along the French mainland.
Candidate profile
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with strong organizational skills, a clear interest in quantitative ecology and data analysis, and enthusiasm for fieldwork, as participation in monitoring campaigns is anticipated. Applicants should hold a Master’s degree, an engineering degree or an equivalent qualification in biology, ecology, environmental sciences or a related field. Proficiency in English is required for reading and authoring scientific articles and participating in discussions. Experience in statistical analyses (using R or Python) will be highly advantageous; skills in machine learning and marine ecology will be appreciated. We are seeking a curious, autonomous and proactive colleague who is eager to work at the interface between fundamental and applied research.
Collaborations/Missions/Travel: The selected candidate will collaborate with other scientists from the MARBEC joint research unit and the National Laboratory for Hydraulics and Environment (EDF R&D) and will participate in the summer field campaigns of the Marine Sentinel Areas network.
Practical information
Funding: CIFRE EDF-ANRT – already acquired.
Location: EDF Lab Chatou, 6 quai Watier, F-78400 Chatou, Île-de-France, France
Deadline for application: 31/05/2026 / Starting date: 01/10/2026.
To apply: please send your CV, a one-page motivation letter, Master diploma/results or equivalent, and up to two recommendation letters to David Mouillot (david.mouillot@umontpellier.fr), Stéphanie Manel (stephanie.manel@cefe.cnrs.fr) and Anthony Maire (anthony.maire@edf.fr).
Commentaires récents