Dans le cadre du programme national de recherche SOLU-BIOD et du Knowledge Hub « NbS Archetypes », nous recrutons un(e) stagiaire de Master 2 ou équivalent pour travailler sur l’efficacité des mécanismes du déploiement des Solutions fondées sur la Nature. Le stage est basé au Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine (LECA) à Grenoble pour une durée de 4 à 6 mois à partir de septembre 2026.
Title: Linking nature-based solutions scaling mechanisms to social-ecological effectiveness
Your mission and activities:
You will be hosted within the BIOM team at the Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine (LECA), a joint research unit (CNRS, Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont-Blanc) located in Grenoble, France.
This internship is part of the SOLU-BIOD French National Research Program (https://www.pepr-solubiod.fr/), which aims to advance the science and implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS). Specifically, the position is embedded within the Knowledge Hub (KH) « Archetypes, » an international synthesis project with a core group of 15 European researchers. This knowledge synthesis aims to identify the underlying mechanisms and recurrent patterns that drive the successful scaling of local NbS. You will work under the supervision of Enora Bruley (Post-doctoral researcher at LECA) and Sandra Lavorel (LECA), in close collaboration with the ServAlp research group.
Context and objectives:
Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are innovative approaches to the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of ecosystems. They aim to effectively address societal challenges while providing positive impacts on both biodiversity and human well-being (UICN).
To achieve global impact, NbS must move beyond local pilot projects through a process of “Scaling”. We define NbS scaling as the process of expanding the presence, use, and ultimately impact of NbS principles and practices to amplify their positive social-ecological outcomes. This process is multi-dimensional, involving both the amplification of interventions (e.g., replication of NbS across territories) and the creation of systemic change (e.g., institutionalization, cultural embedding, and resource mobilization).
While thousands of NbS pilot projects have demonstrated local success, their transition toward systemic impact remains poorly understood. A critical « effectiveness gap » persists: we lack synthesized evidence on the actual ecological, social, and economic impacts of NbS once they move beyond the pilot phase.
The core objective of this internship is to analyze the effectiveness and impacts of NbS scaling processes. Leveraging data extracted from an ongoing systematic literature and case study review, the intern will address three central research questions:
1. Profile of scaling outcomes: What are the most frequently reported social, ecological, and economic impacts of NbS scaling? This involves a comparative analysis between realized outcomes (documented impacts) and expected outcomes (stated goals).
2. Trade-offs and synergies: What are the documented trade-offs (e.g., gains in economic viability at the expense of social equity) and synergies that emerge specifically during the scaling process?
3. Linking scaling process to effectiveness: How are specific scaling processes (e.g., NbS institutionalization, replication, or cultural embedding) linked with different levels of socio-ecological impacts? This will identify which causal mechanisms and pathways consistently lead to successful and effective scaling process.
Methodological approach:
The intern will employ a qualitative/quantitative mixed-methods approach:
– Using content analysis to extract diverse narratives and metrics of positive and negative scaling outcomes from scientific literature and case studies,
– Applying a standardized scoring system (based on ecological, social, and economic indicators),
– Performing correlation mapping between scaling mechanisms (pre-coded in the systematic review) and effectiveness outcomes.
The intern will produce a research report and present their findings to the international KH Archetype working group. This work could contribute directly to a scientific publication.
Required profile:
– Education: Master’s student in Environmental, Geography, Social or Ecology sciences and other relevant disciplines, with an interdisciplinary focus on sustainability and social-ecological systems.
– Experiences and skills: Knowledge of core concept in social-ecological dynamics, including ecosystem services, environmental governance and actors, indicators of social, economic and ecological effectiveness. Ability to synthesize complex interdisciplinary literature. Familiarity with systematic review protocols is a plus. Skills in mixed-methods research, combining qualitative text analysis with quantitative data treatment (Excel, R, or similar).
– Personal qualities: Methodological rigor, autonomy, ability to work in an interdisciplinary team, proven scientific writing skills.
– Language: Proficiency in English (level B2, C1 or C2)
Working conditions:
– Location: This is a full-time position, requiring in person presence at LECA offices (Campus de Saint-Martin d’Hères, Grenoble).
– Duration: 4 to 6 months (ideally starting September 2026).
– Compensation: Standard French internship allowance (approx. €630/month).
– Environment: Integration into an international research network and the ServAlp research group.
– Language: English (the working corpus of papers is exclusively in English).
Please send your CV and cover letter to enora.bruley@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr before 20 May 2026.
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