Director's position

The position of Director of the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanology (MIO, a shared research laboratory between CNRS, Aix-Marseille University, University of Toulon and IRD) will be vacant on January 1st, 2023.

 

Context 

The MIO is a research laboratory in Oceanography of the Aix-Marseille University, the University of Toulon, the CNRS and the IRD. It is integrated in the OSU (Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers) Pytheas. Its objectives are to better understand the ocean system and its evolution in response to global change. It is a center of expertise in biology, ecology, biodiversity, microbiology, fisheries, physics, chemistry, biogeochemistry and marine sedimentology. Its fields of practice are the world ocean, its interfaces with the continent, the atmosphere and the sediment.

https://www.mio.osupytheas.fr/en

 

The MIO is currently :

  • A staff of 250 people, including 113 researchers (CNRS and IRD) and teacher-researchers from universities (AMU and UTLN), about 50 engineers and technicians, more than 80 doctoral and post-doctoral students, as well as an administrative team at the service of research.
  • 3 metropolitan sites: the Marseille-Luminy campus, the University of Toulon and the Ifremer marine base at La Seyne-sur-Mer.
  • Several sites in the South: Vietnam, Tunisia, Chile, the South Pacific (New Caledonia and Fiji).  
  • 5 disciplinary teams.
  • 4 transversal thematic research axes, 2 poles and 9 analytical platforms.
  • A marine environment observation service within the OSU Pythéas, with the support of the coastal station ship Antédon II.

 

The scientists of the MIO carry out their research in the fields of :

  • ocean circulation and atmospheric circulation ;
  • the understanding of marine ecosystems and biodiversity, from bacteria to fish ;
  • biological functioning in extreme environments and ocean pollution.

 

This research work requires oceanographic campaigns, the use of underwater instruments equipped with sensors (buoys, towed instruments, gliders or underwater drones), radars installed on the coast and analysis of satellite images, as well as analytical and experimental laboratory resources. This research involves numerical analysis and modeling. These research themes are part of national research axes such as MISTRALS/MERMeX, MISTRALS/HyMeX, LEFE, EC2CO, and international as within the IMBER, SOLAS and LOICZ programs of the IGBP, and require interventions on all the oceans of the planet.

The future management team will benefit from this context to renew the UMR project and prepare the 2023-2027 contract. The deadlines for a hearing by the HCERES committee at the end of 2021-early 2022 lead to a laboratory project finalized by June 2021 and the start of its preparation by November 2020. The current management team will ensure the drafting of the scientific report 2018- 2022.

 

Expectations

Profile of the candidate
  • Researcher or teacher-researcher ;
  • Knowledge of the national, european and international scientific communities in the fields of competence of the MIO ;
  • Experience in the field of scientific foresight and programming, as well as in the management of research projects or teams;
  • Availability, rigor, investment, open-mindedness, aptitude for leadership;
  • Fluency in French and English.

 

Appointment

The successful candidate will take up his/her duties no later than January 1, 2023. However, a lap period is desirable with a presence in the laboratory from the end of summer 2022.

Individuals interested in the position of Director of the MIO should forward a curriculum vitae and cover letter by November 15, 2020 to the contacts identified below who will be available to provide full details of the laboratory.

 

Contacts for supervisory bodies

Bruno Blanke - Scientific Director for the Ocean-Atmosphere division of CNRS-INSU

Sophie Chauvet - Vice-president science - biology of AMU

Frédéric Guinneton - Vice-president of the research commission of UTLN

Olivier Pringault - Director of the Oceans Department of IRD

 

Contact for MIO

Richard Sempéré - Current Director of the laboratory