진학프로석·박사 채용 접수 플랫폼

Position description

Position identification 

Title of post : Study of public perceptions of subsoil uses (geothermal energy and lithium extraction)

Type of contract : Postdoctoral position

Category (A,B or C) : 

Contract/project period : one year renewable 1 time Expected date of employment : 1st September 2025

Proportion of work : 100%

Workplace : University of Strasbourg / LISEC UR2310 (Laboratoire interuniversitaire des sciences de l’éducation et de la communication)

Desired level of education : PhD

Experience required : 

Contact(s) for information on the position (identity, position, e-mail address, telephone) : 

Philippe Chavot, Maître de conférences en sciences de l’information et de la communication

philippe.chavot@unistra.fr, tel 03 3 88 43 82 19

Date of publication : 04/15/2025

Closing date for the receipt of applications : 05/13/2025

Research project or operation 

The University of Strasbourg is offering a one-year renewable post-doctoral contract as part of the ‘Subsoil as a Common Good’ Priority Research Programme and Equipments (PEPR Sous-sol - https://www.soussol-bien-commun.fr/en). The post-doctoral researcher will be involved in and support work on social perceptions of the use of subsoil resources.

The PEPR Subsoil is investigating the various uses of the subsoil: storage of CO2, use of heat, extraction of lithium or hydrogen. The person recruited will be involved in targeted project 9, ‘Rhine Basin’, of the PEPR Subsoil and will be integrated into the social science working group of the Interdisciplinary Thematic Institute Geosciences for the Energy Transition (ITI GéoT - https://geot.unistra.fr/). This group has been involved for ten years in studies on the public perception of geothermal projects, the analysis of scientific controversies, mediation schemes (surveys and public debates) and the potential for citizen participation. 

Deep geothermal energy is a constantly evolving field in Alsace: it has undergone successive requalifications, moving from the exploitation of heat, then electricity production, to the extraction of geothermal lithium. What's more, the siting of geothermal energy sites is governed by mining law: exploration permits are issued by the State, and the State alone has the authority to issue work permits, regardless of the scale of protests from local residents and/or local authorities. Finally, this area is politically driven by the desire to implement energy transition. 

The ITI Géot social science research programme is structured around four main areas: analysis of the development of geothermal projects in Alsace; study of public perceptions of subsoil exploitation projects; analysis of consultation and local democracy mechanisms; implementation of a citizen seismology network.

 Activities 

• Description of the research activities : 

The call for applications concerns the second research area of the Geot ITI social sciences group, ‘study of public perceptions of subsoil exploitation projects’. The person recruited will be involved in the organisation and implementation of a survey focusing partly on public perceptions of geothermal lithium extraction projects. This survey may involve both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Links with the previous work of the ITI-Géot social science working group (e.g. https://hal.science/hal-02157107v1) will be essential. 

• Related activities : 

Participate in the research dynamics of the ITI GéoT and the PEPR Sous-sol through contribution to scientific events and publications. Working in close collaboration with the PEPR Sous-sol targeted project Vertiqual (https://www.soussol-bien-commun.fr/en/projects).

 Skills  

• Qualifications/knowledge : 

PhD in human and social sciences (information and communication sciences, geography, sociology, political science, anthropology of science, etc.), in the field of social studies of science and technology, if possible with a focus on geosciences and the subsoil

• Operational skills/expertise : 

- Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods;

- Ability to work in French and English.

• Personal qualities : 

- Curiosity and motivation to work on complex issues from a multidisciplinary perspective (social and human sciences, earth sciences, energy), in collaboration with researchers from a variety of backgrounds;

Environment and context of work 

• Presentation of the laboratory/unity : 

The successful candidate will conduct his/her research within LISEC-UR 2310 in the multidisciplinary Technology and Communication (Tec&Co) team, which works on the expansion of media and technological tools in a knowledge and communication society. Tec&Co aims at describing, understanding and explaining education and communication phenomena relevant to specific socio-politico-economic contexts. The development of the team's research field is therefore intrinsically linked epistemologically and methodologically to social changes and the associated need for knowledge. With this in mind, Tec&Co's scientific project incorporates a number of priorities identified by national, EU and international agencies, including the digitalization of society, equal opportunities, inclusion, citizenship and sustainable development. In so doing, the Tec&Co project is also moving towards a more open conception of science through more international collaboration, greater interdisciplinarity and stronger links between researchers and citizens.

• Hierarchical relationship : 

The new recruit will work under the supervision of Philippe Chavot, Associate Professor in Information and Communication Studies and head of the GeoT ITI social sciences working group. He is also coordinating the workpackage 3 ‘From the acceptability of deep geothermal energy to responsible research and innovation’ of the Rhine Basin targeted project of the PEPR Subsoil.

• Special conditions of practice (notice attached): 

To apply, please send your CV, cover letter and diploma to : Philippe Chavot (philippe.chavot@unistra.fr) 

Contact person: 

Philippe Chavot / philippe.chavot@unistra.fr 

LISEC, UR2310 

Université de Strasbourg / INSPE 

141 avenue de Colmar - BP 40102

FR-67024 Strasbourg Cedex

Tel (+33)3 88 43 82 19