Job Offer: PhD Position in Multisensor/Method Fusion for Coastal Bathymetry Estimation
Rafael Almar
Title: PhD – Multisensor/Method Fusion to Estimate Bathymetry and Intrinsic Certainty Location: Toulouse, France (CNES/LEGOS, 18/14, Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse) Duration: 36 months (full-time) Start Date: As soon as possible Application Deadline: March 13, 2026 (Midnight, Paris time)
Mission
Bathymetry is essential for coastal research, infrastructure, resource management, and climate analysis, yet comprehensive data remains scarce due to the high cost and logistical challenges of traditional surveys. This PhD project aims to develop innovative multisensor/method fusion techniques to estimate coastal bathymetry and its intrinsic uncertainty using satellite data (e.g., Sentinel-1/2, Pléiades, CO3D). The work will focus on:
- Wave kinematics inversion and color methods for shallow waters.
- Fusion of multiple satellite sensors to overcome noisy, sparse, or irregular data.
- Uncertainty estimation and integration into a unified bathymetric product.
- Synthetic scene generation using the CROCO numerical model for controlled development and validation.
The thesis will contribute to a new global atlas of bathymetric data, with potential for morphodynamic analysis using Kalman filters and multimethod fusion.
Profile
Educational Background:
- Master’s degree in Oceanography, Coastal Engineering/Science, Mathematics, or a related field.
- Strong foundation in physical oceanography, coastal processes, or computational sciences.
Technical Skills:
- Experience with remote sensing and satellite data analysis (e.g., Sentinel, Pléiades).
- Proficiency in Python for data processing and analysis.
- Strong statistical and wave analysis skills.
Attributes:
- Ability to synthesize large, diverse datasets.
- Excellent scientific writing and communication skills.
- Self-motivated, organized, and able to work both independently and collaboratively.
How to Apply
- Contact: For more information, reach out to the thesis director at rafael...@ird.fr.
- Prepare:
- Resume/CV
- Recent academic transcript
- Reference letter from your M2 supervisor or engineering school director
- Apply online before March 13, 2026 (Midnight, Paris time).