Junior research scientist on functional ecology of soil microbial communities

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INRAE presentation

The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (INRAE) is a public research establishment under the dual authority of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Research.

INRAE is recruiting researchers by open competition and offering permanent position.

It is a major player in research and innovation created on 1^st of January 2020. INRAE is a research institute resulting from the merger of INRA and IRSTEA. It is a community of 12,000 people with more than 200 research units and 42 experimental units located throughout France.

The institute is among the world leaders in agricultural and food sciences, in plant and animal sciences, and is 11^th in the world in ecology and environment. INRAE’s main goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. In the face of the increase in population, climate change, scarcity of resources and decline in biodiversity, the institute develops solutions for multiperformance agriculture, high quality food and sustainable management of resources and ecosystems.

Work environment, missions and activities

You will join the Agroecology Joint Research Unit (UMR) in Dijon, whose research is aimed at acquiring integrative knowledge, combining different disciplines and methodologies, to better understand the organization and dynamics of biodiversity in agroecosystems, particularly through the study of biotic interactions, to propose and evaluate sober, robust, resilient, efficient, and environmentally-friendly agroecosystems. You will work in the Microbiomes and Ecosystem Services of Soils (MicSol) group in the Functional Microbial Ecology for Input Management (EMFEED) team, whose main objective is to better understand the ecology and evolution of microbial communities involved in the key functions supporting ecosystem services, to implement this knowledge in agroecological practices.
In this context, your main objective will be to describe the effects of chemical and biological inputs on the functioning of soil microbial communities, especially those supporting ecosystem services related to the nutrient cycle and/or the regulation of water quality and climate. In the medium term, you will thus contribute to identifying biomarkers of resilience and exposure of the functioning of microbial communities in agricultural soils and developing ecological engineering approaches aimed at improving the performance of microbial processes contributing to the preservation or restoration of soil health. You will thus participate in the development of a new research theme within the EMFEED team of the MicSol group in functional ecology of agricultural soils to understand the impact of chemical and biological inputs on soil microbial communities involved in biofiltration and the nutrient cycle in agricultural soils. You will benefit from the unit's technical platforms, particularly for the characterization of soil microbial communities.

Driving license recommended as you will have to drive a service car to access field sites to take samples. As part of your work in the laboratory, you will handle chemical products and radioelements (products labeled with 14C). You will have to travel in France and abroad for working meetings on collaborative research projects and to promote your work at scientific conferences.

Training and skills

Candidates must have a PhD or equivalent.
Skills in microbial functional ecology or microbial community ecology based on high-throughput molecular tools are highly recommended. Experience in the study of microbial biodegradation of chemical contaminants and/or in the characterization of the effect of chemical or biological contaminants on soil microbial communities would be a plus.
Candidates should have a good command of English (both written and spoken), and long-term international experience would also be desirable. Successful candidates who have not yet acquired this experience abroad will be required to do so after their probationary period (1st year).

INRAE's life quality

By joining our teams, you benefit from:

- 30 days of annual leave + 15 days "Reduction of Working Time" (for a full time);
- parenting support: CESU childcare, leisure services;
- skills development systems: training, career advise;
- social support: advice and listening, social assistance and loans;
- holiday and leisure services: holiday vouchers, accommodation at preferential rates;
- sports and cultural activities;
- collective catering.

For international scientists: please visit your guide to facilitate your arrival and stay at INRAE.