Junior research scientist in plant genetics for the food quality of applied products

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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 Genetics, Diversity, Ecophysiology of Cereals unit (GDEC, https://www6.clermont.inrae.fr/umr1095/) located in Clermont-Ferrand. The research of this unit focuses on the understanding and exploitation of adaptive mechanisms of wheat in a context of climate change and agroecological transition. It is organized in six research teams and five platforms including a genotyping platform (Gentyane), a field phenotyping platform (Phéno3C) and a biological resource center.
You will join the "Grain Quality" team (QualiGrain, https://www6.clermont.inrae.fr/umr1095/Organisation/Equipes-de-recherche/Qualite-des-Grains), led by Jacques Le Gouis, which includes 13 permanent staff from INRAE and the University of Clermont-Auvergne. Its objective is to characterize the technological quality and health quality in relation to the concentration, composition and maturation of wheat grain proteins. The team is particularly interested in quantifying genetic variability and interactions with the environment related to global change with a focus on nitrogen and sulfur fertilization and the climate crisis (high temperatures and drought). This team combines skills in cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics. It has tools for the analysis of protein concentration and composition.
Within this framework, you will develop research on the genetics of the health quality of wheat grain. More specifically, you will estimate the genetic, environmental and genotype x environment interaction components in the variation of these traits. You will seek to identify and understand their genetic determinism using association genetics and functional genomics approaches. In collaboration with the other teams of the unit, you will characterize genetic resources for the identified genes or traits. For this, you will be able to rely on technical support and participate in collaborative projects. The final objective of your work will be to propose methodologies to breeders to improve the health quality of wheat.

Training and skills

Candidates must have a PhD or equivalent.
You must have a strong background in quantitative genetics with a good ability to obtain and process genetic and genomic data. Experience in the analysis of the genetic determinism of health or technological quality as well as a good knowledge of the analytical methods for phenotyping the most sought-after health traits in wheat will be an asset.

Fluency in English is essential to work in an international environment.

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.