Junior research scientist in bacteria-host interactions

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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

Your activity will be carried out in the Mixed Research Unit INRAE / University of Versailles-St Quentin "Virology and Molecular Immunology" (UMR VIM). UMR VIM is composed of 7 teams working on pathogens (viruses, prions, bacteria) of interest to animal and human health. You will join the "flavobacteria" group of the "Fish Infection and Immunity" team, made up of 2 permanent scientists and a technician who are mainly interested in Flavobacterium psychrophilum, a major pathogen of salmonids affecting farms in France and worldwide. Its spread is particularly worrying and probably linked to the lack of effective solutions (no vaccines, unsuitable treatments based exclusively on antibiotics and the rapid dissemination of the causative agent).

The team has acquired a solid international reputation for this species. However, certain aspects have not or little been explored and substantial efforts are required to characterize at the cellular level the infectious process, the interactions with the host and to evaluate the impact of host and pathogen genotypes on the disease. The recruited person will have the opportunity to shed light on host-pathogen interactions by providing new fundamental knowledge using an original and poorly explored model.

occasional work in an animal facility (experimental fish unit)

Training and skills

Candidates must have a PhD or equivalent.
Training in bacteriology, host/pathogen interactions and molecular biology. Knowledge of cellular models of bacterial infection. Knowledge of fish models would be appreciated. Strong experience in bacteriology (ideally flavobacteria) and cell biology, practice of infections on cells in culture and microscopy, mastery of animal experimentation (ideally on fish) and interest in host defense mechanisms.
Scientific English is desired as well as long-term international experience: the winner who have not yet had one will have to complete a stay abroad at the end of the internship year.

Discover your future job on video!

[in French]

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.