Junior research scientist in statistics applied to therapeutic strategies in breeding

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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

The Therapeutic Innovations and Resistances Unit (InTheRes) is a joint multidisciplinary research unit whose aim is to propose strategies to limit the emergence of resistance to anti-infective drugs (antibiotics, antiparasitics, antifungals). You will work with the researchers and teacher-researchers in the disciplines concerned by the emergence of resistance in interaction with the Toulouse mathematical community: researchers from the MathNum department of INRAE and the Institute of Mathematics of Toulouse.
In production animals, the early identification of individuals who will develop a disease and the development of therapeutic strategies based on the anticipated dynamics of the disease in breeding is a promising way for a more rational use of anti-infectives.
Early identification of sick animals is done with supervised classification methods. The analysis of data from sensors worn by the animal (collars, bracelets, accelerometers, etc.), videos, as well as sensors located in areas of the animals' environment (feeders, drinkers), makes it possible to detect animals who will become ill. Initially, you will participate in the development of methods allowing this identification. Then, from available models on the dynamics of the disease, the action of anti-infectives and a collection of possible actions on animals (treatment of a single animal, of an animal and its neighbours, treatment of the whole farm, etc.), you will construct therapeutic strategies (sequence of actions) enabling rapid healing with measured use of anti-infectives.
This second part will constitute the heart of your activity. It calls on skills that you have or that you can acquire thanks to your culture in applied mathematics. Finally, we count on your imagination and your dynamism to propose projects allowing to explore new ways to limit the emergence of resistance to anti-infectives.

Training and skills

Candidates must have a PhD or equivalent
The candidate should have a good general background in applied mathematics. A good knowledge of statistics of stochastic processes would be useful. Finally, some knowledge of computer science would be appreciated.

Successful candidates who do not yet have post-doctoral experience will be required to complete an internship, preferably abroad, at the end of the internship 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.