OPEN COMPETITIONS CR-2024-ACT-4
Junior Research Scientist on the evolution of work in livestock farming systems
63170 AUBIERE
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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 1st 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 11th 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 Territoires Joint Research Unit is a multi-disciplinary unit combining biotechnical sciences and human and social sciences. Its mission is to understand and support situations of transition and transformation (ecological, agricultural, food, energy, mobilities) in territories. Within this unit, you will join the thematic group ASSET (Agriculture and Societies in Transition). ASSET gathers around twenty scientists (livestock and agronomy system, economics, geography) whose aim is to analyse and support changes in agriculture towards more resilient, resource-efficient, viable and liveable forms.
Your mission will be to produce knowledge on the management and on work evolutions on diversified livestock farms, inclunding with non-agricultural activities (leisure, culture, tourism, education, energy) in order to design livable and resilient livestock farms. These associations between livestock and the non-agricultural activity are little analysed today, even though they create new tensions and complexity in the management of productive resources and work, and raise questions about the sustainability of these new forms of farming. You will identify forms of livestock farming that combine non-agricultural activities in different local contexts, based on analyses of existing databases and interviews with farmers and agricultural stakeholders. You will analyse the management of these farms (management practices for land and animals, etc.), the work done by farmers (organisation, duration, mental workload), and the levers and obstacles. To do this, you will use an approach combining descriptive and comprehensive surveys, monitoring and on-farm observations. You will also set up participatory research systems with agricultural and non-agricultural stakeholders to co-design livestock farming systems diversified with non-agricultural activities, that are livable and resilient.
An initial field of investigation could be in the Auvergne Rhône Alpes region in relation with the Tetrae TRAACT project (Territories of the agricultural and food transition: Experimenting, capitalising, supporting) supported by the Territoires Joint Unit Research. You will benefit from the existing knowledge base and scientific collaborations and partnerships (Mixed Technology Network "Work in agriculture", grass Cluster, etc.).
Ultimately, you will develop your research by analysing different forms of farm combining livestock farming and non-agricultural activities in different territorial contexts (in France and internationally) in order to increase the genericity of the theoretical and methodological analytical frameworks produced. You will also strengthen the contributions of livestock farming systems to the transformation of work and to the transition towards more sustainable and socially acceptable forms of livestock farming.
Training and skills
You have a PhD in livestock system or agronomy system; or equivalent.
You will have proven knowledge and experience of livestock farming systems, a mastery of systems approaches in agriculture and the ability to conduct semi-directive and qualitative surveys with farmers and agricultural stakeholders. Knowledge on work in agriculture would be appreciated. You will have experience of interdisciplinary work. Experience of participatory research and/or working in partnership with agricultural and/or local stakeholders would be appreciated. A good command of French is essential for communication and interaction with agricultural stakeholders.
Fluency in English is desirable, as an experience of international collaboration. 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.
All persons employed by or hosted at INRAE, a public research establishment, are subject to its internal regulations, particularly with regard to the obligation of neutrality and respect for the principle of secularism. In carrying out their functions, whether or not they are in contact with the public, they must not express their religious, philosophical or political convictions through their behaviour or by what they wear.