Junior research scientist on ecophysiology of shaded plants

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INRAE presentation

INRAE, the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment, is a public research organization bringing together 12,000 employees across 272 units in 18 centers across France. As the world’s leading institute specializing in agriculture, food, and the environment, INRAE plays a key role in supporting the necessary transitions to address global challenges.

Faced with population growth, food security challenges, climate change, resource depletion, and biodiversity loss, INRAE is committed to developing scientific solutions and supporting the evolution of agricultural, food, and environmental practices.

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

Work environment, missions and activities

You will be recruited in the research unit for grasslands and forage crops (UR P3F) located in Lusignan, near Poitiers, which conducts research on sown grasslands, from their design (genetics for plant breeding; assembly rules of species and cultivars) to the assessment of their environmental impacts in innovative cropping systems. This research unit brings together skills in plant ecophysiology, genetics, soil science, and agroecosystem modelling. The adaptation of crops and grasslands to global change is mobilizing new management options to mitigate climate risks. What agronomical practices such as intercropping, direct seeding, agroforestry and agrivoltaics have in common is that they strongly affect the radiative microclimate of plants, consequently modifying their water and nutrient requirements, and significantly changing the ranges and periods of stress they may face. Drawing on the intra- and interspecific diversity of forage species, your main objective will be to gain a better understanding of the ecophysiological determinants of plant adaptation to shade, and in particular the relationships between water and trophic responses in herbaceous perennials. To this end, you will contribute to the acquisition and analysis of physical and biological data from the team's experimental facilities (analytical trials; agroforestry trial of the local experimental unit; trial network of the Pôle National de Recherche in agrivoltaics) and participate in the development of models integrating microclimatic conditions and crop ecophysiological responses (e.g. STICS). You will benefit from the unit's technical platforms: field experiments and in semi-controlled conditions, platform for physical characterization of light sources, and the presence of the PNR in agrivoltaics. Your results will feed the current work on the design of innovative cropping systems and contribute to the definition of new decision-making criteria for the implementation and management of resilient systems that manipulate shade for the benefit of crops.

Training and skills

Competition open to candidates with a PhD (or equivalent). In-depth skills in bioclimatology or ecophysiology, with an interest in agroecosystem modelling, are recommended. 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. 

How to apply

1. I download the applicant guide Application guidelines CRCN 2025 pdf - 3.93 MB
2. I write down the profile number CR-2025-AGROECOSYSTEM-2
3. I apply GO