Junior research scientist on landscape hydro-pedology

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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

The aim of the LISAH joint research unit in Montpellier is to improve understanding of the interactions between natural resources (soil, water) and agroecological landscape management practices. It brings together expertise in soil science, biogeochemistry, environmental physics, ecohydrology, agronomy, and spatial analysis. Its research focuses primarily on Mediterranean and intertropical agro-pedo-climatic contexts. Within this unit, you will be part of the "Soil Resource under Global Change" research team. 

You will study how soil management practices (agricultural techniques, landscape infrastructures) coupled with soil cover variability within cultivated landscapes affect the evolution of soil water transfer and retention capacities under meteorological forcing. You will model the spatio-temporal dynamics of hydro-pedological properties from plot to landscape. You will contribute to the evaluation and design of cultivated landscapes adapted to water constraints. 

To carry out your research, you will be able to rely on LISAH's long-term agro-environmental observation systems, both in France and abroad. Your modelling work can draw on landscape modelling approaches developed at LISAH to design sustainable, multifunctional agricultural landscapes.

Frequent field trips: a valid driving licence is recommended. Extended work on computer.

Training and skills

Competition open to candidates with a PhD or equivalent. Expertise in soil sciences is recommended, ideally with knowledge of pedology and soil hydrodynamics. Skills in conceptual mechanistic and spatial modelling are desirable, and knowledge of agronomy would also be appreciated. You have good interpersonal skills and are open to multidisciplinarity. 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).

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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-5
3. I apply GO