OPEN COMPETITIONS CR-2025-ALIMH-3
Junior research scientist on the absorption and metabolism of water-soluble micronutrients
13005 MARSEILLE
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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 Cardiovascular and Nutrition Centre of Marseille (C2VN, UMR 1260 INRAE/ 1263 INSERM/ AMU) brings together the vast majority of expertise in nutrition, nutritional pathologies (obesity, diabetes), and cardiovascular diseases at the University of Aix-Marseille's Health Campus.
The “Micronutrients and Metabolic Diseases” team devotes most of its research to studying the environmental and metabolic factors that modulate the absorption and health effects of lipid micronutrients (fat-soluble vitamins, carotenoids) in relation to the prevention of cardiometabolic diseases. The team develops translational approaches from cell models to humans to understand the mechanisms governing intestinal absorption, metabolism, and health effects of lipid micronutrients. This expertise, unique in France, is internationally recognized.
The team's work to date has not taken water-soluble vitamins and minerals into account. This limits the scope of the research undertaken, as there are likely interactions, and perhaps synergies, between fat-soluble and water-soluble micronutrients. Moreover, the recent promotion of plant-based diets to improve the sustainability of food systems could increase certain deficiencies in water-soluble micronutrients (B12, iron, zinc).
The team's strategy is to propose in the future integrated approaches considering both fat- and water-soluble micronutrients. The team must therefore develop skills to understand and control the factors that determine variability in the absorption and metabolism of water-soluble micronutrients. These factors may be nutritional (interactions between nutrients and micronutrients, impact of anti-nutritional compounds associated with proteins of plant origin or new sources of micronutrients such as insects, effects of processing), pathophysiological (obesity, bariatric surgery, ageing) or genetic. In addition, the team is keen to gain a better understanding of micronutrient biotransformation pathways and their transfer post-absorption to certain tissues or metabolic processes depending on the above-mentioned factors.
To develop your project, you will have access to in vitro (digestion, cell culture) and in vivo models, samples from various clinical protocols, and the tools needed to analyze water-soluble micronutrients.
Training and skills
Competition open to candidates with a PhD (or equivalent). Knowledge on water-soluble micronutrients (trace elements or B vitamins) is recommended. Specialization in nutrition and/or mass spectrometry would be an asset. Animal experimentation will be required to carry out the work. If you have not already done so, you will need to undergo training to enable you to conduct animal experiments. The ability to work in a research group and networks with people with a wide range of expertise is recommended.
The ability and desire to supervise and train students in research is desirable. You have good writing skills and enjoy communicating the results of your work to different audiences.
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
- I download the applicant guide Application guidelines CRCN 2025 pdf - 3.93 MB
- I write down the profile number CR-2025-ALIMH-3
- I apply GO
All persons employed by or hosted at INRAE, a public research establishment, are subject to the Civil Service Code, 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. > Find out more: fonction publique.gouv.fr website (in French)