Junior research scientist in genetics of resistance

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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 join the Institute of Genetics, Environment and Plant Protection (IGEPP, https://igepp.rennes.hub.inrae.fr/) and will be based at Le Rheu near Rennes (35). One of the objectives of the IGEPP is to identify, compare and combine the genetic and molecular determinants of resistance to multiple stresses of crops, for the sustainable construction and management of resistance.
You will be part of a group working on grain legumes, including scientists in genetics, plant pathology, entomology, genomics of plant*pest interactions and plant multi-omics. You will identify, analyse and select genetic factors associated with plant resistance to multiple diseases and pests acting alone or in combination.
To do this, you will implement quantitative genetic and meta-analysis approaches using sequenced genomes. You will conduct genomic prediction and plant breeding approaches to exploit polygenic resistance in allelic combination strategies to build durable multi-resistance. You will contribute to the IGEPP's research programs by conducting a comparative genetic analysis of resistance to several diseases and pests of leguminous plants on the pea and faba bean genomes, based on the extensive data already available. Your work will enable the identification of loci and alleles of interest to be combined and the development of tools and predictive models on large populations for the selection of multi-resistant genotypes. You will benefit from original plant material and collections of pathogenic strains maintained by the unit and you will use phenotyping methodologies for resistance developed within the unit.
You will interact with the IGEPP's technical platforms (Greenhouses, Bioinformatics) as well as the La Motte Experimental Unit. You will be involved in national and international academic collaboration projects and networks on leguminous plants, as well as socio-economic partnership networks related to breeding and varietal evaluation (Terres Inovia, breeders, CTPS).

Training and skills

The competition is open to candidates with a PhD (or equivalent).
You will need a solid background in quantitative genetics, statistics and plant breeding, with a good ability to obtain and analyse genetics and omics data related to the biological understanding of complex processes.
Experience in analysing the genetic determinism of resistance to pests and diseases and knowledge of plant pathology would be an advantage.
You are a team player and willing to integrate and interact within a research team.
Fluency in English is required. Successful candidates who have not yet had medium- to long-term international experience will be required to spend a period of time abroad before the end of the first 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-BAP-3
3. I apply GO