Junior research scientist in genetics of plant immunity

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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). The IGEPP joint research unit is developing research aimed at identifying, comparing and combining the genetic and molecular determinants of plant immunity, and identifying strategies for combining control solutions to manage crop health sustainably.
Genetic resistance is a key solution, and it is now necessary to combine it with new phenotypic traits involved in plant immunity. You will be part of a group of researchers including geneticists, specialists in chemical ecology, nematologists, pathologists and physiopathologists working on the potato model.
You will be in charge of the research theme, which consists of understanding and exploiting the genetic determinants involved in the plant's defence against pests and diseases in a vegetatively propagated autotetraploid plant species, the potato.
You will be interested in new traits involved in interactions between the plant and its pest or pathogen, mediated chemically either via root exudates in the case of hatching stimulation of cyst nematodes, or via its capacity to react to elicitation by defence stimulators to combat late blight. You will use genetic diversity analysis and quantitative genetics approaches to identify the determinants associated with these new traits on the basis of phenotyping and metabotyping data.
Your work will be based on the knowledge and expertise acquired in the unit, which you will supplement and enrich using innovative methodologies of phenotyping and quantitative genetic analysis integrating allelic dosage effects.
You will use the collections of the cultivated species and its related species maintained within the CRB BrACySol housed at IGEPP on the Ploudaniel site. You will interact with the technical platforms at the two IGEPP sites (Metabolomics, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Greenhouses) as well as with the RGCO Experimental Unit (Genetic Resources under Oceanic Conditions). You will benefit from a network of collaborations established during national and European projects, including socio-economic partners (Inov3PT, breeders).

You will be based at Le Rheu (35). Regular stays at Ploudaniel (29) will be required to ensure the establishment of the research program.

Training and skills

The competition is open to candidates with a PhD (or equivalent).
You will need a solid background in quantitative genetics, plant genetic diversity analysis and statistics, with a good ability to obtain and analyse genetic and omics data related to the biological understanding of complex processes.
Experience in the genetics of complex traits in polyploid plant species and/or in plant-bioaggressor interactions would be an advantage.
You are a team player and willing to work as part of a multidisciplinary team and interact within a multi-site research unit.
Fluency in English is required. Successful candidates who have not yet had medium- to long-term international experience will be required to complete a period of study abroad by 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-6
3. I apply GO