Junior research scientist in insect community ecology in the context of invasions

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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 conduct your research within the Forest Zoology Research Unit (URZF) based at the INRAE Val de Loire centre in Orléans. The unit comprises 12 permanent staff members, including 7 scientists, with expertise in entomology, ecophysiology, population biology and genetics, molecular systematics, ecology, and applied mathematics. URZF investigates how forest insect pest populations respond to anthropogenic changes through two main research themes: (1) the invasion of exotic insect species associated with intensifying human activities, and (2) the expansion of native insects causing phytosanitary or health issues linked to climate change. This multidisciplinary research is conducted across environments with different levels of anthropogenic influence, taking into account habitat modification due to global change and the associated risks of invasion for different biological communities and territories.
The invasive success of an exotic species is based both on its "invasiveness" (life history traits, variability in life traits) and the "invasibility" of the host environment—i.e., its vulnerability to allowing exotic species to penetrate. This concept is largely based on the biotic resistance hypothesis, which involves niche saturation, trophic guilds, host availability, and the presence of competitors, parasites, predators, and more. The current expertise within the unit focuses primarily on the intraspecific level, specifically the invasiveness of exotic species. The recruitment of an entomologist-community ecologist capable of examining biotic interactions involved during the arrival or expansion of species from an invasion biology perspective will address the "invasibility" challenge and strengthen the unit’s expertise.
You will develop research to analyse the invasibility of environments colonised by forest insects, from the often artificial sites of introduction to perennial forest ecosystems. Your research questions will focus on characterising insect communities to identify the properties that modulate their vulnerability to the arrival of new species, thus determining spatio-temporal expansion patterns. You will explore both mutualistic and antagonistic interspecies relationships to better understand the factors involved in the success or failure of invasion. To do this, you will draw on data from a trapping network managed by URZF for several years, which has identified "door-knockers" (species regularly detected in potential introduction areas), as well as the unit’s emblematic study model, the pine processionary moth, which is occasionally transported accidentally by humans beyond its natural range.
You may conduct research both in the native ranges of the models studied and in areas threatened by new arrivals. You will work in close collaboration with colleagues in the unit who are working on characterising different risks of introduction or spread (propagule pressure, life history traits, etc.). You will be able to rely on the expertise of colleagues in ecology, molecular biology, and modelling to develop your themes and interact with specialists in molecular systematics, including (meta)barcoding. You will benefit from technical field support as well as experimental facilities, including a quarantine laboratory (NS1 and NS2), a trapping network, and a laboratory dedicated to urticating insects. URZF is also a partner in an international Franco-Chinese laboratory (IFOPE) focused on invasive species in Eurasia, providing substantial international collaboration opportunities.
Regionally, you will find a supportive environment in community ecology through the structured entomology research network in the Centre Val de Loire region. Nationally, you will benefit from the expertise of entomologists in the ECODIV and SPE departments, who work in population dynamics and spatial and functional ecology.

You may be required to work with personal protective equipment on stinging insects in outdoor and/or confined environments. You will be required to travel in France and abroad (including in the field).

Training and skills

Competition open to candidates with a PhD (or equivalent). A PhD in ecology with a specialisation in community ecology is highly recommended. Skills in entomology would be appreciated and experience in biological invasions would be an advantage. 
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-ECODIV-3
3. I apply GO