Junior research scientist on evolution of avian influenza viruses

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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 Joint Research Unit 1225 Host-Pathogen Interactions, a multidisciplinary infectious animal diseases research unit attached to INRAE's Animal Health Department. Located on the Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse campus, its main objective is to understand the interactions between pathogens and their host on different scales of life (molecule, cell, host, population). Research at IHAP focuses on (i) the biology of known or emerging zoonotic or enzootic pathogens responsible for infectious diseases in farm animals and/or humans; (ii) host response and pathological processes; and (iii) epidemiological factors impacting the dynamics and control of infectious diseases in farm animals. The host team, "Viruses: Emergence, interactions and evolution" (VIRéMIE), studies interactions between viruses and their hosts. The research conducted by the team comes under the concept "One Health" and focuses on 3 themes: (i) Evolution, plasticity, and emergence of pathogens; (ii) Understanding the mechanisms regulating the infectious process and the host response; (iii) Improving the monitoring and control of infectious diseases. We study enzoonotic or emerging influenza viruses responsible for respiratory infections in poultry and ruminants. Since their emergence in Europe, highly pathogenic influenza viruses (HPAIV) H5N1 of clade 2.3.4.4b have spread geographically further and further with an increasingly broad spectrum of hosts and more frequent transmission to mammals. In addition, they are also becoming increasingly enzootic and have been associated with a change in management practices in Europe with the implementation of vaccination in France in the autumn of 2023. In this context of constant mutation, your aim will be to study the mechanisms and consequences of the evolution of avian influenza viruses. You will focus on research questions concerning the evolutionary mechanisms that determine the emergence of viral variants favouring the crossing of the species barrier, as well as the impact of vaccination on viral evolution. The VIRéMIE team has already established models (in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo) and tools (reverse genetics and minireplicon systems, high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analyses, etc.) in its biocontainment facilities (BSL2-3 and A2-A3 animal facilities). You will be required to develop experimental evolutionary models under various selection pressures, analyse and interpret sequencing data (selection of variants, intra-host populations, etc.), and assess the consequences of the evolutions observed on inter-species transmission (zoonotic potential) or on vaccine protection. You will benefit from the team's extensive collaborative network, including the national research network on influenza viruses GDR 'Resaflu' and European and international networks and research programmes on influenza viruses. To implement your research theme, you will initially benefit from financial support from funded projects and you will be assisted in the search for funding.

Animal experimentation and work in a confined environment.
The research scientist position will require working in a restricted access zone (ZRR), which necessitates an access authorization request.

Training and skills

Competition open to candidates with a PhD (or equivalent). Skills in the study of pathogen evolution, skills/appetite for bioinformatics and mathematics are recommended. In addition, an aptitude for teamwork, good autonomy and leadership skills would be highly appreciated. Finally, the candidate should be sensitive to ethical issues and gain of function concerns. 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).

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-SA-1
3. I apply GO