OPEN COMPETITIONS CR-2025-SPE-2
Junior research scientist in long distance aerial microbial dispersion
84140 MONTFAVET
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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 Plant Pathology research Unit (PV) that focuses on environmentally-friendly methods for protecting crops against various pests and diseases. One of our key objectives is to adapt surveillance systems to better anticipate and manage epidemiological risks to plant health. In this context, understanding the mechanisms and consequences of long-distance aerial dispersal (LDD) of pathogenic microorganisms is a major challenge.
Our pioneering work in this field, in collaboration with the Biostatistics of Spatial Processes unit (BioSP), has enabled the estimation of connectivity networks between sites, the inference of probable dissemination (transport) trajectories, and has highlighted the process of wet and/or dry deposition for various pathogens (e.g. Pseudomonas syringae, Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum).
A new research front on aerial dispersal concerns understanding the biotic and abiotic conditions favourable to the dispersion of microorganisms, and estimating the efficacy of this LDD. You will conduct research to i) identify likely sources of emission of microorganisms through complementary approaches (direct physical measurements and ascending microbial flux modelling), ii) determine combinations of aerodynamic microbiological properties and abiotic conditions fostering the viability, transport, and deposition of microorganisms, iii) optimize the calculation of connectivity networks by integrating the knowledge generated on likely sources and on the aerodynamic and abiotic properties for effective LDD.
Your work will thus enable the adaptation of strategies for monitoring and anticipating epidemiological risks to plant health. You will benefit from the scientific and technical expertise of unit members and from open resources (PLAnET model; FluxNet data, https://fluxnet.org/data/ and ERA5, https://cds.climate.copernicus.eu/datasets) for microbial flux simulation. For direct flux measurement, samplers for collecting air samples and probes for measuring abiotic conditions are available. Within the PV unit, you will have access to microbial strain collections, microbiology laboratories, and the PROPHYLE platform (greenhouses, climate-controlled growth chambers, microscopes).
You will also have access to the local molecular biology platform and be able to interact with members of the geomatics (GeOpen4s, https://ecologie-des-forets-mediterraneennes.paca.hub.inrae.fr/nos-ressources/geopen4s) and plant health epidemio-surveillance platforms (ESV, https://plateforme-esv.fr/). You will also have access to the computing cluster present in the BioSP unit. You will benefit from a local network of collaborators involved in LDD research projects for various models including fungi, bacteria, viruses, and insect vectors, for the estimation of connectivity networks (BioSP unit) and for the analysis of land use (Ecodéveloppement unit) and agroclimatic (Agroclim unit) data. You will have access to a network of national and international collaborators (MILAF network - https://bioice.wordpress.com/).
Training and skills
Competition open to candidates with a PhD (or equivalent). Training would be appreciated in i) biophysics (particularly atmospheric biophysics) with knowledge of mathematical modelling, programming (e.g. R, MATLAB), and ideally experience in microbial ecology and/or aeromicrobiology, or in ii) microbial ecology and/or aeromicrobiology with skills in biophysics, modelling, and programming. 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-SPE-2
- 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)