Junior research scientist on cellular heterogeneity and fungal metabolism

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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 Mycology and Food Safety research unit (MycSA) at the INRAE Nouvelle Aquitaine Bordeaux research centre. MycSA uses an integrative approach combining microbiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology to understand the events leading to the contamination of cereals and derived products by toxic fungal metabolites, named mycotoxins. 

Plant-pathogenic fungi of the genus Fusarium are the core model of study due to their frequent occurrence in Europe and proven toxicity of the mycotoxins produced. You will develop your research programmes through interaction with all the members of our unit and will benefit from access to Bordeaux's scientific ecosystem platforms (Plateforme Génome Transcriptome de Bordeaux, Bordeaux Imaging Centre, etc.), as well as a diversified network of national and international scientific collaborations and socio-economic partnerships. 

Our work has highlighted key molecular events and mechanisms involved in the regulation of toxinogenesis. They have been obtained by approaches that consider all the cells making up a mycelium, without considering its cellular heterogeneity resulting from the formation of microenvironments and spatio-temporal differentiation events. In addition to the adaptive advantage provided by the existence of cell populations in distinct physiological states, the existence of fungal cells capable of synthesizing mycotoxins, at least within a specific time frame, raises the hypothesis of a level of regulation of the secondary metabolism mediated by a diversification of producing cells. You will study this cellular heterogeneity to understand the mechanisms leading to the production of mycotoxins and its importance in the adaptation of filamentous fungi to their environment. 

You will develop and apply quantitative ‘single cell’ approaches to analyze transcriptome and metabolome variations in isogenic cells. Your first task will be to describe this heterogeneity within a complex mycelial tissue. This will enable you to provide a new level of understanding of the mechanisms of mycotoxin production and regulation. This will give you the opportunity to position yourself rapidly and permanently on a strategic scientific front.

Training and skills

Competition open to candidates with a PhD (or equivalent). Training or expertise in fungal physiology and/or functional genomics and/or applied genomics on the scale of the single cell would be highly desirable. Experience in cellular imaging would be an additional asset for analyzing the spatial dimension of cellular heterogeneity. 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-SPE-4
3. I apply GO