Junior research scientist in ecotoxicology of soil food webs

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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 Sol&Tox team within the EcoSys (Functional Ecology and Ecotoxicology of Agroecosystems) joint research unit that studies agroecosystem functioning taking into account the biogeochemical processes, material and energy flows, and the functions of organisms interacting with their environment. You will draw on the skills within the unit to work on both abiotic and biotic processes. Your work will build on the research conducted on the fate of contaminants in the environment, organism exposure, and biological responses, and you will be able to draw on the various analytical platforms of EcoSys. You could also make use of the Ecosys experience on some specific soil biological species to set up experiments, as well as the modelling expertise of Ecosys and collaborators (INERIS, Paris-Saclay University, INRAE) to conceptualise the food webs studied experimentally.
You will aim to develop an integrative approach to terrestrial ecotoxicology by working at the interface between the structuring of agricultural and peri-urban soil food webs, the propagation of direct and indirect effects linked to diffuse contamination of anthropogenic origin, and the ecosystem functions and services provided by the soils. You will aim to (1) understand how the contaminants spread within food webs, (2) characterise the propagation of the effects of contaminants within these webs via direct and indirect interactions between the different links in the webs, and (3) quantify the consequences of the structural changes of food webs on certain key functions provided by soil organisms (decomposition and recycling of organic matter, aggregation and porosity dynamics, circulation of water and air). You will thus be required to work on themes relating to the relationships between bioavailability of contaminants and their effects on the structuring of food webs, to conduct experiments on links between biodiversity and soil functioning, or even to identify tools to promote soil compartment resilience against chemical contamination. Your work will highlight tipping points beyond which soil functions can no longer be ensured optimally in the presence of diffuse contamination.
You will join the Sol&Tox team within EcoSys, located on the Agro Paris Saclay Campus. The Sol&Tox team studies (i) the links between the fate of soil contaminants and their effects on soil organisms, and (ii) the effect of developments, changes in land use, product recycling, and practices on soil organisms and their function. You will complement the approaches on simplified food webs conducted in the laboratory using experimental approaches in semi-natural conditions from mesocosm to plot level. Your work on the understanding of mechanisms responsible for direct or indirect effects on food webs will complement the modelling work being developed within Ecosys to predict the impact of diffuse contamination of agroecosystems on different biological scales (individuals, populations, communities). You will draw on existing skills in laboratory experimentation within the joint research unit on some specific soil species (worms, springtails, enchytraeidae, ground beetles), as well as in modelling the fate of ecotoxicological effects of organic contaminants. You will complement this expertise through experiments and observations in the field to compare the organisation of complex food webs along anthropisation gradients, drawing more particularly on knowledge relating to soil food webs. You will benefit from the support of the isotope and analytical chemistry platforms to measure the transfers and bioaccumulation of pesticide compounds within food webs. Lastly, you will work with experts in soil science and function to measure the impact of structural variations of food webs on ecological soil functions and services.

Training and skills

Competition open to candidates with a PhD (or equivalent).
A good command of experimental ecological methods for reconstituting food webs (stable isotopes and/or metabarcoding) is highly recommended.
A good command of statistics tools to measure and interpret the structural changes to these networks according to environmental gradients is also recommended.
You have a strong interest in themes addressing links between biodiversity and ecological functions in anthropised landscapes, particularly the impact of chemical stressors on these relations.
Sound knowledge in soil ecology (soil meso- and macrofauna) and basic knowledge of the main concepts of toxicology would be appreciated.
You are able to interact with a diverse team including soil ecologists and ecotoxicologists, modellers, (biogeo)chemists and soil scientists.
Candidates should have a good command of English, 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 Guide for applicants 2026 pdf - 1.41 MB
2. I write down the profile number CR26-AgroEcoSystem-2
3. I apply GO