Junior research scientist in neurobiology of eating behavior

Back to campaign's jobs listing

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

PNCA is a joint research unit (UMR) involving INRAE, AgroParisTech, and Université Paris-Saclay, located on the Agro-Paris-Saclay campus (CAPS) and specialized in protein nutrition. Reducing the consumption of animal proteins in favor of plant proteins is one of the main levers for improving the sustainability of food systems. The research conducted within PNCA aims to support this transition through projects focusing on eating behavior (API-Neuro team), protein metabolism and digestibility (APReM team), and food system modelling (PROSPECT team). PNCA has technical platforms dedicated to biochemistry, histochemistry, electrophysiology, molecular biology, cell culture, isotopic mass spectrometry, calorimetry, and behavioral testing in rodents. It also includes a dedicated animal facility, access to the Human Nutrition Research Center (CRNH) at Avicenne Hospital, and to the experimental restaurant on the Agro-Paris-Saclay campus. The host team (API-Neuro) consists of 2 researchers, 5 teacher-researchers, 2 research engineers, 4 technicians, and 6 PhD students, specialized in nutrition, neurobiology, physiology, and microbiology.

Research topic: Assessment of the neurobiological processes underlying protein consumption choices. The brain directs eating behavior toward the consumption of high-quality proteins and induces potentially obesogenic compensatory responses when protein intake is reduced, but the mechanisms behind these behaviours remain poorly understood. A better understanding of these processes is necessary to support the dietary transition toward more sustainable protein sources while minimizing the risk of obesity. The API-Neuro team investigates the consequences of reduced protein intake on eating behavior in both rats and humans. In the rat model, the team has characterized robust behavioral responses and observed neuro-glial activations in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) and the ventral striatum in relation to protein consumption. You will be responsible for conducting neurobiological studies in animals along this research axis, aiming to understand how the brain detects amino acid intake and integrates this information to guide food choices. You will build upon the models already used in the laboratory and implement methods of functional activation/inhibition of neuronal networks (opto/chemogenetics), combined with electrophysiological analyses, to explore the mechanisms involved in the hyperphagic response to reduced protein intake.

Activities:
You will be responsible for:
• Developing studies to elucidate the brain mechanisms involved in the control of alimentary protein choices and consumption.
• Using electrophysiological approaches (already established in the laboratory) to characterize the activation of the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) by digestive signals associated with proteins (amino acids, microbiota-derived metabolites, and regulatory peptides) in rodents.
• Designing and implementing targeted cellular approaches, such as chemo/optogenetic activation (e.g., DREADD) of neuronal or glial populations (astrocytes, microglia) within the DVC in rodents, and linking these manipulations with assessments of feeding behavior (intake and choice) in rodents.
• Elaborating experimental design to explore the integration pathways in brain regions controlling food intake, in collaboration with other scientists in the team.
• Developing active collaborations with existing or identified partner teams (particularly within the neuroscience community at Paris-Saclay University) on projects focused on the neurobiology of feeding behavior related to protein intake.
• Contributing to the dissemination of the team’s results (publications and participation in conferences).
• Actively participating in the life of the team and the research unit.

The use of the rodent facility involves occasionally participating in mandatory weekend inspections (on average, one 30-minute visit on two to three Saturdays per year).
The position requires that the candidate is not allergic to rodents.

Training and skills

You must hold a PhD and have postdoctoral experience in the field of neurobiology or neuroendocrinology. 
You should be able to lead an innovative research project on the brain’s detection of protein intake, by developing functional neurobiology techniques in rodents and using the electrophysiological methods available in the laboratory.
Previous training and/or experience in nutrition and eating behavior, as well as in microbiota–host interactions, would be an additional asset but are not essential (these skills are well represented within the team).
A good command of both English and French is required, along with strong writing skills and proficiency in oral presentations. 
You are expected to demonstrate openness to the various disciplines and approaches present within the unit, as well as a collaborative and proactive team spirit, balancing autonomy and cooperation.

Your future role explained in video

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-AlimH-4
3. I apply GO