Junior research scientist on tree-herbivorous insect interactions in forest regeneration

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

You will join the Biodiversity, Genes, and Communities (BIOGECO) joint research unit, which comprises 110 members, including 74 permanent staff from INRAE and the University of Bordeaux. This research unit studies terrestrial biodiversity, from genes to communities, with a view to sustainable ecosystem management. BIOGECO’s research is led by seven research teams and three technical platforms. You will join the BIODIV team (Diversity of Biotic Interactions and Functioning of Forest Ecosystems), which focuses on (i) studying complex interactions between trees and their associated organisms, (ii) assessing their contributions to forest ecosystem functioning, and (iii) integrating this knowledge into sustainable forest management practices. You will also collaborate with other teams in the unit (E4E, ECOGERE, GEMFOR).
Forests—whether natural or planted, rural or urban—play a major role in terrestrial ecosystem functioning and represent a key lever for mitigating the effects of climate change. Regeneration is a crucial and often limiting stage in forest dynamics, largely determined by biotic interactions among seedlings and above- and below-ground herbivorous insects. The impact of insect herbivores on seedling establishment is well established and varies according to (1) forest habitat, (2) regeneration conditions and processes, and (3) the intensity of anthropogenic disturbances and abiotic stresses such as drought. However, integrating these factors and understanding the mechanisms involving plant defences and the microbiomes of both plants and herbivores remains a major challenge—from both a scientific and a forest management perspective. Within this framework, you will develop research on the ecological resistance mechanisms of seedlings—whether from natural regeneration or planting—against herbivore attacks during the forest regeneration phase.
Using functional ecology approaches, you will investigate how biotic and abiotic factors, independently and interactively, influence seedling vulnerability to herbivorous insects through changes in their defensive traits (e.g., secondary metabolites) and microbiome functioning.
You will assess how these modifications affect seedling growth and survival across different interaction contexts (e.g., neighbouring vegetation, varying herbivore pressures) in heterogeneous habitats (mixed forests, landscape mosaics). Your work will focus on herbivorous insects that may compromise the success of pine (e.g. Hylobius spp.) and oak regeneration (e.g. reticulated bug, cockchafers, defoliating caterpillars). Regeneration is particularly suitable for both field and controlled experiments as it involves young seedlings that can be produced in forest nurseries, studied in greenhouses, or transplanted into forests.
You will have access to infrastructures for controlled-environment experiments (greenhouses, climate chambers, insect rearing rooms) and field experiments with the experimental facilities run by the host unit for mixed plantations (ORPHEE, ForMix—part of the international TreeDivNet network). You will also benefit from the Living Lab 'Bocage Forestier' observation network.
Your work will draw on strong partnerships with the nearby Experimental Forest Unit of Pierroton (UEFP) for large-scale experiments and with genomics and metabolomics platforms in Bordeaux (PGTB, Bordeaux-Métabolome). You will also benefit from ongoing collaborations with the National Forestry Office (ONF) and the Forest Health Department (DSF). Your research can contribute to INRAE metaprogrammes XRISQUES and HOLOFLUX and ongoing projects such as PEPR FORESTT (2025–2030) and the Regional High Ambition Research Project GRIFON (2025–2029).

Your activities will involve driving between study sites (driving licence required). You will handle insects, some of which may cause allergic reactions.

Training and skills

Competition open to candidates with a PhD (or equivalent).
Sound knowledge in entomology and both conceptual and practical expertise in ecology, especially for studying plant resistance traits to insect herbivores is highly recommended. An interest in microbiomes would be an asset. Previous experience with forest ecosystems would be appreciated.
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-ECODIV-2
3. I apply GO