Junior research scientist in Social Cognition and Animal Welfare

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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

The joint research unit Physiology of Reproduction and Behaviours (UMR PRC), located in Nouzilly (Centre-Val de Loire, France), conducts integrative research in neuroscience, ethology, and endocrinology to better understand farm animal behaviour and welfare. You will join the Neuroethology and Social Cognition (NECOS) team, which investigates social relationships, perception of the social environment, and social communication in sheep, goats, and poultry.
Your research project will focus on the impact of the social environment on mental states in sheep. You will combine behavioural and neuroimaging approaches (electroencephalography, MRI) to determine how the quality of social relationships (affinity, familiarity, etc.) may shape brain activity between individuals.
In the first phase, you will test the hypothesis that the degree of affinity between two animals correlates with the establishment of inter-brain synchrony. To do this, you will compare different pairs of animals (high affinity, low affinity, unfamiliar individuals) in various contexts (resting, feeding, social interaction). In the medium term, you will study how the social environment (group size, homo- or heterospecific composition) can mitigate stress or promote positive mental states. In the longer term, your work will aim at designing social environments that enhance animal welfare, using inter-brain synchrony as a new, objective indicator of positive affective states.
You will benefit from a unique scientific environment combining innovative neuroimaging facilities and experimental protocols with awake animals, participating voluntarily in the task.

Training and skills

A PhD or equivalent in behavioural neuroscience is required, with work experience in functional neuroimaging and in ethology or cognition. Past work experience with large animal species (sheep, dogs, non-human primates) would be appreciated. If you do not hold an authorization to conduct animal experiments, you will be required to enroll in specific training. Being fluent in English is essential, along with significant international experience; candidates without such experience will be required to acquire such experience in the year following their recruitment.

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-PHASE-6
3. I apply GO