Junior research scientist in the ecology of crop-insect-weed interactions

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 work within the BiodiverSE (Biodiversity, Society and Evolution) team in the ADVENSYS division (Weeds & Agroecosystems) of the Agroecology Research Unit (INRAE Centre Bourgogne-Franche-Comté).
ADVENSYS objective is to generate knowledge enabling the transition to sustainable agricultural management through agroecological practices.
You will have access to plant seed resources (ERB-Ensemble de Ressources Biologiques), glasshouses and plant phenotyping platforms (4PMI platform) and INRAE experimental sites (CA-SYS platform, Fénay Landscape Observation Platform, SEBIOPAG). You will carry out your research with colleagues from multiple disciplines within or outside INRAE and participate in research led by colleagues from the UMR, in order to expand your skills and professional network.
To design effective agroecological systems, it is essential to understand how weeds, crops and insects interact as a biological system. An often-overlooked mechanism is the influence of intraspecific trait variation within crop species (varieties, genotypes) on tripartite interactions between crops, weeds and insects, and the consequences for crop performance. Taking a functional ecology approach, you would test the hypothesis that intraspecific trait variation influences the intensity of crop-insect-weed interactions, and ultimately ecosystem (dis)services. You will study how differences in morphological, biochemical and phenological traits between varieties of oilseed (e.g. rapeseed, mustard, sunflower) or protein (e.g. field beans, peas) crops affect multi-trophic interactions (crop-weed-pollinator-herbivore-natural enemy) and associated (dis)services. You will study the mechanisms of interaction through experiments in (semi-)controlled conditions in greenhouses (4PMI), mesocosms and using existing seed resources (Ensemble de Ressources Biologiques). Their importance will be studied in different agricultural management contexts and along landscape gradients, using the INRAE experimental farm (CA-SYS) and networks of agricultural sites (Fénay & SEBIOPAG).

You will be responsible for:
• Designing and planning projects and experiments
• Publishing your research in (international) scientific journals
• Presenting your research at national and international scientific meetings
• Creating and responding to opportunities to communicate (written/oral) your research to policymakers and society.

You will work with colleagues to identify and respond to research calls (regional, national and European).
You will help supervise project teams (technicians, engineers, students) in the laboratory or field.
You will need to travel for your work (regionally, nationally and/or internationally) as required.

Working in outdoor conditions (farmland and natural habitats) with potential for exposure to allergens (pollen), pesticides and the vagaries of the weather.
Driving licence is needed for frequent travel to study areas.
Flexibility and adaptability to constraints (e.g. working hours).

Your future role explained in video

Training and skills

Qualification needed: PhD in ecology, plant sciences or related discipline
Desired knowledge: Ecology (populations, communities, plant-insect interactions), plant traits
(ecological, ecophysiological, biochemical).
Appreciated experience: national or international postdoctoral experience.
Required skills:
- Field skills in ecology and plant-insect interactions
- Species identification (botany or entomology) and/or quantification of plant traits
(morphology/phytochemistry/chemical signals) in the laboratory/greenhouse/field.
- Knowledge of experimental and/or survey design.
- Skills in R (multivariate analysis, statistical modelling (e.g. LMM) or interaction networks).
- Record of publications in international journals (depending on career stage).
- Language skills (spoken and written) in English (CERF B1-C2) and French (B1-C2)
- Experience working as part of a team and independently
- Experience supervising technicians or students is desirable 
- Ability to work as part of a team, 
- Self-motivated, good interpersonal skills including with farmers. 

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-SPE-3
3. I apply GO