Junior research scientist in chemical ecology of plant-insect interactions

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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 carry out your research at the Institute of Genetics, Environment, and Protection of Plants (IGEPP, https://igepp.rennes.hub.inrae.fr/), primarily based at the Le Rheu site near Rennes (35, France). The IGEPP joint research unit conducts research focused on identifying, comparing, and integrating the genetic, molecular, and ecological determinants of plant immunity, as well as developing integrated strategies that combine control levers for the sustainable management of crop health. You will join the Insect Ecology and Genetics team, whose main objectives are (i) to generate knowledge on the mechanisms underlying insects interactions with their habitat and the dynamics of arthropod populations and communities in agroecosystems at different scales, and (ii) to support the agroecological transition through the development of sustainable methods for insect pest control and the preservation of biodiversity. Part of the team's research aims to understand host plant selection strategies employed by phytophagous insects over the course of evolution and to decipher the origins to develop control methods based on the disruption of the cultivated plant recognition by pests (through manipulation of behaviour, use of service plants, or selection of traits contributing to the development of resistant varieties). Within the team, you will collaborate with specialists in chemical ecology of plant-insect interactions. You will have access to experimental plant and insect production facilities, as well as technical support to conduct your research. You will be able to rely on a wide range of protocols already established and mastered within the team: extraction and analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOC), olfactometry, behavioral tests on plants in controlled and semi-controlled conditions, and testing of VOCs in experimental field plots.
You will have access to the analytical chemistry P2M2 platform (co-led by IGEPP, https://p2m2.hub.inrae.fr) for the identification of VOCs. You will also benefit from a national chemical ecology network co-led by the team and collaborations already in place within this framework.
In the natural environment, phytophagous insects, most of which are specialised, are confronted with a broad range of odours comprising various VOCs. Some of these VOCs enable them to locate remotely essential resources for their survival and reproduction, such as their host plants. These odours are often composed of *ubiquitous compounds, but vary in quality, quantity, and combinations on different scales (e.g. genotype, species, population), as well as depending on the phenology or state of the plant. Such variation provides essential information for the insects, which are capable of detecting these VOCs at very low concentrations, detecting subtle changes in VOCs ratios, and adapting their behaviour accordingly. While the role of plant odours in host recognition and selection is well established, the detailed characteristics of these odours (nature, quantity and ratio of the constituents) responsible for their specificity remain poorly understood.
Thanks to your expertise in chemical ecology, you will develop research to decipher the determinants of olfactory signal specificity in phytophagous insects in relation to their trophic specialisation. You will set up experiments under controlled conditions to test how different combinations of odour components influence plant selection behaviour.
You will develop a research project on Brassicaceae and various phytophagous insects with different degrees of specialisation. You will study the effects of the characteristics of the odours of these Brassicaceae on insect behaviour (e.g. using olfactometry devices, flight tunnels, and automated behaviour monitoring devices). You will develop innovative approaches, such as mixture design, modelling, or artificial intelligence, to choose combinations to be tested, analyse the results of your behavioural tests and extrapolate them. You will help identify the characteristics of the information-carrying odorous mixtures that trigger behaviours (attraction, repulsion) according to the specialisation of the insects. To ensure the success of your research, you will have access to the facilities, analytical tools, and experimental equipment available at IGEPP and within your host team. Once recruited, you will also be able to draw on a national distributed chemical ecology infrastructure within the framework of the ARDECO project (2025-2029), as well as on the complementary expertise of our collaborative network (reverse chemical ecology, formulation of odour compounds, modelling of odour plumes, etc.). You will be involved in supervising trainees and doctoral students, as well as the scientific leadership of the team.
In close collaboration with the team’s researchers, technicians, and engineers, your research project will help improve understanding of the functioning of plant-insect interactions and the contribution of olfactory chemical communication to their evolution (e.g. by comparing species related to varying degrees). Your work will also contribute to the development of control strategies against insect pests based on the manipulation of behaviour using plant odours (e.g. push-pull strategies).

Training and skills

Competition open to candidates with a PhD (or equivalent).
Training in biology and a PhD in ecology, as well as sound skills in chemical ecology, are highly recommended. Knowledge of the various components of the phytochemical diversity of plant odours is highly recommended. You should be capable of researching the effects of plant volatile organic compounds on the behaviour of insects in controlled conditions (e.g. using olfactometry or flight tunnel) using innovative approaches (e.g. mixture design). You should be able to apply these skills to plant-insect interactions and more particularly to the study of the remote selection of the host plant.
Candidates should have excellent written and oral communication skills in English, and long-term international experience would also be desirable. Successful candidates who have not yet acquired this experience abroad will be expected to complete an international mobility period 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-SPE-4
3. I apply GO