Postdoctoral position OT-25712
Post-doctoral position in agroecology; effects of agricultural practices on soil biodiversity and functioning
33140 VILLENAVE D'ORNON
INRAE presentation
The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) is a major player in research and innovation. It is a community of 12,000 people with 272 research, experimental research, and support units located in 18 regional centres throughout France. Internationally, INRAE is among the top research organisations in the agricultural and food sciences, plant and animal sciences, as well as in ecology and environmental science. It is the world’s leading research organisation specialising in agriculture, food and the environment. INRAE’s goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. Faced with a growing world population, climate change, resource scarcity, and declining biodiversity, the Institute has a major role to play in building solutions and supporting the necessary acceleration of agricultural, food and environmental transitions.
Work environment, missions and activities
-You will be hosted into the Vineyard Health and Agroecology unit. The lab conducts research in the fields of ecology, epidemiology, and entomology to develop an agroecological approach to vineyard protection. You will specifically carry out your activities within the "Biodiversity" team. This team (around 25 people) focuses on the effects of environmental changes at different spatiotemporal scales on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Achieving this goal requires adapted research frameworks that allow for the analysis of biodiversity responses over the long term, in a multidisciplinary and contextualized manner. To this end, the team coordinates a Living Lab over the past 10 years - a true open-air laboratory (BACCHUS, http://www.siteatelier-bacchus.com/) - spanning a 900 km² territory and bringing together various research and local actors.
-You will be in charge of:
- Compile and analyze multi-taxa data (microorganisms – metabarcoding data, mesofauna, and macrofauna) and multi-function data (enzymatic activities, infiltration measurements, decomposition) already collected within the Bacchus experimental setup (e.g., effects of management practices, pesticide use, copper contamination).
- Monitor experiments and analyze data from experiments conducted as part of the Foundational project, funded by the ERA-NET Biodiversa-NBS (Nature-Based Solutions), in collaboration with the Biodiversity team and a research engineer recruited for the project.
- Share and analyze data collected from other project sites (South Africa, Brazil) on the relationships between agricultural practices and microbial communities.
- Contribute to project coordination in collaboration with the scientists involved and facilitate interactions with international scientific partners.
- Promote the work through scientific publications and contribute to the dissemination of results.
Training and skills
We are looking for a highly motivated ecologist with a strong interest in soil and community ecology, as well as excellent skills in quantitative ecology and data analysis (using R). The recruited researcher will work closely with Brice Giffard, Adrien Rusch, and other scientists from the UMR SAVE and partner units. They will be encouraged to develop their own projects and contribute to writing scientific articles in collaboration with the research team. They will also participate in student supervision and communicate with project partners.
Recommended training: PhD in soil ecology, community ecology, ecotoxicology, or agroecology, with an interest in agricultural environments.
Appreciated experience: Experience in analyzing ecological data (community structures) and soil functioning (enzymatic activities, decomposition).
INRAE's life quality
By joining our teams, you benefit from (depending on the type of contract and its duration):
- up to 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.
How to apply
I send my CV and my motivation letter
All persons employed by or hosted at INRAE, a public research establishment, are subject to the Civil Service Code, particularly with regard to the obligation of neutrality and respect for the principle of secularism. In carrying out their functions, whether or not they are in contact with the public, they must not express their religious, philosophical or political convictions through their behaviour or by what they wear. > Find out more: fonction publique.gouv.fr website (in French)