Post-doctoral Research Position

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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 welcomed in the unit Physiopathology of Nutritional Adaptations (PhAN) UMR1280, based in Nantes. Our team is an expert in the DOHaD (Developmental Origins of Health and Disease) concept. Our translational approaches, which combine preclinical and clinical studies, aim to understand how nutritional programming during the first 1,000 days of life affects fetal and postnatal development, with long-term consequences in adulthood.

Your mission will be to dissect the mechanisms by which detrimental pregnancy conditions can affect immune-microbiome development in the descendant with lasting effects in adulthood regarding chronic inflammatory illnesses.

You will be more specifically in charge of:

1.     Establish the preclinical models to study how detrimental pregnancy conditions affect early immuno-microbial cross-talk.

2.     Analyse the signatures of discrepant immuno-microbial trajectories.

3.     Identify mechanisms at play for the long-term inflammatory risk using microbiota transfer.

4.     Translate the preclinical markers identified in the clinical setting using both already available human datasets and by analysing biobanked samples available in our laboratory.

Special conditions of activity:  The candidate may be open to collaborations with research partners based in Europe, potentially involving short-term internships or travel within France and abroad.

Training and skills

Recommended Training
The candidate should be proficient in conducting preclinical studies, having completed an experimental design course, and be up to date with all additional training required for long-term diploma validation.

Desired Knowledge
A solid understanding of both placental biology and intestinal physiology is essential.

Valued Experience
Familiarity with perinatal programming and the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DoHaD) concept would be an asset.

Skills
The candidate should demonstrate the ability to work independently as well as effectively within a collaborative research environment. Proven experience in animal experimentation is required. Strong analytical, synthesis, and scientific writing skills are essential.

Proficiency in standard molecular and cellular biology techniques—such as RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, ELISA, and Western blotting—is expected. Experience with immunostaining, flow cytometry, and cell sorting would be advantageous but is not mandatory.

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