Postdoctoral position OT-27073
Postdoctoral position on antioxidant selenoproteins in rainbow trout broodstock and fry: towards sustainable and functional aquafeeds
64310 SAINT PEE SUR NIVELLE
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 at the NUMEA Research Unit (Nutrition, Metabolism, Aquaculture), jointly affiliated with INRAE and the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour (UPPA), and located in Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle in the French Basque Country. Research at NUMEA is conducted in the context of limited marine resources and rapid global development of aquaculture. The unit aims to understand how nutrients regulate metabolic pathways in fish using an integrative approach, from genes to the whole animal. The ultimate goal is to provide science-based recommendations for innovative aquafeed strategies that optimize growth and feed efficiency while ensuring sustainability. You will work with Dr. Stéphanie Fontagné-Dicharry (NUMEA) and collaborate closely with Dr. Sandra Mounicou from IPREM (CNRS/UPPA) in Pau, within the framework of the ANR MOONFISH project: Multimodal Mass Spectrometry Imaging for Investigation of Selenium Metabolism of Rainbow Trout Fed Sustainable Fishmeal – Impact of Mercury (Hg). This multidisciplinary project involves several research units across France, including CBMN (Bordeaux), IBMM (Montpellier), and COBRA (Rouen), fostering strong collaborations in advanced analytical techniques and trace element metabolism.
Your mission will be to contribute to the optimization of broodstock and fry diets by integrating sustainable ingredients such as tuna by-products. The core objective is to elucidate selenium (Se) metabolism in rainbow trout fry originating from broodstock fed for six months prior to spawning with these alternative diets. These feeds will be compared to more conventional formulations based on wild fishmeal or plant-based proteins. A particular focus will be placed on antioxidant selenoproteins and their interactions with mercury. This will involve working directly on cryosections of fry using advanced immunohistochemistry methods developed within the project. This innovative approach will enable molecular mapping of selenoproteins and their interactions with mercury (Hg), in order to define specific molecular fingerprints. Ultimately, the goal is to assess the impact of Se-enriched diets and to improve our understanding of Se–Hg interactions in the context of sustainable aquaculture nutrition.
You will be more specifically in charge of :
- Identifying and characterizing selenium species in tissues of trout fry originating from broodstock fed Se-enriched diets, including the spatial mapping of selenoproteins using immunohistochemistry on tissue sections.
- Investigating Se–Hg interactions in tissues of trout fry exposed to mercury through dietary supplementation, with the aim of understanding how mercury may affect selenoprotein distribution or function.
- Studying selenium metabolism and antioxidant responses in trout fry through molecular (e.g. gene expression) and biochemical (e.g. enzyme activity) analyses.
The feeding trials on broodstock and fry will be conducted at INRAE experimental fish farming facilities in Lées-Athas and Donzacq (Nouvelle-Aquitaine region). Regular travel to these sites will be required for sample collection. A valid driver’s license would be an asset.
Training and skills
Recommended training : PhD less than 3 years old in a relevant field aquaculture or animal nutrition.
Desired knowledge : Fish physiology, reproduction and larval development, mineral nutrition (including selenium), antioxidant metabolism, molecular biology, and histology.
Appreciated experience : Previous work with fish experimental trials and/or experience in tissue analysis (e.g. histology, immunohistochemistry), molecular and biochemical approaches.
Skills : Enthusiasm and scientific curiosity, autonomy, scientific rigor, good interpersonal and communication skills, organizational ability, and strong interest in experimental work and scientific writing in English
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)