Project Researcher: Long-term changes in estuarine fish communities

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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 into the Aquatic Ecosystems and Global Changes Research Unit (UR EABX: https://eabx.bordeaux-aquitaine.hub.inrae.fr/qui-sommes-nous/l-unite-eabx), located in Cestas, near the city of Bordeaux. This research unit is part of the INRAE Bordeaux–Nouvelle Aquitaine Center.

The research conducted by UR EABX aims to provide knowledge, develop methodologies, and improve tools to define and understand the status and dynamics of freshwater aquatic ecosystems (including estuaries, coastal marshes, lakes, and rivers). This is achieved by assessing the responses of these ecosystems and their key species—particularly diadromous, estuarine, and euryhaline marine fish, as well as aquatic plants—to a range of human-induced pressures (e.g., fishing, habitat fragmentation, pollution, climate change). The Functioning and Restoration of Estuarine Ecosystems and Amphihaline Migratory Populations (FREEMA) team conducts ecological research on the response of fish communities to environmental constraints and local and global human pressures. This research primarily focuses on understanding the links between the structure and dynamics of these communities and the overall ecological functioning of ecosystems under environmental constraints. Bioindication tools are widely used within the research unit to perform ecological diagnostics. Additionally, the restoration of degraded aquatic ecosystems—particularly estuaries and associated habitats like wetlands—is becoming increasingly central to FREEMA's research activities.

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher (Ph.D.) to join our team with the aim to assess long-term changes in estuarine fish communities over large spatial and temporal scales. The successful candidate will leverage nationwide datasets to investigate how species richness and size distribution in estuarine fish communities have changed over time and along environmental gradients. A key aspect of the research will be to link observed community changes to environmental changes and anthropogenic pressures such as shifts in temperature, salinity and human activities. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to high-impact research at the interface of community ecology, global change biology, and conservation science, providing insights critical for the management and preservation of estuarine ecosystems.

Key Responsibilities

• Curate and analyze large, complex datasets of estuarine fish communities in France
• Develop and apply advanced statistical models to evaluate changes in species richness and size distribution
• Interpret results in the context of environmental gradients and global change
• Present findings at scientific conferences
• Prepare high-quality manuscript(s) for peer-reviewed, international journal(s)

Training and skills

Expected training:

• Ph.D. in Ecology or related fields (aquatic ecology, community ecology, numerical ecology)

Expected skills:

• Strong quantitative skills (data analysis, statistical modeling in R)
• Ability to manage and handle large datasets
• A proven track record of publishing peer-reviewed research
• Fluency in English (written and spoken, level C2) with excellent communication skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team, leading collaborative, multi-author projects
• Motivation and capacity to learn and apply new methodological approaches.
• Scientific curiosity and creativity 

Appreciated experience:

• Familiarity with estuarine systems and fish communities
• Fluency in French 

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 ;

-Partial coverage of home/work transport subscription (TER, TBM).

How to apply

Send a motivation letter and a CV (both in English), together with two letters of recommendation (with contact details): in a single PDF file to : 

 By e-mail: 

benjamin.weigel@inrae.fr

henrique.cabral@inrae.fr

oR By post:

INRAE Centre de Gazinet - Mr Benjamin Weigel - 50 avenue de Verdun - 33612 CESTAS CEDEX