Research engineer specialised in digestive physiology

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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

 * Workplace

You will be part of the Biofonte team at the PEGASE research unit in Saint-Gilles as part of the ANR project MucFib.

* Background

With the challenge currently faced for livestock production, there is a need to find new sources of protein that have a low impact on the environment while being nutritious for the animals. Local legumes could be part of the solution by replacing some other sources of proteins less sustainable (e.g., soybean). However, legumes are known to have a lower protein digestibility than soybean notably because of their dietary fibres (DF) but the latter are essential for normal digestive function.

During weaning, piglets undergo a series of major changes that are sources of stress: separation from their mothers, mixing with other litters, change of building, transition from liquid to solid feed, etc. The physiological consequences are numerous, with a decline in growth linked to both anorexia and digestive disorders associated with the stress of weaning. This is why it is necessary to ensure a better transition to weaning by introducing ingredients rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds such as dietary fibres, which will promote the piglet's health and therefore its growth. The composition of legumes varies in quality, which can exacerbate inter-individual differences due to the interaction between nutrients (proteins, dietary fibres and phenolic compounds). A better understanding of how different varieties of legumes are digested and affect the digestive health of piglets (small intestine mucus) at a critical stage of their development is needed to exploit the potential of legumes in pig feed.

This project will combine in vitro studies analysing the solubilisation of fibre contained in legumes during digestion, trials on piglets, and on IPEC-J2 cells, providing the most comprehensive study to date on the fate of dietary fibre from legumes as it passes through the gastrointestinal tract, and the impact these fibres have on the intestinal mucosa (glycocalyx and/or mucins).

* Objective

The aim of this study is to determine how dietary fibres from different legumes (peas, field beans, lupins and soya beans) affect intestinal health in pigs (cell and mucosal integrity – mucins).

* Missions, activities and networking

In vitro research

• Assess the solubilisation of dietary fibre from different legumes during digestion.

• Determine the impact of solubilised fibre on intestinal cells and the glycocalyx using the IPEC-J2 porcine jejunal cell line.

Animal experimentation

• Examine the degradation of legumes in the digestive tract of weaned piglets

• Analyse the impact on the intestinal mucosa

Biophysical characterisation

• Obtain a biophysical characterisation of small intestine mucus

You will work with researchers from the Biofonte team: Myriam Grundy and Frédéric Dessauge. You will also collaborate with project partners at the University of Gdansk in Poland (a six-month trip is planned) and the BIA team in Nantes.

Training and skills

* Recommended training : PhD or engineering degree in Nutrition, Physiology, Biochemistry or a similar discipline.

* Knowledge required:

             • Good knowledge of digestive physiology, including the intestinal mucosa

• Knowledge of biochemistry and in vitro digestion models

• Experience in animal experimentation desirable

• Experience in cell culture appreciated

* Appreciated experience:

• Autonomy in experimental design.

• Rigour in the execution and analysis of measurements.

• Ability to synthesise and organise information in order to structure results within a research framework.

• Ability to participate in the drafting of publications and reports.

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