Temporary position OT-27566
Young talents program - Understanding and steering microbial communities in agroecosystems to enhance the delivery of ecosystem services
21000 DIJON
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
Job description and environment
The program is part of the HARMI « ExcellencES » project (Harnessing Microbiomes for sustainable development) funded by the French government's Investment for the Future Program (France 2030). The HARMI project aims at creating a European Interdisciplinary Centre of Excellence in the Bourgogne Franche-Comté region dedicated to the use of the microbes for addressing the most crucial societal and environmental challenges (https://www.ubfc.fr/en/recherche/projets-de-recherche/harmi/).
HARMI provides funding for talented young researchers (experience > 5 years after PhD) the opportunity to pursue their ideas and lead a research project focused on the understanding and steering of microbial communities in agroecosystems to enhance the delivery of ecosystem services. The HARMI funding includes a full salary for the grant holder, along with up to 180 000 euros to support the recruitment of a postdoctoral researcher and to cover research-related expenses. The research themes encompass (i) consequences of agricultural management practices for microbial communities and their functions (ii) mechanisms of microbially-mediated transformations of agriculture inputs (iii) impact of climate change on soil microbes and mitigation, (iv) plant-microbe as well as microbe-microbe interactions. We welcome applications from people working in the fields of microbial ecology, environmental microbiology, biogeochemistry and plant-microbe interactions.
The person recruited will be based in the Agroecology Department (https://eng-umragroecologie.dijon.hub.inrae.fr/) at the INRAE center in Dijon. The INRAE (French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment) is a public research institute under the joint authority of the Ministries of Agriculture and Research It brings together 12,000 people across more than 200 research units and 42 experimental sites throughout France. The institute ranks among the world’s leading research organization in agricultural, food, plant, and animal sciences, and is 11th globally in ecology and environmental research. The Agroecology department is currently composed of 4 research sections and 4 platforms for a total staff of more than 350 people. Scientists are microbiologists, agronomists, soil and plant scientists and ecologists. The position is expected to contribute to the department’s and INRAE’s mission to accelerate agroecological transitions by reducing negative environmental and health impacts of production, and enhancing food system resilience to global change.
Type of contract
The successful candidate will be provided a 400 k€ grant (including salary for their position and a postdoc-max 24 months, consumables, travels, small equipments, etc…) for a period of three years, supported by the HARMI Excellence project funded by the French 2030 program. The salary will be determined on the basis of education and experience. Recruitment will be operated by the INRAE. It will integrate a benefit package including retirement, health insurance, annual and sick leave. During the 3-year period, the successful candidate will be committed to apply for a European Research Council (ERC) grant. At the end of this period, and following an assessment of their scientific achievements and professional capabilities, the successful candidate may obtain a full-tenure position by applying to the INRAE open competition for Research Director (DR2) in the Agroecology department.
Training and skills
Training and skills
The objective of this program is to attract young talents from outside the region Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. The current candidate's research Department should therefore not be located in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. The position intended for scientists with a PhD who have already demonstrated their ability to produce excellent research, evidenced by a strong record of high-quality publications in international peer-reviewed journals. The position is mainly dedicated to research. The person recruited will hold a PhD in Microbiology or a related field, with at least five years of independent and demonstrable research experience following the completion of the PhD. Knowledge in soil microbiology and biotic interactions would be particularly appreciated. Experience in supervision as well as in leading or participating in national, European or international research projects is strongly recommended.
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
Application
We invite the interested candidates to follow the link Application-Form (https://www.ubfc.fr/en/research/research-projects-2/harmi/#AACJT) to download the form to be filled and returned by email to harmi@ubfc.fr, before December 12th, 2025. Only candidates selected by a jury based on their application will be invited to the hearing.
For additional information, please contact harmi@ubfc.fr and Laurent.philippot@inrae.fr
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)