Postdoctoral position OT-27824
18-month postdoctoral position in plant ecophysiology - microbial ecology interactions
21000 Dijon
Work environment, missions and activities
Environment. The postdoc will be located at the INRAE research centre of Dijon (France). The Centre is situated on the university campus, and offers extensive labs and facilities for microbiology (GenoSol) and plant ecophysiology (Serres-4PMI Plant Phenotyping Platform for Plant-Microorganism Interactions). The historical city of Dijon provides a relaxed environment, 1.5 hours away from Paris by train.
The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) is among the top international research organizations in the agricultural and food sciences, plant and animal sciences, as well as ecology and environmental sciences domain. Its community of 12,000 people includes 272 research, experimental research, and support units located in 18 regional centres in France. INRAE aims to be a key player in the necessary transitions to address major global agricultural production and environmental challenges.
Research. The adaptation of black-eyed pea (Vigna unguiculata L.) to dry climates, its large genotypic diversity, and the scarcity of investigations for its use in Europe makes it an excellent candidate for innovative crop diversification under future climate. Root system architecture and soil microbial community will be investigated in 50 Vigna accessions, selected based on seed availability and plant agronomical traits, and will be related to selected plant structural and functional ecophysiological variables under controlled conditions at the Plant Phenotyping Platform for Plant-Microorganism Interactions (Serres-4PMI, INRAE). Seed protein content will be assessed through the development of a high-throughput approach based on near-infrared spectroscopy.
The postdoc position is part of the recently EU-funded (Agroecology Partnership) international research project CoolFarmLAb (project CO-creation Of Pathways to foster agroecoLogical transition of FARMs driven by Living LAB approach).
Key duties. To design and conduct experiments, analyse large datasets and write publications. To supervise a Master student and coordinate with technical staff. To interact closely with the researchers, students and postdocs in the group.
Training and skills
Recommended training: Ph.D. in microbiology, microbial ecology or another relevant discipline.
Knowledge required: Experience in molecular biology is required, complementary experience in ecology, plant biology or plant (eco)physiology is welcome.
Appreciated experience: Demonstrated good track record of publications. Excellent skills in data analysis, fluent use of R statistical software or Python programming.
Skills sought: excellent skills in organization and time management, autonomy, teamwork.Good skills in English (both written and oral).
INRAE's life quality
By joining our teams, you benefit from (depending on the type of contract and its duration:
- Up to 30 days holiday + 15 RTT per year (for full-time employees)
- Skills development programmes: training, career guidance...
- Social support and benefits: counselling and listening, social assistance and loans, CESU…
- Holiday, leisure, sports, cultural and family services: Holiday vouchers, preferential accommodation; preferential tickets
- canteen with picnic area
- Partial reimbursement of commuting costs by the employer
- authorised teleworking, subject to the conditions laid down by current legislation
- partial reimbursement of supplementary social security contributions
- SNC annual leave card
- Easy access to the INRAE Dijon Centre by tram, bus + bike, car park, etc.
- Access to the Dijon FMR² association (Freshly and Temporarily Recruited in Research)
How to apply
Please send cover letter, CV and two reference letters in one pdf file to romain.barnard@inrae.fr and marion.prudent@inrae.fr before December 15th, 2026."
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)