Postoctoral researcher in veterinary epidemiology

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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 based at the INRAE-VetAgro Sup EPIA joint research unit, which is recognised for its work in the epidemiology of animal and zoonotic diseases, combining field studies and modelling within a One Health approach. You will work under the supervision of Thibaut Lurier (EPIA), Aurélien Madouasse (BIOEPAR) and Julie Shapiro (ANSES, EAS Unit). You will be based at the VetAgro Sup campus in Marcy l’Etoile, near Lyon. 

Your job will be to do research in veterinary epidemiology, focusing on syndromic surveillance. In particular, you will assess the potential of data collected for precision livestock farming (behaviour predicted using accelerometers fitted to collars) and production/reproduction data for the early detection of health emergencies in dairy cattle. This work forms part of the HODAS project (Leveraging host population data for enhancing surveillance), funded by the PEPR PREZODE. The position will combine mechanistic simulation of the spread and impacts of emerging diseases with statistical modelling for the early detection of outbreaks using available data, which is by nature heterogeneous.  The work will be carried out in close collaboration with the project partners: UMR BIOEPAR (Oniris VetAgroBio, INRAE) and the EAS unit (ANSES) UMR EPIA.

You will rely on the preliminary workon behavioural indicators and on production/reproduction indicators .

You will be specifically responsible for:

1. defining and evaluating health indicators derived from sensor and production/reproduction data: To define baseline values and characterise deviations (anomalies) linked to health events (e.g. BVD, respiratory infections, or outbreaks of FCO 3-8 in the summer of 2025) based on data provided by project partners;
2. simulation of the spread and impact of emerging infectious diseases: To develop and implement a mechanistic model that simulates both the transmission of pathogens within and between livestock farms, and the impact of these infections on relevant indicators. This will enable the assessment of the sensitivity, specificity and early detection capabilities of anomaly detection methods in the face of different epidemiological scenarios;
3. integration of animal trade networks: in collaboration with the HODAS project partners responsible for analysing this data, integrate the processes of transmission between farms linked to animal movements into the developed models, in order to identify the key factors for the success of a surveillance system (network of equipped farms, characteristics of epizootics).

The contract is initially set to run for 24 months but may be extended for a further nine months to continue the work carried out as part of the HODAS project and to carry out similar work in relation to the outbreak of lumpy skin disease that occurred in France in 2025.

Special conditions of activity: 

These activities will require close collaboration with the HODAS project partners in France (notably the BIOEPAR unit in Nantes and the EAS unit in Lyon) and may involve occasional travel for coordination meetings within the HODAS consortium. 

Training and skills

Recommended qualifications: PhD in quantitative epidemiology or ecology

Desired skills: knowledge of statistical modelling and proficiency in the R programming language

Preferred experience: relevant experience in time series analysis or the use of mechanistic models

Desired skills: ability to work in a team and collaborate with researchers from various disciplines, including the biological and social sciences; ability to produce and submit publications to scientific journals; excellent command of English, both spoken and written

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