Research Technician – High‑Throughput Screening of Bacterial Strains (FIBREPIC Project).

Back to jobs listing

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

LABORATORY ASSIGNMENT

INRAE, UMR 1253 Milk and Egg Sciences & Technologies (STLO) – Rennes;

Team CIRM‑BIA (International Centre for Microbial Resources dedicated to Food‑Relevant Bacteria).

SUPERVISION

You will work under the responsibility of the engineer in charge of the Biological Resources Centre, in direct contact with other team members.

PROJECT CONTEXT

This contract is part of the FIBREPIC project, carried out with a private partner. A portion of the project aims to screen a segment of the CIRM‑BIA collection in order to identify bacterial strains capable of metabolising compounds of interest. 

The project, which starts in autumn 2026, comprises several stages: 

1. Selection of the bacterial strains to be screened; 
2. Development of a high‑throughput screening method to assess their fermentative capacity; 
3. Evaluation, on a reduced subset of bacterial strains, of their ability to survive passage through the digestive tract.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

- Reviving cultures of the strains to be tested, sub‑culturing, and performing purity checks. 

- Contributing to the development of a high‑throughput screening method for assessing degradation of the target compounds by a large number of strains. 

- On a reduced panel of strains: screen for survival at low pH, in various concentrations of bile salts, and test resistance to different antibiotics. 

- Operate a high‑throughput screening robot, working closely with the assistant engineer responsible for the instrument. 

- Keep a lab notebook, format and analyse the results, and report findings during team meetings and project‑progress reviews. 

- Update and draft technical protocols ensuring they remain compliant with quality standards.

Training and skills

TECHNICAL SKILLS

- Microbiology: bacterial cultures, isolate preparation, and colony counting. 

- Good knowledge of hazards, hygiene and safety rules that apply to the activity. 

- Ability to apply technical protocols supporting laboratory work.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

- Education : BTS, DUT or Licence in Microbiology. 

- Laboratory experience and proficiency with office‑automation software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.). 

- Rigor, organisational skills, and autonomy. 

- Dynamism and ability to work in a team.

We are looking for a rigorous, autonomous, and motivated candidate eager to contribute to an innovative research project within a laboratory renowned for its excellence and compliance with ISO 9001:2015 quality standards.

INRAE's life quality

By joining our teams, you benefit from (depending on the type of contract and its duration):

- up to 20 days of annual leave + 10 days "Reduction of Working Time" for 8 months
- weekly working time : 38h40/week
- 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