Integrative characterisation of dietary exposure to chemicals and its impact on human health

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INRAE presentation

INRAE, the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment, is a public research organization bringing together 12,000 employees across 272 units in 18 centers across France. As the world’s leading institute specializing in agriculture, food, and the environment, INRAE plays a key role in supporting the necessary transitions to address global challenges.

Faced with population growth, food security challenges, climate change, resource depletion, and biodiversity loss, INRAE is committed to developing scientific solutions and supporting the evolution of agricultural, food, and environmental practices.

Work environment, missions and activities

Nature and purpose of the research project to be developed and related activities
The aim of your recruitment is to develop new approaches to characterise chemical exposure and its impact on health to serve risk assessment. With regards to the concept of exposome, it will involve integrating markers of exposure and effect and providing a dynamic view of exposure trajectories in humans from conception to end of life. The project will consider historical or emerging chemical dangers (in particular the properties of endocrine disruptors) with a view to studying their impact on human health. The differentiating nature of this project will concern the characterisation of the disruption of the steroidome to establish a link between exposure and some hormone-dependent disorders. Capitalising on the prior knowledge of the Joint Research Unit linked to exposure science and some disorders (e.g. endometriosis), the project aims to extend the proof of concept to other health endpoints (e.g. early puberty).

Nature and purpose of the teaching project
The teaching, aimed at engineering and veterinary students from Oniris, will inject the chemical branch of risk assessment into the course and systematically integrate the One Health approach. It will involve providing a holistic and integrative view of the transfer of chemicals from the environment to the livestock and ultimately the food product providing an overview of the potential health effects in humans. You will also participate in Master’s courses (biology-health option), in the international M2 course (nutrition and food science option), in the MICAS graduate programme, as well as courses at the doctoral schools at Nantes University. Lessons will also be scheduled in the course outline of the joint courses between Oniris and McGill within the framework of the LIA. You will also teach trainee Public Veterinary Health inspectors.

Funding and related resources
ANR Package : €200 000
INRAE Package : €195 000
Total : €395 000

The position involves occasional trips in France and abroad.

Training and skills

The candidate must: 
- have a PhD or equivalent 
- have experience in questions regarding the human chemical Exposome 
- Exposure science 
- Markers of exposure and effect 
- The dynamics of lifetime exposure trajectories (PBTK model) 
- be motivated, have skills in scientific and educational supervision 
- propose pertinent methods with regard to the hurdles identified 
- propose a research project with structuring effects within the laboratory and in keeping with the site policy. 
- be able to join research networks, in particular European 
- be able to manage a team and find complementary resources to fund the project 
 

INRAE's life quality

By joining our teams, you benefit from:

- 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.

International scientists, please visit your guide to facilitate your arrival and stay at INRAE.

Type of contract

Tenure-Track Junior Professor Chair enables recruitment of scientists based on a research and teaching project that lasts three years. At the end of this period, and following an assessment of your scientific achievements and professional capabilities, you may obtain a full-tenure position as Research Director (DR2).

A research and teaching agreement will specify the path you will follow towards full-tenure and enable you to acquire the qualifications necessary to become a full-tenure Research Director in your field.

You have until April 12, 2024 to submit your application. Only candidates previously selected on file by the selection committee will be invited to the hearing.