Closed registration
Open competitions for research directors (DR2)
Updated on 14 September 2026
These open competitions are intended for experienced researchers. Research directors are recognized experts, committed to joint scientific leadership, able to design, lead, coordinate, and promote research, in particular at European and international level.
Candidates who do not belong to the French tenured civil service category of 'Chargé de recherche' (Research Scientist) must have a PhD (or equivalent) and 8 years' experience in research after PhD, or can justify scientific work judged to be equivalent to these conditions.
Each candidate will present a well thought-out, coherent project that falls within INRAE's research themes. The candidate will detail the objectives and the purpose, the human and material resources likely to be used, as well as any indications regarding the feasibility of this project. They must underline its collective dimension and its forward-looking nature.
Campaign calendar
- Opening date for applications: June 16, 2026
- Deadline for applications: August 18, 2026
- Pre-selections: October 2026
- Final selections: November 2026
- Starting date for appointments: from January 2027
Registrations closed on 18 August 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Paris time. The selection process is underway. Applicants will be informed directly of the outcome of their application. As the campaign progresses, you will be able to consult on this page the schedule for the various stages of the selection process, the composition of the selection panels, and the results.
Shortlisted candidates (based on applications) will be interviewed by the selection board (final selection). Physical presence of candidates is absolutely required during the final selection. Competitions results of 1st round shortlisting and 2nd round final selection will be notified by email from no-reply (consult regularly your emails and spams).
For each candidate, the total interview time is 35 minutes.
The list of candidates shortlisted and successful will be posted en INRAE Job's French web site. You will find also the dates of two rounds and selection board composition (only in French).