Junior research scientist in animal breeding for the resilience of livestock systems

Get to know us

The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (INRAE) is a public research organisation. It is a community of 12,000 people with more than 200 research units and 42 experimental units located throughout France. As the first research institution in Europe for animal and plant sciences, INRAE carries out mission-oriented research for high-quality and healthy foods, competitive and sustainable agriculture and a preserved and valorised environment.

 

What will be your mission?

You will join the INRAE/AgroParisTech Animal Genetics and Integrative Biology joint research unit (GABI, 115 permanent staff), which is also part of Paris-Saclay University. Its research aims to understand and promote the genetic diversity of livestock to strengthen the resilience of livestock systems in the face of environmental and societal challenges as part of the agroecological transition.  You will develop your work within the GUPPIE team (Useful Genetics for Fish and Insects in AgroEcology), which carries out work on the genetic improvement of populations of animals raised in large groups and the selection of genetically robust and efficient animals in varied environments. Faced with the double challenge represented by climate change and the need for a rapid agroecological transition of livestock farming, the team focuses its research on two major themes: (1) the genetics of new complex traits with a view to their integration into breeding programmes,  (2) the development of mathematical models to design selection plans that promote the agroecological transition and the resilience of livestock systems.  You will strengthen the modelling skills of the unit and the team in connection with the “management of populations in selection” theme of this second component, to address the major challenge of improving livestock resilience.

 

The scientific obstacle that you will help to overcome concerns the design of innovative genetic improvement strategies aimed at reducing competition and promoting cooperative behaviour between animals raised in large groups, as it is the case with fish and insects. You will develop original mathematical approaches allowing multiple interactions to be accounted for in the assessment of livestock resilience. The relevance of the modelling of these interactions will be evaluated by the experimental and quantitative study of social behaviours in order to better understand their favourable effects on the resilience of livestock farms. You will draw on the collaboration networks already established by the team with academic partners in mathematics, selection methodology, and ethology, and with professional partners in the sectors and you will develop these networks at national and international levels.

 

Depending on your personal interests and initial knowledge, you will invest in a first model (for example fish) and in the medium term carry out work on the other model (for example insect). The diversity of animal models will allow you to test the genericity of the proposed strategies, and if necessary to study avenues for their evolution. In the longer term, more generic modelling work could be carried out by considering other animal models (poultry, small ruminants) in collaboration with the teams working on these species in the Animal Genetics Division.  

 

The main objective will therefore be to propose selection strategies that promote cooperation between individuals raised in large groups. Programmes for simulating populations in selection, involving interactions between individuals in individual-centred or multi-agent models, will need to be developed. To evaluate the operational interest of the proposed strategies, you will be able to work on commercial populations to quantify the responses to selection and compare them to the responses obtained with conventional selection strategies.  Secondly, you will evaluate the relevance of the strategies developed through the observation of social behaviour, for example. You will then design relevant experimental plans to understand and evaluate the underlying biological phenomena and specify those which are favourable to the performance and resilience of livestock, in collaboration with specialists in the processes studied.

 

What are the conditions for applying?

Competition open to candidates with a PhD (or equivalent).

A PhD (or equivalent) in Statistical Genetics (population genetics or quantitative genetics), Applied Mathematics or Quantitative Ethology would be highly recommended. A strong interest in the modelling and optimization of biological processes on a population scale would also be appreciated. Experience in designing selection plans or quantitative ethology would be a plus. A good ability to develop a diverse network is recommended.

 

Candidates should have a good command of English (both written and spoken), and long-term international experience would also be desirable. Successful candidates who have not yet acquired this experience abroad will be required to do so after their probationary period (1st year).

 

Location :

78350 JOUY-EN-JOSAS (FRANCE)

https://gabi.jouy.hub.inrae.fr/

 

Contact :

Florence PHOCAS florence.phocas@inrae.fr

Delphine LALLIAS delphine.lallias@inrae.fr

 

How to apply

Join our research teams by sending in your application to our open competitions for research scientists until March 4, 2025 

The selection process includes a pre-selection based on the scientific file in April 2025 (no physical presence required), followed by final selections through interview, scheduled from June 2 to 18, 2025. Appointments will start from September 1, 2025