Junior research scientist in sustainable genetic management of ruminant populations

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 joint research unit on Animal Genetics and Integrative Biology (GABI, 115 permanent staff), which is also part of Paris-Saclay University. Its research aims to understand and exploit the genetic diversity of farm animals to enhance the resilience of farming systems in the face of environmental and societal challenges in the context of the agroecological transition. The unit works closely with professional livestock organisations, biological resource centres, technology platforms, and experimental units.

 

You will join the Genetics for Bovine Sustainability (GBoS) team, whose work focuses on  (1) developing population management tools, including genomic selection;  (2) characterising the genetic variability of phenotypes for various traits (health, robustness, efficiency, environmental impact, product quality);  (3) studying the structure, dynamics and function of the genome.  To this end, it has access to data from the National Zootechnical Database.  

 

Environmental (climate change), social, and economic developments will have a profound impact on livestock production in the medium term. Ruminant populations, especially cattle, will need to evolve to adapt to these global changes. Your research project will aim to develop theoretical approaches to quantitative genetics that will enable the evolutionary trajectories of these populations to be managed effectively in this context.

 

You will actively contribute to overcoming the following scientific hurdles:

 

– Management of gene-environment interactions: you will identify and quantify genotype x environment interactions. Using the extensive data available and simulations, you will explore different scenarios for innovative strategies to integrate these interactions into selection programmes, ranging from the targeted use of environment-dependent reproducers to the full integration of these interactions into selection.

– Anticipating future breeding: you will model selection trajectories to prepare cattle populations for future agroecological conditions (over the next 15-30 years), based in particular on different agricultural forecasting scenarios. You will adapt selection objectives to incorporate new traits, in particular resilience and adaptation, in the context of system diversification (organic farming, grass-fed systems, etc.) to ensure the sustainability of livestock farming in more constrained environments. You will also optimize selection programmes and population structure, including through crossbreeding

 

To carry out your research, you will benefit from a dynamic scientific environment within a unit that is internationally recognised for its animal genetics research, as well as unique resources such as large databases and technical infrastructures. You will benefit from the numerous collaborative networks already established by the team with academic partners in genetics, genomics, and selection methodology, and with professional partners in the cattle breeding field, and you will develop these networks nationally and internationally.

 

What are the conditions for applying?

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

A PhD (or equivalent) in Quantitative Genetics, Statistical Genetics or Population Genetics would be highly desirable, as well as a strong interest in selection modelling and its applications to the sustainability of breeding systems.  Experience in designing selection programmes and knowledge of the cattle sector would be appreciated. Good knowledge of statistical and bioinformatics tools to work with very large datasets is recommended. You enjoy working in a team and developing a wide range of academic and partnership networks.

 

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 :

Pascal CROISEAU pascal.croiseau@inrae.fr

Marie-Pierre SANCHEZ marie-pierre.sanchez@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