M/F, Postdoctoral offer on: Artificial intelligence and innovative solutions in the fight against Varroa destructor, a parasite of bees.

Job Description

Missions

The CRBE, Center for Research on Biodiversity and the Environment, is a joint research unit (UMR5300) whose scientific themes revolve around the influence of environmental changes and their interactions with the living earth, and the feedbacks of socio-ecological systems on these changes. The person will mainly work with Angélique Vétillard, in collaboration with colleagues from CNAM Paris, and will be tasked with leveraging advanced artificial intelligence methodologies to address the massive infestation of bee yards by the parasite Varroa destructor. More specifically, the mission aims to discover the intrinsic correlations between the levels of bee infestation by Varroa destructor, the types of pollen sources consumed, and the modulations of the peptidome/proteome of the haemolymph indicative of pathway deregulation, and the resulting phenotypic traits of honeybees, particularly cognition. The final objective of the project is to generate a predictive analysis tool that supports immunological investigations and cognitive tests.

Activity

- Study of the biology of the parasite Varroa destructor reared on bee larvae under semi-controlled laboratory and field conditions. - Analyses of the peptidome/proteome of the hemolymph of emerging bees raised in the laboratory, via omics science. - Analyses of the long-term effects of haemolymph candidate molecules on the cognitive skills and tolerance capacity of bees during a parasitic infestation. - Participation, with Parisian colleagues, in the analysis and processing of mass data from smart hives equipped with cameras, temperature and humidity sensors, balances and other IoT-connected devices to build predictive analysis tools that support immunological investigations and cognitive testing. These AI-driven methods include tasks such as interpreting pollen images. - Writing scientific articles and communications.

Your Profil

Skills

- Skills in the biology of the parasite Varroa destructor and its host, the bee Apis mellifera - Proficiency in omics science techniques (proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics) - Skills in multivariate statistical analyses - Writing skills and value of data - Proactivity, autonomy and rigor - Ability to work in a team

Your Work Environment

The agent will work within a small and dynamic group, as well as in connection with CNAM Paris teams, in a privileged environment with access to state-of-the-art equipment. Remote work possible on certain days outside the field period subject to the agent's autonomy and reporting via the guardianship tools.

Constraints and risks

Although the possibility that there are no resistance markers in bee hemolymph cannot be ruled out, it is unlikely, especially since proteomics results have already been obtained on this issue (Fang et al., 2022). The machines used for the various analyses will allow a simple and precise quantification of the selected markers. In the case where quantification is problematic, comparisons with existing scientific literature on other organisms will make it possible to propose a hypothetical natural concentration as a basis for the continuation of tasks and the project.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

Between €3,041 and €4,395 gross monthly according to experience

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

The research professions