Missions

The postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for generating knowledge to determine which landscape configurations (e.g., the presence of hedgerows, grasslands, or organic farming) help reduce the severity of fungal and viral diseases in cereal crops (wheat, barley, etc.) located at the core of these landscapes.
He/She will have access to data collected annually since 2021 from 150 agricultural fields within the Zone Atelier Plaine & Val de Sèvre (an agricultural area in the southern part of the Deux-Sèvres, France), which were selected to represent a wide diversity of landscapes.

The recruited researcher will also contribute to data collection in 2026 and 2027. The results obtained are expected to lead to at least two publications in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Activities

The candidate must hold a PhD in ecology or plant epidemiology and have solid experience in data analysis. Familiar with statistical modeling methods and community ecology approaches, they will design an analytical strategy to describe the co-occurrence of fungal and viral diseases at multiple scales—temporal (within the growing season, inter-annual) and spatial (plant, quadrat, plot, landscape). These analyses will serve as the basis for assessing the contribution of landscape elements to the regulation of these diseases.

As a member of the Living Lab 2.Sèvres, the candidate will work closely with the researchers and engineers involved. He/She will also take part in outreach and networking activities within the Living Lab (e.g., presenting results during public meetings, public conferences, and Living Lab events) as well as in activities of the national PEPR SOLUBIOD program.

The candidate will also contribute to the acquisition of new data by participating in field campaigns scheduled for 2026 and 2027. He/She will ensure data entry, formatting, and consistency with datasets from previous years, and will be responsible for updating the data management plan to guarantee data quality and accessibility.

Skills

A PhD in ecology, community ecology, landscape ecology, or epidemiology is required.

Good knowledge of agroecology.

Experience in spatial ecology, analysis of georeferenced and environmental data.

Ability to build and interpret statistical models.

Autonomy in carrying out and organizing all stages of data analysis and scientific writing.

Adaptability, rigor, and attention to ethical standards in research.

Teamwork skills and ability to reassess research objectives.

Strong writing skills.

English language proficiency: B2 to C1 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

Ability to follow instructions and meet deadlines.

Work Context

The Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC – UMR7372) is located in the southern part of the Deux-Sèvres department, near the town of Niort (http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr/). The recruited researcher's work will be part of the Resilience team's research program, which addresses the Food–Agriculture–Biodiversity–Health nexus. This program is conducted within the Zone Atelier Plaine & Val de Sèvre (https://za-plaineetvaldesevre.com/), a long-term socio-ecological research site covering a 450 km² agricultural area with approximately 176,000 inhabitants across 33 municipalities. We provide high-quality infrastructure and equipment as well as a multidisciplinary working environment.
The position will be based at the CNRS and hosted by the Resilience team at the CEBC, located in southern Deux-Sèvres near Niort (http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr/).
The Resilience team leads the Zone Atelier Plaine & Val de Sèvre, where, together with its partners, it develops research aimed at understanding and promoting agroecological and food system transitions through the use of nature-based solutions.
You will work under the supervision of Sabrina Gaba, Research Director at INRAE–CEBC, and Anne-Lise Boixel, Research Engineer at INRAE–BIOGER, in collaboration with Vincent Bretagnolle, Research Director at CNRS–CEBC, Stéphane Couture, Researcher at INRAE–MIAT, and Nicolas Benvegnu, Associate Professor at the Medialab–Sciences Po. You will also work closely with Alisée Chauveau, Project Engineer for SOLUBIOD in charge of the farmer network of the Living Lab 2.Sèvres, and Romain Bonnet, Research Engineer at INRAE responsible for liaising with farmers within the Zone Atelier Plaine & Val de Sèvre. In addition, you will collaborate with partner researchers involved in the program, as well as with non-academic stakeholders including entrepreneurs, associations, and NGOs.
Application documents must include:
• A motivation letter (maximum 10,000 characters including spaces) providing indications on the hypotheses and data analyses that could be carried out (e.g., how to describe the co-occurrence of diseases? how to account for landscape effects? which landscape elements, and why? what is the connection with the concept of Nature-Based Solutions?).
• The candidate's scientific CV.
This position falls under the framework of the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST) and therefore requires, in accordance with regulations, that your appointment be authorized by the competent authority of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR).

The position is located in a sector under the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST), and therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that your arrival is authorized by the competent authority of the MESR.

Constraints and risks

-Location: Position based at the Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (Deux-Sèvres, France).
-Remote work: Not available during the first 6 months; flexible arrangements may be discussed afterwards depending on missions.
-Housing: Temporary on-site accommodation (CNRS–Chizé) available for a few days; shared housing options with other fixed-term staff can be found nearby at very reasonable rates.
-Transport: A personal vehicle is essential due to the laboratory's relatively isolated location.
-Meals: On-site cafeteria available for lunch.
-Data protection: Compliance with GDPR regulations is required.