Post doctorat (M/F) Pesticide exposure of biodiversity and ecosystem functions

Job Description

Missions

The successful candidate will be responsible for generating knowledge on the links between pesticide use, the exposure of biodiversity and the environment to pesticides, and the resulting impacts on ecosystem functioning. He or she will analyze data on pesticide sales and applications, surveys of earthworms, insects, and plants, and measurements of ecosystem functions collected from agricultural plots since 2013 and from neighborhood gardens since 2023.

Activity

The successful candidate's responsibilities will focus on two main areas:
1- Generating knowledge on the “pressure-exposure-impact” relationships of pesticides, with a focus on ecosystem functioning in field crops. This will involve, for example, testing hypotheses regarding the buffering roles of habitats not exposed to pesticide treatments (organic farming, grasslands, etc.).
This knowledge will be disseminated through scientific presentations and articles.

2- Participating in discussions on ecosystem health, as well as in meetings of the Santé des Territoires consortium.
See Gaba et al. 2026 iScience for information on the research program

Your Profil

Skills

• A PhD (BAC+8) is required in the fields of ecology, agroecology, agronomy, or environmental studies.
• Proficiency in written and oral communication.
• Skills in data analysis and managing complex databases.
• Skills in GIS.
• Strong interpersonal skills appropriate for the target audiences.
• Ability to work in a team with strong communication skills.
• Organized and self-motivated.
• Ability to report on and account for one's activities.
• English language proficiency: B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

Your Work Environment

The Chizé Center for Biological Studies (CEBC – UMR7372 & USC1339) is located in the southern part of the Deux-Sèvres department, near the city of Niort (http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr/). The duties of the successful candidate will be part of the Resilience team's research program, which addresses the “Food-Agriculture-Biodiversity-Health” nexus. This program is conducted at the ZA Plaine & Val de Sèvre (https://za-plaineetvaldesevre.com/), a research facility covering a 450 km² agricultural area with approximately 176,000 inhabitants spread across 33 municipalities. We offer high-quality infrastructure and equipment as well as a multidisciplinary work environment.
The successful candidate will be employed by the CNRS and will join the Resilience team at the Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, a laboratory located in the southern Deux-Sèvres department, near the city of Niort (http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr/).
The Resilience team leads the Plaine & Val de Sèvre Experimental Zone (https://za-plaineetvaldesevre.com/), where it collaborates with partners to conduct research aimed at understanding and promoting the agroecological and food transition by leveraging nature-based solutions.
You will report to Sabrina Gaba, Research Director at INRAE, and work in collaboration with researchers and engineers from the Santé des Territoires consortium. You will be required to collaborate with the resident partners of the action research program.

Constraints and risks

• Position based at the Chizé Biological Research Center (Deux-Sèvres).
• This position does not allow for remote work.
• Field trips using a company vehicle (must have held a driver's license for at least two years); if necessary, reimbursement for travel expenses incurred using a personal vehicle.
• On-site housing available (CNRS-Chizé) for a few days while you find nearby housing (shared housing among various fixed-term contract employees can be found at very reasonable prices in this area).
• Personal vehicle required due to the laboratory's relative isolation.
• On-site cafeteria available for lunch.
• Compliance with field guidelines and the GDPR is mandatory.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

between €3,041 and €4,216 gross per month, depending on 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