Post-doctoral position in the sociology of science and technology (M/F)

Job Description

Missions

Agronomic experimentation, which aims to test farming techniques or practices under more or less controlled conditions, has been a privileged method for producing practical agricultural knowledge since at least the mid-19th century. Documenting the evolution of its objects, locations, and actors is therefore a relevant approach to examining contemporary transformations in the modes of knowledge and innovation production in agriculture, particularly in the context of agroecological transitions.
Historically viewed as the application—within the relatively confined context of agronomic stations—of techniques or inputs often designed in laboratories, agronomic experimentation is now called upon to undergo profound renewal to fully contribute to the transformation of agri-food systems. First, the contemporary diversification of agronomic practices multiplies the themes and questions that may require the establishment of agronomic experiments. Second, the deployment of agroecology, which involves integrating agricultural practices within ecosystems that are inherently variable in space and time, makes it essential to relocalize (and thus diversify the locations of) knowledge and innovation production. Third, transitions toward more sustainable models often require comprehensive transformations of production systems, contributing to the renewal of experimental epistemology: the development of so-called "system" experiments, for example, allows combining different levers of action, in contrast to "factorial" experiments, which test a limited number of variables to achieve more incremental changes.
In recent years, several studies have examined this renewal of experimentation modalities in the context of agroecological transition, focusing on its human and material organization, its epistemologies, and the locations where it is deployed—distinguishing, for example, between experimentation in stations or on commercial farms. While these studies have documented the transformations of agronomic experimentation by examining specific socio-technical configurations (such as stations, experimental networks, or targeted experimental approaches), the overall landscape of France's experimental infrastructure in stations remains poorly documented. In particular, a diversity of experimental spaces often coexist within the same geographical area, ranging from the most institutional stations (INRAE, technical institutes, regional stations) to more marginal and lesser-known locations (producer unions, associative conservation orchards, test spaces, etc.).
A central challenge, which constitutes the main objective of this post-doc, is to understand: 1) how these more or less visible spaces are connected to each other, as well as to local agricultural organizations and the farmers themselves; and 2) to what extent these stations renew the epistemological forms and socio-technical networks supporting agronomic experimentation. This second point will be addressed by focusing on the least central/institutionalized experimentation sites within the R&D and agricultural support ecosystem (particularly outside INRAE/technical institute stations). The investigation may thus revolve around the following questions: What types of experimental sites coexist in the same territory? What economic models do they rely on? Which actors interact there (cooperatives, producer associations, farmers, etc.)? Do differences in the status and funding sources of experimental stations affect the nature of the knowledge produced, its dissemination, and its use? Which version of agroecology is being tested and promoted there? And so on.
This work will focus on the horticultural sector in the Pays de la Loire region. The planned missions will be conducted in close dialogue with a similar investigation being carried out simultaneously in the PACA region

Activity

The recruited individual will conduct their work in several directions:


Developing a mapping, potentially accompanied by a typology, of the experimental sites related to the horticultural sector in the Pays de la Loire region. This mapping will aim to document the locations, projects, funding sources, and involved actors. Depending on the time, skills, and interests of the recruited person, it could later be subject to quantitative analysis, such as network analysis.


Conducting a series of localized investigations in selected experimental sites to represent the diversity of configurations identified within the stations (excluding INRAE and technical institutes). These investigations will be carried out through documentary analysis (project deliverables, etc.) and interviews with managers, as well as actors involved in experiments during the research period. Interviews with personnel from more institutional sites (such as INRAE stations and technical institutes) may also be considered.


Conducting a questionnaire-based survey among farmers operating near the investigated experimental sites. The goal here would be to better describe the profile of their users in terms of sociodemographics and agronomic practices.

Your Profil

Skills

•Knowledge and expertise: Sociologist (preferably specialized in the sociology of science or Science and Technology Studies) with a strong understanding of agricultural sectors and, if possible, the epistemological and socio-technical issues related to agronomic experimentation.


•Skills: Conducting qualitative interview-based surveys, building and quantitatively analyzing databases.


•Soft skills: Ability and motivation to work as part of a team

Your Work Environment

The postdoctoral position is part of the PEPR Transform programme, within Work Package 2 (WP2) – Emergence, which is dedicated to the study of actors and initiatives in the "third sector" that support agri-food transitions. Here, the notion of the "third sector" is understood in a broad sense, encompassing the non-profit sector (e.g. associations, trade unions), market-based organisations operating on a non-profit or limited-profit basis (e.g. social and solidarity economy organisations, professional associations), as well as small-scale for-profit organisations (e.g. cooperatives).

Beyond agronomic experimentation, WP2 will explore several dimensions of agri-food transitions through the activities of a wide range of third-sector actors. The successful candidate will join a large research team composed primarily of sociologists and economists and will be based at LISIS (Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Science, Innovation and Society).

LISIS, one of France's leading research laboratories for the study of science and technology in society, provides a rich and diverse scientific environment with extensive expertise and resources related to agricultural and food issues.

The research will be carried out in close collaboration with two other postdoctoral researchers recruited on complementary topics (see vacancies xx and xxx), who share several cross-cutting research questions concerning the role and contribution of the third sector in the ecological transition of agriculture.

The main academic contacts for the position are Baptiste Bedessem (INRAE, UMR LISIS), Aurélie Cardona (INRAE, UMR Écodéveloppement, Avignon), Madeline Akrich (CSI, Mines Paris – PSL), Philippe Larédo (University of Manchester), and Vanessa Lea (CNRS, UMR Géode, Toulouse).

Constraints and risks

Several periods of fieldwork will be carried out in France (Pays de la Loire region), to be scheduled according to the needs of the research.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

From 3131€ 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

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