About Position/Job
The Institut National de la Recherche pour l’agriculture, l’alimentation et l’environnement (INRAE) in Avignon, France, invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher in chemical ecology and genomics. This two-year project, starting March 2026, focuses on understanding the mechanisms of honey bee resistance to the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. The successful candidate will investigate physiological, behavioural, and microbial mechanisms underpinning collective defences in honey bee colonies using chemical ecology, transcriptomics, and metagenomics approaches. Working within an interdisciplinary team led by Fanny Mondet, the postdoc will collaborate with experts in genomics, beekeeping, and chemical ecology, and benefit from access to advanced lab and field facilities in Avignon and Toulouse. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to global research on social insect resilience, host-parasite interactions, and sustainable apiculture.
Position/Job Details
- Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
- Institution: INRAE (French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment)
- Department/Unit: Bees and Environment Research Unit
- Research field: Biological Sciences, Zoology, Chemistry
- Location: Avignon, France
- Number of posts: 1
- Job Type: Full-time, Temporary (2 years)
- Start Date (Anticipated): March 2026
- Working Hours: Full-time
- Salary Range: ~€3,100 gross per month
- Required Degree/Diploma: PhD
Research Area
- Honey bee biology
- Chemical ecology
- Genomics and transcriptomics
- Microbiome analyses
- Social insect behaviour and physiology
- Host-parasite interactions
Eligibility & Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
- PhD in Biology, Ecology, or related discipline
- Expertise in transcriptomics, genomics, and bioinformatic analyses using command-line tools and HPC
- Experience in chemical ecology and/or molecular experiments
- Proficiency in statistical analyses (R) and scripting (Bash)
- Strong scientific writing and communication skills in English
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with microbiome analyses (shotgun metagenomics)
- Experience with GC-MS analyses
- Practical experience with beekeeping
- Fluency in French
- Driver licence and no known bee sting allergies
Key Responsibilities
- Lead experiments on honey bee resistance to Varroa mites
- Analyse omics and chemical ecology data
- Collaborate with team members and external experts in genomics
- Publish research outcomes in peer-reviewed journals
- Participate in conferences and project dissemination activities
- Contribute to lab and field management of experimental apiaries
Application Process
How to Apply
Send a single PDF including:
- Detailed CV
- Motivation letter
- Contact details of two scientific references
Submit via email to: fanny.mondet@inrae.fr
For more information contact:
- Fanny Mondet: fanny.mondet@inrae.fr
- Thibault Leroy: thibault.leroy@inrae.fr
Important Dates
- Application Opens: 13 November 2025
- Deadline: 27 November 2025, 20:00 CET
- Interview Date: Early December 2025 (selected candidates)
Useful Links
- Institution Website: INRAE
- Official Notification Link: click here
- Apply now: fanny.mondet@inrae.fr
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