INSERM CHAIR Recruitment : Immunopathology of infectious diseases in tropical island environment

Organisation/Company INSERM Department Departement des Ressources Humaines Research Field Biological sciences Researcher Profile Established Researcher (R3) Leading Researcher (R4) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 2 Sep 2026 - 17:00 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Permanent Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The Inserm chair recruitments opened to Inserm are intended for researchers with strong potential to manage and lead research teams and participate in national, European or international projects.

Thisrecruitment,basedonresearchandteachingprojects,isaimedatresearcherswithadoctorateorequivalent andafirstpost-doctoralexperience.Thepositionisofferedonafixed-termcontract(CDD)withaviewtotenure in the Inserm Research Directors personnel at the end of thecontract.

Strategy of the host institution:

The French National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM) is the primary public institution dedicated to biomedical and health research. Inserm conducts research with a focus on translating research findings into clinical and therapeutic applications that address current public health challenges. Partners include universities, hospitals, and international research organizations.

In its national strategic plan, INSERM has identified four key priorities: (i) strengthening the continuum of health research by supporting innovative and disruptive approaches; (ii) developing strong synergies with its partners at the regional, European and international levels; (iii) enhancing the attractiveness of scientific careers and the structuring of human resources; (iv) promoting open, responsible and committed science in the service of society.

These priorities are fully in line with Réunion's regional action plan for research and innovation under the smart specialization strategy (S5), as well as with the regional plan for higher education, research and innovation (SRESRI). Inserm is particularly committed to areas relating to the health of vulnerable populations, the One Health and global health approach, and the development of diagnostics, prediction strategies and innovative therapies.

As part of its overseas strategy, Inserm has sustained its strong commitment to supporting research into recurrent and emerging infectious diseases REIDs. Réunion island is in frontline for observation and study of REIDs, as it is repeatedly exposed to emerging pathogens such as arboviruses (chikungunya, dengue), whose health impact is amplified by the high prevalence of metabolic and cardiovascular comorbidities within the population.

Strengthening research capabilities in immunophysiopathology of infectious diseases is therefore a strategic issue for better understanding the determinants of infection severity, anticipating health risks and contributing to the development of prevention and management strategies adapted to tropical and island contexts.

Strategy of the host laboratory:

From January 2026, the PIMIT joint research unit will become a single-team unit structured around three themes: Eco-epidemiology of infectious agents, Infectious mechanisms and zoonosis control, and Exposure and susceptibility of human populations to infections. This structure aims to strengthen an integrated approach to emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) in tropical island contexts. Understand the interactions between infectious agents and immune cells, as well as the mechanisms of the innate immune response and infection persistence, is a key challenge for analysing the pathogenesis of EIDs. This focus consolidates the interfaces between cellular approaches, experimental models and translational issues, and strengthens PIMIT's position in the study of infectious mechanisms in contexts of recurrent exposure. It contributes to the long-term structuring of the unit's expertise on the immune determinants of infection persistence and severity, in line with Inserm's scientific priorities and regional health issues.

Summary of the scientific project:

The CPJ project will be involved in the “Infectious Mechanisms and Zoonosis Control” theme. It aims to further investigate the immunophysiopathology of emerging and recurrent infectious diseases, particularly in tropical island environments. It is based on the study of host-pathogen interactions, with a particular focus on the role of innate immunity in pathogenesis, viral persistence and disease severity. Using in vitro and in vivo experimental models correlated with clinical data from clinical and population cohorts from the University Hospital of Réunion, the project aims to characterise the determinants of infection and the mechanisms of immune evasion. In a region marked by arboviral diseases, this work will identify key immune signatures for the control infectious diseases.

Summary of the teaching project:

The teaching project is part of the New Training Programme (NOF) for the master’s degree in biology and health, specifically the Tropical Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses course, which is dedicated to the study of emerging infectious diseases using an integrated approach combining ecology, pathophysiology, prevention and global health. The CPJ will participate in the supervision of cross-disciplinary tutorials based on case studies of infectious crises. In line with its expertise in infectious immunophysiopathology, the CPJ will be involved in teaching on host-pathogen interactions, the innate immune response and the pathogenesis of viral infections. The CPJ will also participate in the internationalisation of the master’s programme, particularly within the framework of the ILIADE project. In the bachelor’s programme in Health Sciences, which has been restructured according to a skills-based approach and learning and assessment situations (SAE), the CPJ will be involved in teaching virology, microbiology and cell biology.

National Research Agency package : 200k€

Remuneration package

3500€ - 5 000€ according to research experience

Scientific dissemination/ Open Science:

Scientific communication and dissemination : The project will generate original scientific results that can be disseminated through a variety of channels: interdisciplinary publications in leading international journals on biosafety and infectious diseases, presentations at regional conferences in the Indian Ocean and international congresses. The project will also promote co-publication with regional and international partners, as well as the production of book chapters and summary notes for public decision-makers.

Open Science : Inserm is developing a strong policy in favor of open science, which consists of making research results ‘as accessible as possible and as restricted as necessary’. To this end, Inserm aims to make 100% of the texts of publications resulting from the work of its units accessible to all, through deposit in HAL. The data produced will be made available in institutional repositories (OPIDoR), unless otherwise restricted, in accordance with FAIR principles.

Science and society : The relationship between science and society is now recognized as an integral part of scientific activity. Outreach activities will be carried out each year in the form of workshops, public conferences and interactive exhibitions on exposome and infectious risk, as well as on health practices to combat infectious diseases in Réunion. The CPJ will be involved in events for the public such as the Science Festival and Researchers' Night. It will support the co-construction of knowledge with local communities in synergy with public health authorities.

1. Number and quality of scientific output (publications, software, patents, books)

2. Establishment of institutional partnerships formalized by contracts

3. Influence within the geographical area and internationally

4. Promotion of work to interdisciplinary scientific communities

5. Innovation and transfer to society, and scientific dissemination to non-specialist audiences.

6. Adaptation and/or creation of new teaching units in bachelor's/master’s programs

Selection of candidates:

It is expected therecruited researcher to become rapidly a group leader in the GAD team. So, the candidate should demonstrate ability to supervise Ph.D students, post-doctoral fellows and technical support staff. She/he should have the capacity to obtain competitive funding to manage her/his group.

Successful candidates are chosen by a selection commission composed of six to ten members, the majority of whom are specialists in the fields of research concerned.

The commission carries out an initial examination of the applications, focused in particular on candidate experience and skills relative to the research and teaching project presented above. A shortlist of candidates is then selected for interview.Only candidates selected by the selection committee based on their applicationswill be invited to interview.

The interviews are followed by a deliberation during which selection commission will discuss the quality, originality and, where appropriate, the interdisciplinarity of the research and teaching projects presented by the candidates, their motivation and their scientific and teaching supervision capacity.

The candidates selected at the end of the selection process will be offered a researcher contract, following approval from the President and CEO of Inserm.

Required profile:

Researcher Profile: R3/R4

R3 Established researcher A stage in a researcher’s career describing those who have developed a level of independence and can be described as an established researcher

R4 Leading Research A stage in a researcher’s career where they can be termed a ‘leading researcher’. This would include the team leader of a research group or head of an industry R&D laboratory.

Your application will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Relevance and originality of the project related to the research field
• International exposure in research projects
• Your ability to raise funds
• Participation in editorial and reviewing activities
• Your teaching experience
• Your ability to lead a team…

Position also open to 'Bénéficiaires de l'Obligation d'Emploi' (disabled persons), as defined in article 27 of law no. 84-16 of January 11, 1984 on statutory provisions for the civil service.