Chercheur.e En Écologie Chimique Des Interactions...

Geneva Com; Le Lamentin; Hybrid; EUR 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13th month salary

Mobility allowances

Job summary

CIRAD invites applications for a Chercheur.e in Chemical Ecology of Plant-Insect Interactions for Agroecological Protection. Based in Le Lamentin, Martinique, you will advance research on banana pest management, focusing on chemical communications and plant-insect ecology between lab and field work.

The role offers permanent contract (CDI) with salary from €31k, plus 13th month and expatriation/mobility allowances where applicable. Integration phase in Montpellier before continuing in Martinique.

Qualifications

• PhD holder with strong skills in chemical ecology, behavioural ecology and applied entomology.
• Experience designing and analysing behavioural experiments in lab and field.
• Proficiency with methods to study plant or microbial chemical mediators and data analysis in R or Python.

Responsibilities

• Develop research on new agroecological pest management strategies for banana.
• Analyse chemical interactions between plants and insect pests in field and laboratory settings.
• Collaborate in a multidisciplinary team and contribute to international collaborations.

Skills

Chemical ecology

Behavioural ecology

Applied entomology

Data analysis (R/Python)

GC-MS/LC-MS/GC-EAD knowledge

Education

PhD in relevant field

Tools

R

Python

GC-MS

LC-MS

GC-EAD

Job description

CIRAD

Apply by: 11 Nov 2026

Administration, HR, Management, Accounting/Finance

Chercheur.e En Écologie Chimique Des Interactions Plante-Insectes Pour La Protection Agroécologique

Location: Le Lamentin, Martinique, France

Join the UPR GECO (Ecological functioning and sustainable management of banana and pineapple agrosystems) at CIRAD to develop research on new agroecological pest management strategies for banana through chemical ecology. The unit works on agroecological methods to control Cosmopolites sordidus, the main banana pest worldwide, which will serve as a central biological model for exploring plant-insect interactions. Previous research has produced strategies combining the interruption of banana monoculture (fallow), pheromone traps and plant biodiversity management. Open challenges include strengthening trapping efficacy, better protecting sensitive bananas such as plantains, and optimising the use of plant biodiversity in pest management. The work spans laboratory to plot scale. The new strategies will be based on analysing chemical interactions between plants and this insect. After an integration phase of a few months in Montpellier, you will continue your research in Martinique within a multidisciplinary team of agronomists, ecologists and plant pathologists, working closely with crop production and protection stakeholders. Work in a tropical/humid/subtropical zone.

Objectives:

• identify the most attractive or repellent plants for push/pull strategies


• improve attractants or repellents, with or without pheromones, to boost trap catches


• make better use of cultivated banana diversity


• produce generic knowledge on the role of plant-insect interactions in agroecological pest control

Profile: PhD holder with solid skills in chemical ecology, behavioural ecology and applied entomology (ideally phytophagous insects); experience designing and analysing behavioural experiments in the lab and field; mastery of methods to study plant or microbial chemical mediators; data analysis in R or Python. Knowledge of GC-MS, LC-MS and GC-EAD is a plus, as is a grounding in agroecological crop protection of tropical crops. Ability to work with specialists of other pests (nematodes, fungal diseases), partnership experience, and fluent English with the ability to build international collaborations.

Permanent contract (CDI), starting 01/02/2027, executive (cadre) status, salary from €31k depending on experience, plus 13th month and expatriation/mobility allowances where applicable.

Closing date: 2026-11-11