PhD position (M/F) in the ecology of plant-bee interactions and the impact of global change

CNRS; France; Sur place; EUR 30 000 - 45 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading research institute in France is seeking a dedicated Researcher to join the BeeRes project. The successful candidate will focus on understanding the nutritional resilience of bees in relation to environmental stressors such as air pollution and climate change. Responsibilities include data management, analysis, and executing experimental protocols, while also supervising student internships. Ideal candidates will have a strong foundation in ecology, communication, and experimental design.

Qualifications

• Good understanding of general ecology and ecotoxicology.
• Strong interest in experimental approaches.
• Ability to supervise students during the PhD program.

Responsabilités

• Work with the BeeRes project under supervision.
• Perform data acquisition, management, and analysis.
• Implement experimental protocols effectively.

Connaissances

Communication skills

Perseverance

Autonomy in experimental design

Writing skills

Analytical skills

Statistical tools proficiency

Meticulous work ethic

Formation

PhD candidate

Description du poste

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Centre d'écologie fonctionnelle et évolutive Research Field Biological sciences Environmental science Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Country France Application Deadline 6 Jan 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Mar 2026 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 successful candidate will work primarily with Maryse Vanderplanck, who oversees the entire BeeRes project. The candidate will also interact with other members of the consortium and the students working on the project.
The candidate will be part of the Biotic Interactions (IBT) team, which is part of the UMR5175 Center for Functional and Evolutionary Ecology – Montpellier. Occasional assignments in Rennes (University of Rennes) and Marseille (IMBE) may be carried out as needed for the project.
The candidate must have a good understanding of the major concepts in general ecology and ecotoxicology, as well as a strong interest in experimental approaches, mainly in the laboratory and partly in the field. In addition to the usual qualities expected of a doctoral student (writing skills, analytical and synthesis skills, proficiency in statistical tools and English), the specific qualities sought are communication skills, perseverance, autonomy in the design and conduct of experiments, and the ability to perform meticulous work even in the field. The candidate will be required to supervise students on internships during the PhD program. An interest in ecotoxicology and chemical ecology would be appreciated.

Wild bees provide essential ecosystem services through their pollination activity. However, many bee populations are declining worldwide due to various environmental stressors such as climate change. These factors are likely to impact the physiology of wild bees, particularly by affecting their redox homeostasis as a result of increased production of reactive oxygen species. The antioxidant defenses of bees can then become saturated, leading to oxidative stress with structural and functional damage that can be fatal. However, the ingestion of dietary antioxidants could help restore an optimal balance between antioxidants and pro-oxidants, mitigating these adverse effects. Such regulation of oxidative stress through the ingestion of antioxidants could be one of the key mechanisms determining the ability of bees to cope with global changes.
The BeeRes project, which the successful candidate will be involved in, aims to determine the nutritional resilience of bees in the face of air pollution and climate change. More specifically, the successful candidate will test the nutritional resilience and self-medication capabilities of bees by considering the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of environmental stressors (i.e., the exposome concept) and characterizing the antioxidant resources within the pollen of flowering plants.
The successful candidate will be responsible for data acquisition, management, and analysis.
The implementation of experimental protocols will be an important part of the successful candidate's work.