PhD : Post-doctoratal fellowship in epidemiology and public health

Cress Umr1153; Paris; Hybrid; EUR 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

32 days of annual leave

13 RTT days

Work-life balance initiatives

Support for professional development

Job summary

The Centre of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS in Paris is offering a post-doctoral fellowship in epidemiology and public health. The researcher will analyze data for the ECAIL study, focusing on social vulnerability during pregnancy.

This full-time position requires a PhD in a related field, proficiency in R software, and skills in research and report writing. The successful applicant will contribute significantly to public health interventions and research publications.

Qualifications

• Background in intervention research in public health and implementation science.
• Familiarity with quantitative methods used for intervention evaluation.
• Understanding of nutrition-related issues during pregnancy and early childhood.

Responsibilities

• Review the scientific literature related to the research topic.
• Manage data: create indicators for the analysis of intervention processes.
• Conduct statistical analyses using R software.
• Write scientific articles in English and present findings at conferences.

Skills

Proficiency in R software

Ability to write reports

Strong interest in research

Analytical and synthesis skills

Education

PhD in Epidemiology, Public Health, or Biostatistics

Tools

R software

Job description

PhD : Post-doctoratal fellowship in epidemiology and public health

Post-doctoratal fellowship in epidemiology and public health

CRESS team: OPPaLE

Inserm is the only French public organization entirely dedicated to biological, medical, and population health research. It operates research laboratories across the country, grouped into 12 regional delegations. Our institute brings together 15,000 researchers, engineers, technicians, and administrative staff, all united by a common goal: to improve everyone’s health through advances in knowledge of life sciences and diseases, innovation in treatments, and public health research.

Joining Inserm means becoming part of an institute committed to gender equality, professional equity, diversity, and supporting employees with disabilities—from recruitment and throughout their careers. To promote well‑being at work, Inserm actively implements policies to ensure good working conditions, particularly by fostering a healthy balance between personal and professional life.

In 2016, Inserm was awarded the European HR Excellence in Research label and is committed to continuously improving its recruitment and researcher evaluation practices.

Start:

February 2026

Fixed-term contrat (CDD) for contractual agents

OPPaLE is a research team from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) and the University of Paris Cité, part of the Center for Epidemiology and Statistical Research (CRESS). Our research focuses on women’s health during pregnancy and its aftermath, child health related to birth context, and child health in routine pediatric care, both in France and internationally. Our work is based on epidemiological studies conducted in populations or healthcare settings, including an interventional study with families in situations of social vulnerability (ECAIL).

Malin (http://programme-malin.com/ ) is a multi‑component nutritional program, implemented since 2012 based on an innovative and sustainable partnership between the French Red Cross, non‑governmental organizations, and public stakeholders (French Society of Pediatrics, French Association of Ambulatory Pediatrics). This program provides support to families from pregnancy onwards (promoting breastfeeding, offering advice/tips for a more balanced diet, encouraging more active lifestyles, and reducing screen time exposure) and includes a structural component (fresh fruit/vegetable baskets and kitchen utensils at discounted prices; and vouchers for foods recommended by the National Nutrition and Health Program, PNNS). The program’s registration criteria help both families in great difficulty and those in temporarily fragile situations who would otherwise receive no charitable or government aid. Malin was incorporated into the National Strategy for the Prevention and Fight Against Poverty (2018), PNNS4 (2019), and the Pact for Solidarity (2023). With support from the CNAF and the involvement of local actors, it has already reached over 250,000 young children in 93 districts since its launch in 2012.

ECAIL is an ongoing randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT03003117), designed by the OPPaLE team in collaboration with various stakeholders of the Malin program. The sample includes approximately 600 pregnant women experiencing social vulnerability, followed from pregnancy through their child’s 24 months of age. The primary objective is to test the hypothesis that the Malin program, delivered at home by dietitians, improves breastfeeding initiation and duration, as well as children’s diet, lifestyle, and growth. The trial was launched in April 2017 at the Lille University Hospital, with a second research site opened in 2021 at Valenciennes Hospital. Fieldwork for the study is expected to be completed in 2026.

The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to the quantitative component of the ECAIL study, with the aim of strengthening the process evaluation of this complex public health intervention. The work will involve analyzing:

• eligibility and (non)participation in the study, as well as follow‑up characteristics and attrition;
• the social vulnerability of the study population, in all its multidimensional aspects;
• the mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of the intervention (mediation analyses).

The postdoctoral researcher will work in collaboration with all project partners, under the supervision of Sandrine Lioret, principal investigator of the ECAIL study and Inserm research director.

This work is part of the IReSP‑SIP project (AAP‑2022‑SIP‑311921) and the EQUI‑START project, funded by AXA Foundation for Human Progress (Fonds AXA pour le Progrès Humain).

Main Activities

• Review the scientific literature related to the research topic.
• Data management: creation of indicators to be used in the analysis of intervention processes and participation in structuring the quantitative database of the ECAIL study (including producing documentation related to the created indicators and reviewing part of the code developed by other researchers).
• Contribute to the definition of research hypotheses, development of analysis plans, and conduct of statistical analyses using the R software.
• Summarize and discuss findings.
• Participate in weekly operational meetings, as well as ECAIL Steering Committee and EQUI‑START Executive Committee meetings.
• Contribute to the drafting of reports for funding agencies.
• Write scientific articles in English.
• Present findings at national and international conferences.
• Participation, where appropriate, in supervising students or interns.

Position Specificities and Work

Knowledge & Expertise

Background in intervention research in public health and implementation science. The candidate should be familiar with quantitative methods, including those used for intervention evaluation. Proficiency in R software is a prerequisite. A good understanding of nutrition‑related issues during pregnancy and early childhood would be an asset, as would familiarity with topics related to food insecurity. Languages: proficiency in English for reading, writing, and communicating results; proficiency in French for reading and writing.

Skills

• Ability to plan activities, meet deadlines, and manage unexpected events.
• Ability to write reports.
• Ability to prepare manuscripts for submission to international peer‑reviewed journals.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team and with external partners.
• Autonomy, initiative, and scientific rigor.
• Curiosity and a strong interest in research.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team.
• Strong organizational skills, with attention to deadlines and priorities.
• Analytical and synthesis skills, with excellent written communication abilities.

Desired Experience

• Previous experience in intervention research will be an asset.
• Experience in writing scientific articles for peer‑reviewed journals.

Degree and Education Requirements

PhD in Epidemiology, Public Health, or Biostatistics.

Working Hours

Full time – 38.30 hours per week

• 32 days of annual leave; 13 RTT days (reduction of working time); minus 1 solidarity day, up to 2 days, per week, excluding health‑related restrictions.

Application: Please send your CV and cover letter to: [e-mail]

Salary: Compensation will follow the Inserm contractual researcher salary scale and will be based on professional experience.