PhD to study at a macroecological scale and within multi-factorial framework the effects of pes[...]

Université de Poitiers; France; Sur place; EUR 25 000 - 30 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading French university is offering a PhD position focusing on the impact of pesticides on biodiversity in agricultural settings. Candidates should hold a Master degree in Ecology or related fields, with strong skills in R and statistical modeling. Responsibilities include analyzing ecological data and developing a multifactorial research approach. The position is full-time and located in France, with an application deadline set for October 3, 2025.

Qualifications

• Master degree required, strong experience with R/R Studio needed.
• Good knowledge in statistical modeling is mandatory.
• Advanced knowledge in ecology and conservation sciences desired.

Responsabilités

• Develop a multifactorial approach to research on pesticide effects.
• Analyze data related to pollinators and environmental factors.
• Work independently as well as in a team.

Connaissances

Experience with R/R Studio

Statistical modeling knowledge

Interest in data analysis

Advanced knowledge in landscape ecology

Knowledge in ecotoxicology and agronomy

Formation

Master degree in Ecology or related field

Description du poste

Organisation/Company Université de Poitiers Department UMR CNRS 7267 Research Field Environmental science » Ecology Agricultural sciences » Other Biological sciences » Biodiversity Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country France Application Deadline 3 Oct 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Dec 2025 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

Studies showing a decline in biodiversity in agricultural areas are accumulating, and there is a strong social demand to understand and reduce the negative effects of agriculture on biodiversity. Along the simplification of agricultural landscapes and crop diversity, pesticide use has increased in quantity and diversity. Among other factors, the use of pesticides is suspected of playing a role in the decline in biodiversity in agricultural areas. However, the demonstration of an in natura effect of pesticides on biodiversity is still relatively rare (especially outside of avifauna), and studies are lacking to determine the effects of these substances, which are often encountered in sublethal doses but in cocktails. This PhD thesis (3 years) will fill this gap by focusing on organisms providing the ecosystem services of crop pollination and pest control within agrosystems: pollinators and other flower visitors.

Such studies are particularly necessary on these key ecosystem organisms: although invertebrates are taxonomically very diverse (they make up the vast majority of biodiversity), ecotoxicological literature is largely dominated by the honey bee Apis mellifera. The recent spatialization of pesticide sales data from the Banque Nationale des Ventes de produits phytopharmaceutiques by authorized distributors opens up new avenues of research to fill these gaps. Combining this pesticide use data with other environmental data (past and present land use, farming practices, climate, soil properties) and biodiversity data from the citizen science program Spipoll (Suivi photographique des insectes pollinisateurs, www.spipoll.org ), the PhD thesis will develop a multifactorial approach to estimate the responses of insect pollinator (and other flower-visitor) communities to multiple phytopharmaceutical substances, while dissociating them from the effects of other environmental factors. The >10 years that the Spipoll has been running will enable us to add a temporal dimension to the project and develop a quasi-causal approach.

The thesis will compare contrasting taxa in terms of functional traits and roles within ecosystems, thus providing a more general view of the effects of pesticides and their cocktail effect on biodiversity.

Where to apply

E-mail [e-mail]

Requirements

Research Field Environmental science » Ecology Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Applicant must hold a Master degree in Ecology or a Master degree in modelling with strong interest for scientific ecology. A strong experience with R/R Studio will be necessary to manipulate large datasets and good knowledge in statistical modelling (e.g. generalized mixed modeling) will be required. No field campaign will be necessary and the candidates must thus have a strong appeal with data analys

Advanced knowledge in landscape ecology, community ecology, functional ecology and conservation sciences are sought in the ideal candidate. Additional knowledge in in ecotoxicology and agronomy would be a plus. An interest for invertebrates (pollinators and woodlices in particular) would help, as well as for citizen sciences.

Reading and writing scientific English is required, as well as strong will to write manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Ability to both work in autonomy and in a team are important.

Languages FRENCH Level Good

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Research Field Biological sciences » BiodiversityAgricultural sciences » OtherEnvironmental science » Ecology

Additional Information

Selection process

To apply to this PhD position, candidates should provide:

• Contact of references (e.g. supervisor of previous internships)
• Academic Transcript of Records (at least the Master degree)

Candidates must send their complete application by email to Nicolas DEGUINES. An interview of the three best applicants will be organized in October 2025.