Job for Researchers: Research Engineer in Food Systems Transition — CNRS (Paris)

Original title: Ingénieur de recherche en transition des systèmes alimentaires (H/F)

About the role

The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) is seeking a research engineer to study the ecological transition of food systems. The position is based at the Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques (PjSE) unit in Paris 14e and is offered as a full-time fixed-term contract (CDD) of 18 months.

You will carry out microeconomic evaluations of public policies and consumer preferences within the framework of the PREFALIM project (PEPR FairCarbon). This project aims to quantify the capacity of public policies to reduce the environmental footprint of food in France while preserving the nutritional quality of diets and the viability of supply chains.

This position is open to candidates holding a title recognising them as disabled workers.

Responsibilities

• Exploit and process microeconomic purchase data (scanner data)
• Carry out product matching and compute harmonised environmental and nutritional indicators
• Develop a quantitative framework for ex ante and ex post evaluation of food transition policies
• Identify and prioritise public-policy levers to inform policy design
• Participate in coordination meetings and steering committees of the PREFALIM project (PEPR FairCarbon)
• Disseminate results to public stakeholders through policy briefs and synthesis notes, and contribute to scientific outreach for broader audiences

Requirements

Education and knowledge

You hold a Master’s degree (BAC+5) in economics, with excellent knowledge of econometrics applied to micro-consumption data (demand models, panel data) and strong familiarity with the issues of ecological transition in food systems (trade policies, environmental economics, agricultural economics).

Technical skills

• Ability to exploit and process large microeconomic databases
• Ability to build counterfactual simulation exercises to assess the impact of public policies
• Mastery of standard econometric software (Stata, R or Python)

Personal qualities

• Scientific rigour and autonomy in conducting research work
• Strong synthesis and communication skills, including with non-academic audiences
• Enjoyment of teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration

Working environment

You will work within the UMR Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques (PjSE), attached to the Paris School of Economics (PSE). PSE is one of the leading economics departments in the world, bringing together nearly 140 researchers and 150 doctoral students.

What we offer

• Remuneration: €3,237.95 per month
• 44 days of annual leave and RTT per year
• Teleworking practice and allowance
• Transport costs covered at 75%, plus a sustainable mobility allowance of up to €300
• Access to the CNRS internal training catalogue (more than 80 courses)
• Access to the social action committee (sport, leisure, ticketing, etc.)
• Mandatory health insurance with MGEN (unless exemption), with 50% employer contribution

How to apply

Contract: fixed-term (CDD), 18 months, full-time. Start date: 1 October 2026. Application deadline: Wednesday 5 August 2026, 23:59.

Reference: UMR8545-LINPOL-046. Sector: Humanities and Social Sciences.

Original vacancy