Job for Researchers: Study Engineer in Global Food Systems Analysis — CNRS

Original title: Ingénieur.e d’études en analyse des systèmes alimentaires globaux et leurs impacts

About the role

The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) is recruiting an Ingénieur.e d’études en analyse des systèmes alimentaires globaux et leurs impacts (Study Engineer in the analysis of global food systems and their impacts) to join the Laboratoire de géologie de l’École Normale Supérieure in Paris 5e. This is a full-time, 12-month fixed-term contract (CDD), with a planned start date of 1 September 2026. The position is open to candidates holding a certificate of disability status (travailleur handicapé / travailleuse handicapée).

The engineer will contribute to the ERC Starting Grant project FLORA – Sustainable and healthy food solutions: system dynamics and trade-offs, led by Carole Dalin in the Geosciences Department of ENS-PSL. The project aims to identify transformations in food systems that can reconcile human health with environmental sustainability. The recruited person will help develop prospective scenarios assessing how global food systems might evolve within planetary boundaries while ensuring food security, and will contribute to the project’s modelling framework and quantitative analysis of interactions between agricultural production, food consumption, environment, and health.

Responsibilities

• Develop and analyse scenarios for the transformation of global food systems.
• Contribute to the development and use of modelling and quantitative analysis tools, and document code and results on a platform such as GitHub, available to and fed by all project members.
• Collect, harmonise, and analyse international databases on food systems, agriculture, and the environment.
• Perform statistical analyses and produce visualisations of results.
• Produce and submit a peer-reviewed scientific publication based on work carried out within the project.
• Participate in writing scientific publications and research reports with the FLORA project team and other collaborators.
• Present results at scientific meetings, seminars, and conferences.
• Take part in the scientific life of the FLORA project and collaborate with team members and project partners.

Required profile

Education

Master’s degree (Master 2) in environmental science, geography, agronomy, environmental economics, data science, or a related discipline.

Technical skills

• Quantitative data analysis.
• Scientific programming in R and/or Python.
• Proficiency in statistical methods.
• Experience with environmental or agricultural data processing is an asset.
• Experience in complex systems modelling or scenario analysis would be a plus.

Personal qualities

• Scientific rigour.
• Autonomy.
• Team spirit.
• Analytical and synthesis skills.

Languages

Excellent writing skills in English and very good oral English.

Work environment

The position is funded by the ERC Starting Grant FLORA, directed by Carole Dalin at the École normale supérieure – PSL. The project combines modelling, data analysis, and scenario evaluation at a global scale. The recruited person will join an international team and interact with project members and scientific partners.

Work is mainly computer-based and involves handling complex, large datasets. Occasional travel within France and abroad is expected for meetings or conferences.

We offer

• Gross monthly salary between €2,572 and €3,817.
• 44 days of annual leave and RTT per year.
• Teleworking practice and allowance.
• Transport reimbursement at 75%, and a sustainable mobility package up to €300.

How to apply

Application deadline: Friday, 7 August 2026, 23:59. Reference: UMR8538-CARDAL-004. Sector: Life, earth and environmental sciences. Job type: Engineer in studies of geo-natural and anthropised environments. Desired experience: 1 to 4 years.

Original vacancy