Postdoctoral Position in Nature Restoration, Nature-Positive Farming Systems, and Agroecology French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment in France

Applications are open for a 2-year postdoctoral position in nature restoration and nature-positive farming systems within the Horizon Europe BALANCE project consortium. The position is based in Rennes, France, at the interface of agroecology, biodiversity, landscape ecology, ecosystem services, and sustainable transitions in agriculture.

The post is hosted in the Joint Research Lab SAS in Rennes, with close interaction with BAGAP and the wider BALANCE European consortium. The project aims to support implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation and broader sustainability goals by identifying, testing, and promoting farming systems and practices that are environmentally effective, economically viable, and socially accepted.

The successful researcher will work on formalising the links between nature restoration, ecosystem services related to agriculture and landscapes, and nature-positive farming systems, including social, economic, psychological/cultural, and governance dimensions. Main tasks include a systematic literature review, development of a conceptual model, and identification of indicator sets to assess contributions to nature restoration, biodiversity, landscape function, and agroecological resilience.

Supervision is provided by Edith Le Cadre (full professor, L’Institut Agro Rennes-Angers) and Stéphanie Aviron (research director, INRAE), with opportunities to interact with Matthieu Carof and the broader consortium. The post is suitable for early-career researchers with a PhD in agroecology, ecology applied to agricultural landscapes, or agronomy with a strong ecological dimension.

Required skills include experience with systematic reviews, conceptual modelling, and data analysis/modelling in R, plus strong English communication and an interdisciplinary mindset. Occasional travel within France and possibly Europe may be required.

Funding details include a gross salary of 3022 €/month and standard employee benefits through INRAE/L’Institut Agro. The deadline is 24 July 2026. Applicants should send a CV and motivation letter following the instructions in the job offer.