Jean Philippe Steyer

INRAE’s Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology (LBE) in Narbonne, France is recruiting a Postdoctoral Researcher for a 24-month project on fermentation modeling , microbial metabolism , and digital twins . The position is part of the national ModelFerm initiative, which aims to build the first generic mathematical model of fermentation processes, inspired by landmark frameworks such as ADM1. The successful candidate will work at the intersection of chemical engineering , biology , computer science , environmental science , and statistics . The project focuses on integrating metabolic and biochemical pathways, mass balances, reactor dynamics, thermodynamic constraints, microbial ecology, and data science with hybrid AI approaches. The goal is to create an open, extensible platform for simulating and controlling a wide range of fermentation systems, from food and beverage production to biorefineries and industrial biotechnology. The postdoc will collaborate with a consortium of seven INRAE laboratories and visit partner labs to align hypotheses, harmonize datasets, develop mechanistic and thermodynamics-based models, integrate heterogeneous biological and process data, calibrate and validate models, and contribute to open-source software and scientific dissemination. The environment is highly interdisciplinary and collaborative, with links to multiple INRAE units across France. Applicants must hold a PhD and should have experience in dynamic modeling and simulation, process engineering, microbial systems, data analysis, scientific programming (Python, Matlab, R, Julia, or similar), and machine learning/AI. Fluent English is required; French is helpful but not mandatory. The team values self-motivation, teamwork, and an interest in supervising students and working across disciplines. Funding includes a competitive gross salary of 3135.31 to 3726.54 EUR per month, plus support for research-related expenses such as conference travel and publications. The application deadline is 2026-09-30 , and the expected start date is 2027-01-01 . To apply, send a CV and motivation letter to Jean Philippe Steyer, referencing OT-30172 .