The Insect Biology Research Institute (IRBI) at the University of Tours, France, expects to host a tenure-track CNRS Junior Professor, equivalent to an Assistant Professor position, in Insect-based Bioinspiration in 2024. The 2023 call for such positions, designed to favor bright candidates with early strong records, is to be found at https://www.cnrs.fr/en/cnrsinfo/join-cnrs-37-tenure-track-positions-available. The 2024 campaign and job contours are expected to be broadly the same (the call will come soon).
Noteworthy in the previous campaigns is the “entry package” approaching 300,000 euros allowing for instance to hire PhD students and/or postdocs. These positions are offered on fixed-term contracts (CDD) under public law for a duration of 3 to 6 years. The appointee will be expected to teach a third of the normal teaching load at the university of Tours (ie, ~64 hours per year). Following evaluation of scientific value and professional aptitude by a commission, tenure will be granted, after the end of the fixed-term contract, as a CNRS Senior Researcher (Directeur de Recherche), a position in which teaching is encouraged but not mandatory. This procedure ensures a much more rapid career progression than usually in France.
The successful candidate is expected to establish an internationally recognized, externally funded research program, focused on insect organismal physics (mechanics, physico-chemistry, fluid dynamics, optics, material science as possible examples) and bioinspired applications within the existing group at IRBI. Purely theoretical research, as well as research at molecular, genetic and biochemical levels are not thought after, nor in robotics, but can be a minor part of the approach taken.
Given the relatively short time window once the position is officially advertised, we urge potential candidates to approach both the IRBI director (Dr. D. Giron) and the group head (Prof. J. Casas) from now on, both to evaluate the chances of the candidate and prepare the postulation.
A PhD in quantitative biology, physics, chemistry or engineering fields is required. In all cases, several publications, as lead author and in well-established journals, reflecting a deep command of aspects of different fields (e.g., biology for physicians or physics for biologists) are required as proof of effective interdisciplinarity. Post-doc experiences in the different fields is a definitive asset.
Additional information and a series of Q&A about these chairs is available at:
Additional information about the IRBI is available at: https://irbi.univ-tours.fr/.
Additional information about the University of Tours is available at: https://international.univ-tours.fr/
For questions about this position, please contact Dr. David Giron (directeur.irbi@univ-tours.fr) and Prof. Jérôme Casas (casas@univ-tours.fr).
