Job offer

Organisation/Company ENVT INRAE Department IHAP 1225 ENVT INRAE Research Field Environmental science » Ecology Medical sciences » Epidemiology Medical sciences » Veterinary medicine Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 30 Apr 2026 - 20:00 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description Objectives of the PhD project

The current pandemic of the African Swine Fever virus (ASFv), which spreads in domestic and wild suids populations in Asia and Europe, is a major animal health, economic and conservation issue. Its emergence in France is a constant threat, as highlighted by recent outbreaks in neighbouring Belgium, Italy and Spain. In this context, characterising the wild boar-domestic pig interface in France is crucial to inform risk analysis and mathematical modelling, and obtain precious information for epidemic preparedness, particularly for outdoor farming systems which are highly prevalent in France and where interactions with wildlife is more likely to occur. Moreover, the wild boar-domestic pig interface faces many changes such as increasing wild boar abundance, changes in hunting practices, and the growing popularity of free-range farming. As such, characterising the interface in various settings may help to predict future trends in infectious disease risk. In three study sites with contrasting wild boar abundance, the PhD candidate will deploy a standardised protocol for precisely estimating wild boar densities using camera trapping and random encounter models. In each study site, camera traps will also be deployed in a sample of pig farms providing outdoor access (including breeder farms and fattening farms) to quantify direct and indirect contacts between domestic pigs and wild boar. In parallel, questionnaires addressed to farmers will also be used to further assess the risk of contacts at the interface. Finally, the circulation of shared pathogens in both wild boar and domestic pigs will be assessed using laboratory analyses of serological and/or environmental samples.

The PhD project is co-funded by and included in two projects: the Priority Research and Equipment Programme “Sustainable farming” funded by AGRALIFE ( https://www.inrae.fr/Agralife ) and the project “ Associations between human interventions (including those impacting wildlife) and animal disease spread and means for control” funded by the EU Partnership on Animal Health and Welfare (EUPAHW, https://www.eupahw.eu/ ).

Dr Timothée Vergne

is an Associate Professor of Veterinary Public Health at the National Veterinary School of Toulouse (ENVT). He is a quantitative epidemiologist in the IHAP research unit, and leads the Epidesa group, a dynamic international team of researchers dedicated to the improvement of livestock and farmers well-being through the use of modern epidemiological techniques. His primary research interests include the understanding of detection and transmission processes of infectious diseases using statistical and mathematical modelling tools, in order to optimise the way infectious diseases are managed. He is involved in the “Sustainable farming” project funded by AGRALIFE.

Dr Ferran Jori

is a senior researcher at the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) working on wildlife and disease risks, wildlife production, and epidemiology of diseases at the wildlife-livestock interface. He is involved in the project “ Associations between human interventions (including those impacting wildlife) and animal disease spread and means for control” funded by the EUPAHW.

Dr Sébastien Lambert

is an early-career researcher at the National Veterinary School of Toulouse in the IHAP research unit, Epidesa group. His primary research interests include ecology, epidemiology and modelling of infectious diseases (including zoonoses) at the wildlife-livestock interface to protect animal and human health.

Research location

The PhD candidate will be recruited by the National Veterinary School of Toulouse (ENVT) and primarily based within the Epidesa group ( https://epidesa.inrae.envt.fr/ ), part of the mixed research unit Host–Pathogens Interactions ( https://ihap.fr/ ), located on the ENVT campus in Toulouse, France. In addition, the PhD candidate will be able to spend extended periods of time at the co-host institution, the ASTRE Research Unit ( https://umr-astre.cirad.fr/en )located on the International CIRAD Campus in Montpellier, France, for as long as necessary to complete specific tasks related to the project. While the exact timing and duration of these periods in Montpellier will remain flexible to accommodate the needs of the research, efforts will be made to ensure a well-balanced presence between the two sites over the course of the PhD.

a short motivation letter (max 1 page) where you state why you are interested and what experience you have to address the aspects of the project; the motivation letter should include the contact of two referees.

Online interviews of shortlisted candidates will be held in May 2026.

Cadenas-Fernández, E. et al. (2019) Free-ranging pig and wild boar interactions in an endemic area of African swine fever. Front. Vet. Sci.,

6 , 376.

ENETWILD-consortium et al. (2022) Wild boar density data generated by camera trapping in nineteen European areas. EFSA Supporting Publications ,

19 (3), 7214E.

ENETWILD-consortium et al. (2023) Assessment of the factors that determine the presence of wild boars near outdoor and extensive pig farms in Eastern Europe.

20 (5), EN-8015.

Hayes et al. (2024) A multi-host mechanistic model of African swine fever emergence and control in Romania. bioRxiv , 2024.01.09.574784.

Jori, F. et al. (2017) Questionnaire-based assessment of wild boar/domestic pig interactions and implications for disease risk management in Corsica. Front. Vet. Sci.,

4 , 198.

Jori F. et al. (2020) Wildlife-livestock interactions in animal production systems: what are the biosecurity and health implications? Anim Front ,

11 (5), 8-19.

Jori, F. et al. (2022) A questionnaire survey for the assessment of wild–domestic pig interactions in a context oedema disease outbreak among wild boars ( Sus scrofa ) in South-Eastern France. Transbound. Emerg. Dis. ,

69 (6), 4009–4015.

Shichijo, T. et al. (2024) Quantification of wildlife visits to pig farms via camera traps in Japan. Prev. Vet. Med.. 232.

Where to apply E-mail timothee.vergne@envt.fr

Requirements Research Field Environmental science » Ecology Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Medical sciences » Epidemiology Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Medical sciences » Veterinary medicine Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Academic qualifications and experience

The ideal PhD candidate should possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in veterinary medicine, ecology, epidemiology, or a related field, with a strong interest for infectious diseases in wildlife and/or livestock.

Ideally, candidates should have prior research experience in field studies, particularly in wildlife ecology or epidemiology. Prior experience in camera trapping projects would be an advantage.

An interest in programming (preferably in R) and/or in laboratory work would be advantageous.

Mobility is required, as the project involves spending time in Toulouse and Montpellier as well as a lot of field work in various study sites in France.

Strong social skills are needed to collaborate with different stakeholder networks, including pig farmers, hunters… Because all of the field work will be conducted in French rural area, the candidate should be fluent in French.

The candidate should exhibit strong scientific writing and communication skills, with fluency in English and willingness to present research work at international conferences/meetings.

Strong organizational and time-management skills, the ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, and a willingness to conduct fieldwork in wild areas and in pig farms are also crucial.

Research Field Medical sciences » EpidemiologyEnvironmental science » EcologyMedical sciences » Veterinary medicine

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