We are excited to announce a PhD opportunity within the SafeFood4ClimDiet project "Characterization and ranking of microbiological risks associated with new food practices induced by climate change"

This PhD will provide the opportunity to work at the intersection of public health, climate change, and food safety.

About the PhD Project

This doctoral research will be part of a collaborative effort between ANSES (French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety) and INRAE (National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment). The project focuses on understanding how climate change influences food production, distribution, and consumption patterns, and the resulting microbiological risks to public health.

Research Objectives:

Several research questions will be explored:

• What are the microbiological hazards associated with new consumption practices in mainland France, Corsica, and overseas territories, and which foods are affected?

• What tools and methodologies can be used to robustly and predictively assess these risks to rank them based on their likelihood of occurrence and severity?

• What are the microbiological risks projected for 2050, and how can we adapt to them

This research will be interdisciplinary, combining risk assessment, microbiology, food science, and data science, all crucial to tackling the current environmental challenges.

Key Details of the PhD Position:

• PhD supervision by Jeanne-Marie Membré (INRAE) and co-supervision by Estelle Chaix (Anses)

• Location: The PhD will be based at Anses in Maisons-Alfort (94), with occasional travel to INRAE – UMR Secalim in Nantes (44).

• Affiliated Doctoral School: ED VAAME (Vegetal Animal Food Sea Environment).

• Start Date: September 2025.

• Application Deadline: June 20, 2025.

Who Are We Looking For?

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with a strong interest in public health, climate change, and food safety. The ideal candidate will have a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in risk assessment, food science, or agri-food engineering. The candidate should also have experience or a strong interest in data analysis, programming (R), and risk modelling.

Key skills and interests include:

• Understanding the relationship between climate change and food safety.

• Experience with scientific data management and analysis.

• Strong organizational, planning, and communication skills.

• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team environment.

To apply and for more details, please refer to the full announcement.