Chaire Professeur Junior (CPJ).

Junior Professor Chair (CPJ) in Virology - Emerging Viruses and Climate Change
University of Bordeaux, France

INSTITUTION OVERVIEW
Fundamentally multidisciplinary, the University of Bordeaux welcomes more than 55,000 students and employs 6,000 staff members with a total budget of 560 million euros. As a winner of major national investment programs for higher education and research innovation (ESRI), the University follows an evolution trajectory resolutely oriented toward an innovative university model.
The University of Bordeaux is engaged in social and environmental transitions dynamics. Within this social responsibility framework, we are recruiting a Junior Professor in virology to address important public health issues related to emerging infectious viral pathologies favored by climate change.

POSITION OVERVIEW
Position Type: Junior Professor Chair (CPJ) - 5-year pre-tenure contract Scientific Sections: CNU 64-65 Research Assignment: Department of Biological and Medical Sciences - UMR 5234 Fundamental Microbiology and Pathogenicity (MFP) Teaching Assignment: College of Science and Technology - Biology Teaching Unit Duration: 5 years with pathway to permanent professorship upon successful evaluation

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Current epidemiological trends show that emerging viral diseases need to be considered in their entirety, integrating human, animal, plant and environmental components in a "one health" approach. The CPJ virology project aims to develop this interdisciplinary study strategy on an emerging virus model in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, in a context of climate change.
The core research focus is to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the virulence of emerging viruses, their genetic variability, replication cycles, mechanisms of escape from host defenses, and to identify new control strategies. The project requires excellent skills in cellular and molecular virology, while integrating through interdisciplinary collaborations the anthropic and environmental factors favoring pathology development.

KEY RESEARCH AREAS
• Molecular and cellular mechanisms of viral virulence
• Genetic variability of emerging viruses
• Viral replication cycles
• Host defense escape mechanisms
• Development of novel control strategies
• One Health approach integration
• Climate change impact on viral emergence

STRATEGIC CONTEXT
This recruitment aligns with:
• The government's "Infectious and Emerging Diseases" (MIE) acceleration strategy
• Nouvelle-Aquitaine region's PSGAR programs focusing on "Infectious diseases and health risks"
• University of Bordeaux's "Horizon 2030" strategic framework
• Strengthening international collaborations, particularly with southern countries

HOST LABORATORY STRATEGY
The CNRS UMR 5234 Fundamental Microbiology and Pathogenicity (MFP) specializes in host-pathogen interactions. Four teams work on viruses affecting humans (HIV, Zika, Chikungunya, Adenovirus, SARS-CoV-2, Herpes). This recruitment will expand these study models to address strong societal demand: due to climate change, the risk of contracting autochthonous arboviral diseases transmitted by mosquitoes is increasing in France, particularly in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Affiliated with the University Hospital (CHU), MFP teams have developed expertise in translational research, from fundamental biology to clinical research, enabling rapid adaptation to epidemic crisis situations. The unit benefits from the university's BSL-3 laboratory, managing activities through academic and industrial collaborations.
INTERNATIONAL ATTRACTIVENESS STRATEGY
The successful candidate will participate in developing the University of Bordeaux's international openness policy to increase research potential by attracting foreign students and researchers through:
• Scientific communications at international conferences
• Organization of a Summer School, particularly for Enlight network students
• Creation of educational content adapted to foreign students (videos, videoconferences) for the Enlight network and international programs
• Facilitating the reception of foreign research interns

TEACHING PROJECT
The training-research articulation has two objectives:
Content Integration: Decompartmentalize virology teaching by integrating all anthropic and environmental factors - creating "one virology" that accounts for virus diversity, hosts (microorganisms, animals, plants) and biotopes
Format Innovation: Create digital content in English for international compatibility and "at home" internationalization (Enlight network, international masters)
Teaching Load: 64 hours per year, no additional hours permitted Teaching Levels: From L3 Life Sciences to Master Biology-Health programs

COMPENSATION AND FUNDING PACKAGE
Salary: 42,700 euros gross annual salary (INM index 735)
Research Support: 305,000 euros total funding over the project duration, including:
• 199,000 euros for contractual collaborators (PhD students, postdocs, research assistants)
• 106,000 euros for operational expenses (consumables, platforms, travel, equipment)
Funding Sources:
• MESRI CPJ funding: 299,000 euros
• ANR package: 200,000 euros
• Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region co-funding: 60,000 euros
• University of Bordeaux/CNRS co-funding: 45,000 euros

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Essential Requirements:
• PhD or equivalent university degrees, titles and qualifications recognized by the academic council
• Validated postdoctoral experience(s), including at least one abroad, demonstrated through multiple publications showing ability to autonomously develop research themes
• Solid experience with host-pathogen interaction models in virology, preferably including at least one emerging or re-emerging virus
• Strong background in cellular and molecular virology
• Commitment to interdisciplinary "One Health" approaches
• Interest in climate change impacts on viral emergence
Additional Qualifications:
• No age or nationality restrictions
• Position accessible to people with disabilities with potential exam accommodations

EXPECTED RESEARCH OUTPUTS (5-year period)
• 3 high-level international publications in virology
• 1 collaborative publication on anthropic/environmental factors in viral zoonoses
• 3-5 oral communications at international conferences
• 1 PhD thesis supervision and defense
• 1 postdoc supervision
• Support for obtaining HDR (Habilitation to Direct Research) if not already held

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Active scientific mediation with the general public on viral pandemics will be a core mission from the beginning. This will leverage:
• SUNSET program (Sciences with and for a society in transitions) with "Science with and for society" (SAPS) label
• University communication actions at various levels
• Participation in events: Science Festival, European Researchers' Night, science centers, conferences, debates
• Regional Research Network (R3) MicroBio-NA communications

SELECTION PROCESS
Application Review: Only candidates pre-selected based on application materials by the selection committee will be invited for interview. Committee composition will be made public before work begins.
Interview Format: May be conducted in-person or remotely, as decided by the selection committee. No professional situation assessment will be included.
Application Tracking: All candidates can track their application status and results using their Odyssée candidate number and personal password.

CONTACTS
Research Contact: Marie-Line Andréola (DR-CNRS, MFP) Email: [email protected]
Teaching Contact: Nicolas Larmonier (PU, ImmunoConcEpT, Biology Teaching Unit) Email: [email protected]

This position represents an exceptional opportunity to establish an independent research program addressing critical global health challenges at the intersection of virology, climate change, and public health, while benefiting from comprehensive institutional support, state-of-the-art BSL-3 facilities, and a collaborative international research environment.

Company

Fundamentally multidisciplinary, the University of Bordeaux welcomes more than 55,000 students and employs 6,000 staff members. It operates with a total budget of €560 million.

As a winner of major national investment programs for higher education and research innovation (ESRI), the University is following a trajectory and evolution dynamic resolutely oriented toward an innovative university model.

Determined to continue its development trajectory initiated over the past ten years, the University of Bordeaux's objective is to leverage its position as an international university with strong research activity to address the major scientific and societal challenges of the 21st century, serve as a source of inspiration for renewed higher education, and provide an asset to foster breakthrough innovation.

The proposed chair is fully aligned with the University of Bordeaux's research strategy, particularly structured around 7 Major Research Programs (GPR) labeled in 2021 and established for an eight-year duration. These GPRs are part of the renewal of the excellence research development policy embodied over the past 10 years by the LabEx programs. They aim to provide UB with scientific priorities contributing to its visibility and attractiveness and are coherent with the institution's strategic projection toward 2030.

The University of Bordeaux is engaged in a dynamic of social and environmental transitions. Within this framework of social responsibility (RSU), it proposes the recruitment of a Junior Professor in virology to address important public health issues related to the emergence of new infectious viral pathologies favored by climate change. More broadly, this virology research project aligns with the government's scientific policy, particularly the acceleration strategy "Infectious and Emerging Diseases" (MIE), and with the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region's research support policy through the PSGAR programs (Regional Scientific Programs of Great Ambition), whose 2022 call for projects focuses on "Infectious diseases and health risks."

The University of Bordeaux has a strategic territorial position to address this issue because the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region is highly exposed to the emergence of new viruses, many vectors of which originate from the Mediterranean basin and Africa. This recruitment would thus allow the University to strengthen its network of international collaborations and its ties with southern countries. Supporting research anchored in the territory also responds to one of the objectives of the "Horizon 2030" strategic framework that the University has defined for itself.

Company info

Telephone

+33540002561

Location

UMR 5234 MFP
Bordeaux
Aquitaine
33000
France