"Environmental Health in French West Indies: Research Chair in Modelling, Clinical or Population-Based Research, and Health Data Analysis"

Host Institution:

The University of the French Antilles is a major player in scientific production and teaching in the Caribbean. Its cultural context, tropical biodiversity and the risky island environment that surrounds it make it a force for development in its territories and in the world.

Host Laboratory:

IRSET, the Research Institute for Environmental and Occupational Health (UMR_S INSERM 1085) is a joint research unit of the INSERM institute, the University of Rennes, and the EHESP School of Public Health, in partnership with the University of Angers and the University of the French Antilles, the CNRS, and the Teaching Hospitals of Rennes, Angers and Guadeloupe. Based in Rennes, France, with secondary locations in Angers and Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, IRSET is a large inter- and multidisciplinary research center on environmental and work-related risks in the field of public health. The main objective of this institute, with over 350 people, is to study and understand how environmental factors, i.e. certain physical agents such as electromagnetic waves, chemical agents such as environmental pollutants including pesticides, biological agents such as certain viruses or parasites, occupational exposures and socio-economic factors, influence human health.

Since the early 2000s, IRSET has maintained a research branch in Guadeloupe. Researchers and faculty members based there conduct studies on the impacts of environmental factors on human health (no wet lab). Their work focuses in particular on child development, occurrence of urological diseases (notably prostate cancer), liver diseases (viral hepatitis, metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease, and liver cancer), respiratory diseases (asthma and COPD), as well as toxicological and pharmacological issues. These studies are carried out both in occupational health settings and in the general population.

Over the past two decades, this research activity has steadily expanded thanks to the support of INSERM, the Guadeloupe University Hospital, and the University of the French Antilles.

Research Chair:

The Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR) has launched a call for applications entitled “Chairs of Excellence: Tremplin Outre-Mer”, aimed at:

• Attracting and anchoring outstanding early-career researchers and faculty members within research institutions located in French overseas territories,
• Structuring and strengthening local research ecosystems through ambitious scientific projects, led by profiles capable of federating and leading teams;
• Participating in the integration of the overseas territories into structured cooperation with the countries of their regional ocean basin;
• Strengthening the positioning of overseas institutions in European competitive calls, in particular Horizon Europe, by using the springboard as a lever for ramping up.

The funding will enable the laureate to develop, over a period of two years, an original research program with high visibility and structuring potential.

More information: “Chairs of Excellence: Tremplin Outre-Mer” call for applications.

The candidate selected by IRSET will have to apply for this chair of excellence, by submitting a project; support will be provided by scientists from IRSET during the preparation of this application.

Evolution of the Chair

The chair holder will be encouraged to apply for the INSERM research competitive examination (CRCN) at the end of the two-year chair.

Researcher profiles

• Established Researcher (with more than 4 years research experience)
• Leading Researcher

Research Fields

• Environmental Science
• Medical Sciences

Main Activities

1. Scientific Project: The selected candidate will develop an epidemiological research project in one of these thematic areas, in line with their scientific background.

Specific Requirements or Constraints

• Location:The chair holder will be located at IRSET’s West Indies premises in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe.
• Research Context: research on environmental data and health data (no wet lab)

Skills/Qualifications

• All applicants must have a doctoral degree (e.g. PhD, PharmD-PhD, MD-PhD, or DVM) and a solid record of research accomplishments (grants as PI, publications, invitations).

Required Experience

1. 4 to 10 years, >10 years
2. Fields:population-based research, clinical research, health data, biostatistics or bioinformatics

Required Education Level or Diploma

• PhD, PharmD-PhD, MD-PhD, or DVM or equivalent

Required Languages

• English

Hosting Unit

Code U 1085 Name Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail (Irset) / Research Institute for Environmental and Occupational Health Director Michel SAMSON Composition Over 350 persons, incl. about 12 in Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe)
12 research teams, incl. 1 ERC team, and 1 innovation and R&D platform (LERES) Address 9 avenue du Prof. Léon Bernard | F-35000 RENNES, France Website www.irset.org

Contract Type

• Contract: Fixed-term contract
• Employer: University of the French Antilles
• Duration 2 years
• Salary According to experience
• Envisaged Start Date Second semester 2026

Application

Applicants must send a detailed CV, including a list of published papers, and a cover letter detailing interest for the position to: Dr Michel Samson (IRSET’s Director) | michel.samson@inserm.fr / contact@irset.org

Contact for further information: Dr Michel Samson | michel.samson@inserm.fr | +33 (0)7 63 60 10 79

Deadline for application: March 31, 2026