Location: Le Lamentin, Martinique, France
Join the UPR GECO (Ecological functioning and sustainable management of banana and pineapple agrosystems) at CIRAD to develop research on new agroecological pest management strategies for banana through chemical ecology. The unit works on agroecological methods to control Cosmopolites sordidus, the main banana pest worldwide, which will serve as a central biological model for exploring plant-insect interactions. Previous research has produced strategies combining the interruption of banana monoculture (fallow), pheromone traps and plant biodiversity management. Open challenges include strengthening trapping efficacy, better protecting sensitive bananas such as plantains, and optimising the use of plant biodiversity in pest management. The work spans laboratory to plot scale. The new strategies will be based on analysing chemical interactions between plants and this insect. Objectives: i) identify the most attractive or repellent plants for push/pull strategies, ii) improve attractants or repellents, with or without pheromones, to boost trap catches, iii) make better use of cultivated banana diversity, and iv) produce generic knowledge on the role of plant-insect interactions in agroecological pest control. After an integration phase of a few months in Montpellier, you will continue your research in Martinique within a multidisciplinary team of agronomists, ecologists and plant pathologists, working closely with crop production and protection stakeholders. Profile: PhD holder with solid skills in chemical ecology, behavioural ecology and applied entomology (ideally phytophagous insects); experience designing and analysing behavioural experiments in the lab and field; mastery of methods to study plant or microbial chemical mediators; data analysis in R or Python. Knowledge of GC-MS, LC-MS and GC-EAD is a plus, as is a grounding in agroecological crop protection of tropical crops. Ability to work with specialists of other pests (nematodes, fungal diseases), partnership experience, and fluent English with the ability to build international collaborations. Permanent contract (CDI), starting 01/02/2027, executive (cadre) status, salary from €31k depending on experience, plus 13th month and expatriation/mobility allowances where applicable. Work in a tropical/humid/subtropical zone.
Closing date: 2026-11-11
HOW TO APPLY:
Applications are received through the CIRAD recruitment portal until 11/11/2026. Interviews will take place on 10/12/2026. Contact for information on the position: Simon Gibert (simon.gibert@cirad.fr).
https://recrutement.cirad.fr/offre-de-emploi/emploi-chercheur-e-en-ecologie-chimique-des-interactions-plante-insectes-pour-la-protection-agroecologique-_13633.aspx