Post-doctoratal fellowship in epidemiology and public health
CRESS team: OPPaLE
Inserm is the only French public organization entirely dedicated to biological, medical, and population health research. It operates research laboratories across the country, grouped into 12 regional delegations. Our institute brings together 15,000 researchers, engineers, technicians, and administrative staff, all united by a common goal: to improve everyone’s health through advances in knowledge of life sciences and diseases, innovation in treatments, and public health research.
Joining Inserm means becoming part of an institute committed to gender equality, professional equity, diversity, and supporting employees with disabilities—from recruitment and throughout their careers. To promote well-being at work, Inserm actively implements policies to ensure good working conditions, particularly by fostering a healthy balance between personal and professional life.
In 2016, Inserm was awarded the European HR Excellence in Research label and is committed to continuously improving its recruitment and researcher evaluation practices.
Temporary, 13 months, renewable 10 months
Start: February 2026
PhD
Paris, 10ème, 10 avenue de Verdun 75010 Paris
Fixed-term contrat (CDD) for contractual agents
OPPaLE is a research team from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) and the University of Paris Cité, part of the Center for Epidemiology and Statistical Research (CRESS). Our research focuses on women’s health during pregnancy and its aftermath, child health related to birth context, and child health in routine pediatric care, both in France and internationally. Our work is based on epidemiological studies conducted in populations or healthcare settings, including an interventional study with families in situations of social vulnerability (ECAIL).
Malin (http://programme-malin.com/) is a multi-component nutritional program, implemented since 2012 based on an innovative and sustainable partnership between the French Red Cross, non-governmental organizations, and public stakeholders (French Society of Pediatrics, French Association of Ambulatory Pediatrics). This program provides support to families from pregnancy onwards (promoting breastfeeding, offering advice/tips for a more balanced diet, encouraging more active lifestyles, and reducing screen time exposure) and includes a structural component (fresh fruit/vegetable baskets and kitchen utensils at discounted prices; and vouchers for foods recommended by the National Nutrition and Health Program, PNNS). The program’s registration criteria help both families in great difficulty and those in temporarily fragile situations who would otherwise receive no charitable or government aid. Malin was incorporated into the National Strategy for the Prevention and Fight Against Poverty (2018), PNNS4 (2019), and the Pact for Solidarity (2023). With support from the CNAF and the involvement of local actors, it has already reached over 250,000 young children in 93 districts since its launch in 2012.
ECAIL is an ongoing randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT03003117), designed by the OPPaLE team in collaboration with various stakeholders of the Malin program. The sample includes approximately 600 pregnant women experiencing social vulnerability, followed from pregnancy through their child’s 24 months of age. The primary objective is to test the hypothesis that the Malin program, delivered at home by dietitians, improves breastfeeding initiation and duration, as well as children’s diet, lifestyle, and growth. The trial was launched in April 2017 at the Lille University Hospital, with a second research site opened in 2021 at Valenciennes Hospital. Fieldwork for the study is expected to be completed in 2026.
The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to the quantitative component of the ECAIL study, with the aim of strengthening the process evaluation of this complex public health intervention. The work will involve analyzing:
• eligibility and (non)participation in the study, as well as follow-up characteristics and attrition;
• the social vulnerability of the study population, in all its multidimensional aspects;
• the mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of the intervention (mediation analyses).
The postdoctoral researcher will work in collaboration with all project partners, under the supervision of Sandrine Lioret, principal investigator of the ECAIL study and Inserm research director.
This work is part of the IReSP-SIP project (AAP-2022-SIP-311921) and the EQUI-START project, funded by AXA Foundation for Human Progress (Fonds AXA pour le Progrès Humain).
Main Activities
• Review the scientific literature related to the research topic.
• Data management: creation of indicators to be used in the analysis of intervention processes and participation in structuring the quantitative database of the ECAIL study (including producing documentation related to the created indicators and reviewing part of the code developed by other researchers).
• Contribute to the definition of research hypotheses, development of analysis plans, and conduct of statistical analyses using the R software
• Summarize and discuss findings.
• Participate in weekly operational meetings, as well as ECAIL Steering Committee and EQUI-START Executive Committee meetings.
• Contribute to the drafting of reports for funding agencies.
• Write scientific articles in English.
• Present findings at national and international conferences.
• Participation, where appropriate, in supervising students or interns.
Position Specificities and Work
Environment
• Screen-based work
• R software
Knowledge & Expertise
Background in intervention research in public health and implementation science.
The candidate should be familiar with quantitative methods, including those used for intervention evaluation.
Proficiency in R software is a prerequisite.
A good understanding of nutrition-related issues during pregnancy and early childhood would be an asset, as would familiarity with topics related to food insecurity.
Languages: proficiency in English for reading, writing, and communicating results; proficiency in French for reading and writing.
Skills
◦ Ability to plan activities, meet deadlines, and manage unexpected events.
◦ Ability to write reports.
◦ Ability to prepare manuscripts for submission to international peer-reviewed journals.
◦ Ability to work collaboratively within a team and with external partners.
Aptitudes
Autonomy, initiative, and scientific rigor.
Curiosity and a strong interest in research.
Good interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team.
Strong organizational skills, with attention to deadlines and priorities.
Analytical and synthesis skills, with excellent written communication abilities.
Desired Experience
• Previous experience in intervention research will be an asset.
• Experience in writing scientific articles for peer-reviewed journals.
Degree and Education Requirements
PhD in Epidemiology, Public Health, or Biostatistics
Working Hours
Full time – 38.30 hours per week
◦ 32 days of annual leave; 13 RTT days (reduction of working time); minus 1 solidarity day, up to 2 days, per week, excluding health-related restrictions
Application deadline: 21/11/2025
Contact: sandrine.lioret@inserm.fr
Application: Please send your CV and cover letter to: sandrine.lioret@inserm.fr
For more information:
• About Inserm : https://www.inserm.fr/ ; HR website: https://rh.inserm.fr/Pages/default.aspx
• On Inserm’s disability policy and the implementation of workplace accommodations, please contact the Disability Mission : emploi.handicap@inserm.fr
• On the ECAIL study and the Malin program:
• Lioret S, et al. Home visiting intervention over pregnancy and the first two years of life to promote healthy feeding practices and energy balance-related behaviors and prevent obesity risk in children from socially disadvantaged families: protocol for a participant-blinded, two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial—the ECAIL study. BMC Public Health [in press; DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-25004-0].
• Les 1 000 premiers jours : une fenêtre d’opportunité pour réduire les inégalités sociales de santé. Exemple de l’étude ECAIL, une intervention complexe de santé publique | Collège de France
Salary: Compensation will follow the Inserm contractual researcher salary scale and will be based on professional experience.
