Project Officer / Research Engineer in Participatory Biodiversity Monitoring

Project Officer / Research Engineer in Participatory Biodiversity Monitoring Download job offer in PDF format Contract type : Fixed-term contract Renewable contract : Yes Level of qualifications required : Graduate degree or equivalent Fonction : Temporary scientific engineer About the research centre or Inria department Inria is the French National Institute for Research in Digital Science, of which the Inria Côte d'Azur University Center is a part. With strong expertise in computer science and applied mathematics, the research projects of the Inria Côte d'Azur University Center cover all aspects of digital science and technology and generate innovation. Based mainly in Sophia Antipolis, but also in Nice and Montpellier, it brings together 47 research teams and nine support services. It is active in the fields of artificial intelligence, data science, IT system security, robotics, network engineering, natural risk prevention, ecological transition, digital biology, computational neuroscience, health data, and more. The Inria Center at Université Côte d'Azur is a major player in terms of scientific excellence, thanks to the results it has achieved and its collaborations at both European and international level. Context Pl@ntNet is an international citizen science platform dedicated to plant observation and identification using artificial intelligence. Developed by a consortium involving Inria, CIRAD, INRAE and IRD, it engages millions of contributors and generates biodiversity observations at large spatial and temporal scales. Within the European BEAGLE project, Pl@ntNet contributes to the development of new approaches to better integrate participatory observations into large-scale biodiversity monitoring programmes across Europe. BEAGLE notably aims to improve the quality and taxonomic, spatial and temporal coverage of participatory biodiversity data, develop new citizen engagement strategies, and facilitate the uptake of these data by scientific infrastructures, monitoring programmes and policy stakeholders. Assignment The recruited candidate will contribute to the design, coordination and evaluation of new approaches for participatory biodiversity monitoring, building in particular on the Pl@ntNet community and infrastructure. Working at the interface between researchers, software engineers, naturalists, citizens and European project partners, they will contribute to transforming opportunistic citizen-science observations into more structured, sustained and actionable biodiversity monitoring schemes. They will also contribute to coordinating Pl@ntNet activities within the BEAGLE project and to the scientific and operational dissemination of project results. Main activities Participatory Biodiversity Monitoring • Design and evaluate new citizen-science approaches within Pl@ntNet, including sentinel plots and targeted participatory campaigns. • Develop strategies to address taxonomic, spatial and temporal gaps in biodiversity observations and foster sustained participant engagement. • Assess the effectiveness of these approaches for large-scale biodiversity monitoring. Data Quality and Integration • Contribute to the assessment of participatory data quality, including taxonomic accuracy, completeness and timeliness. • Analyse biases and gaps in citizen-science data and contribute to improved workflows for data collection, validation, annotation and sharing. • Contribute to improving the quality, traceability and usability of Pl@ntNet data shared with biodiversity infrastructures such as GBIF. Project Coordination and Dissemination • Coordinate Pl@ntNet contributions to the relevant BEAGLE activities and interactions with European partners. • Organise and facilitate workshops, participatory experiments and events involving researchers, naturalists, citizens and other stakeholders. • Contribute to project deliverables, scientific publications, methodological guidelines and dissemination activities. Skills Technical skills and level required: • Experience in participatory research, citizen science or multi-stakeholder projects • Project management and coordination skills • Knowledge of qualitative and/or quantitative research methods • Good understanding of biodiversity and environmental monitoring issues • Scientific writing and communication skills Languages: • English: fluent professional level (C1) • French: fluent professional level • Other European languages are appreciated Relational skills: • Strong communication and facilitation skills • Ability to work in interdisciplinary and multicultural teams • Ability to interact with diverse stakeholders, including researchers, engineers, naturalists, citizens and institutional partners • Autonomy, initiative, adaptability and organisational skills Other valued/appreciated: • Experience in designing or facilitating participatory workshops and field activities • Familiarity with biodiversity data and citizen-science platforms • Interest in digital technologies and AI applied to biodiversity • Experience in European or international collaborative projects • Knowledge of biodiversity data infrastructures such as GBIF Benefits package • Subsidized meals • Partial reimbursement of public transport costs • Leave: 7 weeks of annual leave + 10 extra days off due to RTT (statutory reduction in working hours) + possibility of exceptional leave (sick children, moving home, etc.) • Possibility of teleworking (after 6 months of employment) and flexible organization of working hours • Professional equipment available (videoconferencing, loan of computer equipment, etc.) • Social, cultural and sports events and activities • Access to vocational training • Social security coverage Remuneration From 2692 € gross monthly (according to degree and experience) Apply for this position Share • Facebook • Linkedin • Twitter • Email General Information • Theme/Domain : Earth, Environmental and Energy Sciences Biologie et santé, Sciences de la vie et de la terre (BAP A) • Town/city : Montpellier • Inria Center : Centre Inria d'Université Côte d'Azur • Starting date : 2026-11-01 • Duration of contract : 12 months • Deadline to apply : 2026-09-26 Warning : you must enter your e-mail address in order to save your application to Inria. Applications must be submitted online on the Inria website. Processing of applications sent from other channels is not guaranteed. Instruction to apply Applications must be submitted online on the Inria website. Collecting applications by other channels is not guaranteed. Defence Security : This position is likely to be situated in a restricted area (ZRR), as defined in Decree No. 2011-1425 relating to the protection of national scientific and technical potential (PPST).Authorisation to enter an area is granted by the director of the unit, following a favourable Ministerial decision, as defined in the decree of 3 July 2012 relating to the PPST. An unfavourable Ministerial decision in respect of a position situated in a ZRR would result in the cancellation of the appointment. Recruitment Policy : As part of its diversity policy, all Inria positions are accessible to people with disabilities. Contacts • Inria Team : IROKO • Recruiter : Joly Alexis / Alexis.Joly@inria.fr The keys to success You are enthusiastic about citizen science, biodiversity and environmental issues, and motivated by the challenge of turning citizen participation into meaningful biodiversity monitoring. You feel at ease in a highly interdisciplinary environment, working with researchers, engineers, naturalists, citizens and institutional partners. You enjoy bringing people and different forms of expertise together, facilitating collective work and turning ideas into concrete experiments and actions. You are curious, autonomous and proactive, with strong organisational and communication skills. An interest in participatory approaches, science-society interactions and the use of digital technologies for biodiversity monitoring will be key to succeeding in this position. About Inria Inria, the French national institute for research in digital science and technology, supports the French government in national research and innovation strategies in the digital field, acting as Digital Programs Agency. Inria leads over 300 research and innovation projects with its 3,500 scientists, engineers, and support staff, in partnership with universities and the digital ecosystem (businesses, entrepreneurs, and public stakeholders). Together, we explore strategic fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum computing, cloud technologies, digital transformation in healthcare, digital twins, and digital technologies for defence. We develop practical solutions such as software, tech startups, partnerships with national companies, and cutting-edge training programmes. Our goal is to drive scientific, technological, and industrial excellence to ensure France’s digital sovereignty.