Postdoctoral Fellowship in Epidemiology

Organisation/Company INSERM DR Paris 5 Research Field Medical sciences Epidemiology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 29 Oct 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 38h30 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Generally speaking, one-quarter of the adult population in industrialized countries experiences mental health issues at some point in their lives. In France, despite the implementation of specific legislation, it is estimated that mental disorders account for approximately 32% of the overall burden of disease. However, in France as elsewhere, mental illnesses do not receive sufficient scientific attention despite their significant impact on life expectancy. In fact, premature mortality among people with mental health disorders is often due to undiagnosed or improperly treated noncommunicable physical conditions (e.g., cardiometabolic diseases). Furthermore, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the burden of mental illness is increasing at an alarming rate and is likely to continue rising in the coming years.

In this context, this research project aims to study the role of mental health and mental disorders as determinants of nutrition-related chronic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, among French adults. This is a two-year research project with the overall objective of developing and confirming/validating an epidemiological index of mental multimorbidity, applicable prospectively, in relation to the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and their comorbidity. This is a multidisciplinary approach encompassing biostatistics, epidemiology, nutrition, psychology, endocrinology, preventive medicine, and public health. The results of this project can thus guide clinical practice, primary and secondary prevention, epidemiological and interventional research, and public health policies.

This research project will draw on the NutriNet-Santé study ( https://etude-nutrinet-sante.fr/ ), a large, Internet-based, prospective observational cohort study that began in 2009. Participants are adults aged 18 and older, recruited through a broad multimedia campaign targeting the general public. To date, approximately 170,000 individuals are included in this e-cohort. All the data necessary to carry out this research project have been collected and are available.

Responsibilities of the Postdoctoral Fellow

• Data entry, statistical analysis, and presentation of data
• Literature review and benchmarking of existing studies and techniques related to the research topic
• Development and validation of an epidemiological index of mental multimorbidity as a risk factor for obesity and/or type 2 diabetes
• Writing reports (empirical articles and systematic literature reviews) and scientific presentations
• Participating in the scientific dissemination of results.

23-month contract

Percentage of working time : 100 %

Requirements

Research Field Medical sciences Epidemiology Education Level PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• Ability to work in a team and possess excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage time and prioritize tasks
• Ability to take initiative and propose ideas while working independently
• Strong writing skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to ethical and regulatory principles regarding the use of personal data

Specific Requirements

• Ph.D. in biostatistics, epidemiology, or public health
• Excellent skills in research methodology, critical thinking (critical reading and writing of scientific articles, analytical and synthesis skills), descriptive and inferential statistics (regression models, structural equations, mixed models, etc.), and statistical software (SAS, R)
• Excellent understanding of and written and oral communication skills in French and English