Postdoctoral Researcher in Biomathematics: The INSERM PCCEI research unit at the University of Montpellier is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position in the Modelling & Quantitative Epidemiology division.
This 24-month position is part of the PReViX project (Pandemic Preparedness for Respiratory Virus X), a nationally funded flagship initiative aimed at strengthening France’s response to future pandemics. The role focuses on integrating biomathematics, biostatistics, and artificial intelligence to develop early-risk assessment tools for emerging infectious diseases.
Postdoctoral Researcher in Biomathematics / Biostatistics × AI for Pandemic Preparedness
Summary Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Postdoctoral Researcher |
| Organization | INSERM – PCCEI Research Unit |
| Project | PReViX (Pandemic Preparedness for Respiratory Virus X) |
| Duration | 24 Months |
| Salary | ~ €3,000 gross/month (experience-based) |
| Location | Montpellier, France |
| Work Time | Full-time (38h30/week) |
| Remote Work | 1 day/week (after 6 months) |
| Leave | 45 days/year |
Designation
Postdoctoral Researcher (Fixed-Term INSERM Contract)
Research Area
- Quantitative Epidemiology
- Biostatistics & Biomathematics
- Artificial Intelligence in Health
- Infectious Disease Modelling
- Pandemic Preparedness
Location
Montpellier, France
(INSERM PCCEI Research Unit, 60 rue de Navacelles, 34090)
Eligibility / Qualification
Applicants must have:
- PhD in one of the following:
- Biostatistics
- Quantitative Epidemiology
- Applied Mathematics
- AI for Health & Life Sciences
- Strong expertise in Machine Learning / Deep Learning
- Advanced programming skills in R and/or Python (preferably both)
Preferred (but not mandatory):
- Experience in infectious disease modelling
Job Description
Project Focus: Early Risk Assessment Work Package
The selected candidate will contribute to building next-generation tools for pandemic response by:
- Designing an evidence-based early-risk framework for emerging respiratory viruses
- Analyzing multidisciplinary expert surveys on pathogen characteristics and thresholds
- Conducting time-aware meta-analyses of outbreak data (first 200 days)
- Developing bias-correction methods for early-stage epidemiological estimates
- Creating AI-driven early warning tools combining:
- Mathematical epidemiology
- Machine learning approaches
Collaboration & Travel
- Active collaboration with national consortium partners
- Funded travel to Bordeaux and Paris
Research Environment
The PCCEI unit (Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections) is a highly interdisciplinary research group including expertise in:
- Epidemiology
- Virology
- Immunology
- Infectiology
- Public Health
The Modelling & Quantitative Epidemiology division is co-led by:
- Constanze Ciavarella
- Mircea T. Sofonea
The team currently includes researchers, a professor, an engineer, and PhD students, with strong clinical and international collaborations.
Why Montpellier?
Montpellier is a vibrant academic and cultural hub with:
- Over 520,000 residents in the metropolitan area
- Close proximity to the Mediterranean Sea
- Excellent climate with abundant sunshine
- Free public transport for residents
- Fast high-speed rail connections across France
It is also home to:
- One of the world’s oldest medical schools (founded in 1220)
- More than 80,000 students
- Over 100 research laboratories
- Global recognition in population biology research
How to Apply
Interested candidates should send:
- CV
- Cover Letter
- References
Application Emails:
- mircea•sofonea (at) umontpellier•fr
- larissa•girard (at) inserm•fr
Last Date to Apply
Open until filled








