Project Officer / Research Engineer in Participatory Biodiversity Monitoring

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

• 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

From 2692 € gross monthly (according to degree and experience)