Application Guide

How to Apply for Post-Doctoral Researcher in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Applied Mathematics

at France Government, National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM)

🏢 About France Government, National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM)

INSERM is France's leading public biomedical research institution, operating under the French government with a mission to advance knowledge for public health benefit. What makes INSERM unique is its position at the intersection of academic research and public health policy, allowing researchers to see their work directly influence national health strategies. Working here offers the rare opportunity to contribute to France's pandemic preparedness infrastructure while collaborating with top experts in a remote-first environment.

About This Role

This post-doctoral role involves developing quantitative tools for early risk assessment of emerging respiratory viruses, requiring the integration of biostatistics, mathematical epidemiology, and machine learning. You'll be creating a computer-based decision support tool that will directly inform public health actors during health crises. The impact lies in building France's capacity for rapid, data-driven pandemic response through innovative metrics and analysis.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves analyzing early surveillance data for respiratory virus patterns, developing statistical models in R/Python to assess emerging risks, and collaborating remotely with microbiologists and public health experts to refine parameters. You'll spend significant time conducting systematic literature reviews to inform model assumptions and working on the decision support tool's architecture, with regular virtual meetings to align with INSERM's public health objectives.

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who France Government, National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) Is Looking For

  • Holds a PhD with demonstrated expertise in both theoretical epidemiology modeling AND practical implementation in R/Python
  • Has published research combining statistical methods with public health applications, particularly in infectious disease contexts
  • Can bridge disciplinary gaps between microbiology fundamentals and advanced machine learning algorithms
  • Has experience with systematic literature reviews and parameter estimation for biological/clinical processes

📝 Tips for Applying to France Government, National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM)

1

Highlight specific experience with respiratory virus data or pandemic modeling in your research portfolio

2

Demonstrate your ability to work in French research environments by mentioning any collaborations with European institutions

3

Include a small portfolio (GitHub link) showing R/Python code for epidemiological modeling or decision support tools

4

Emphasize any experience translating complex statistical findings for non-technical public health audiences

5

Reference INSERM's specific research units working on respiratory diseases to show targeted interest

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience with multidisciplinary health crisis evaluation methodologies', 'Specific examples of developing quantitative tools that informed real-world decisions', 'How your programming skills in R/Python have been applied to epidemiological problems', 'Your approach to integrating machine learning with traditional biostatistical methods']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → INSERM's specific research units focused on respiratory diseases and epidemiology
  • → France's national pandemic preparedness strategies and recent public health crisis responses
  • → INSERM's existing decision support tools or platforms in public health
  • → The team's recent publications on quantitative epidemiology or virus risk assessment

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk through your process for estimating key bio-clinical parameters from heterogeneous data sources
2 How would you design metrics that combine statistical methods with mathematical epidemiology for virus risk assessment?
3 Describe a time you had to communicate complex quantitative findings to public health decision-makers
4 What machine learning algorithms would you prioritize for early detection of emerging respiratory threats and why?
5 How would you approach building a decision support tool that balances statistical rigor with usability for non-technical users?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Presenting purely theoretical statistical knowledge without public health application examples
  • Focusing only on machine learning while neglecting traditional epidemiological modeling methods
  • Failing to demonstrate how remote work experience translates to effective scientific collaboration

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to France Government, National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM)!

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