Application as permanent staff scientist at Institut Pasteur
Deadline for application: Monday 12 January 2026
This call is open to all candidates who meet the required qualification criteria provided that the structure meets the criteria to host a permanent scientific staff employed by Institut Pasteur.
The Institut Pasteur encourages the diversity of applications, in particular those from women.
Candidates shortlisted by an ad hoc COMESP subcommittee will be auditioned at a COMESP plenary session, and COMESP’s recommendations will then be presented to the management.
Based on these recommendations and individual interviews with the candidates, the general management will decide on recruitment, considering the relevance of the project to Institut Pasteur’s scientific priorities.
STEPS OF THE PROCESS
- Deadline for submission of the application : 12 January 2026
- Preselection committee : 17 March 2026
- Hearing of the “preselected” candidates and COMESP recommendations : 20-21 April 2026
- Interviews with the management and decisions : June-July 2026
PREREQUISITE FOR AN APPLICATION
- To have defended your PhD thesis before submitting the application.
- To have identified a research entity eligible for hosting a new staff scientist employed by Institut Pasteur on a “CDI” contract:
- Maximum of 3 staff scientists (researchers + engineers) currently affiliated to the entity and employed by Institut Pasteur on a “CDI” contract (including the PI)
- Sustainability of the entity > 5 years: if this not the case (G5, U5, end of U10 mandate, retirement…), ask the head of the host lab to contact the DCES before the application is submitted and identify another eligible host entity.
- To have obtained the written agreement/support of the PI.
- To have already started collaborating with the PI/staff members of the host lab as evidence by one original publication, a preprint (BioRXiv for example) and/or the participation to a successful grant/fellowship application(s).
For engineers willing to join the “Research track”, to have at least 5 years of seniority on a CDI contract in the “Research Engineering” track.
CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS
It is mandatory that the candidate mentions any situation that obviously, potentially, or apparently constitutes a conflict of interests according to the charter for the prevention and management of conflicts of interests in force at Institut Pasteur: the provision of support to a relative constitutes a conflict of interests. A conflict of interests arises from a situation in which a person intervening within or on behalf of Institut Pasteur has, in a personal and/or professional capacity, interests that influence (1), could influence (2) or appear to influence (3) the way in which he/she carries out his/her duties, of his or her missions and responsibilities entrusted to him or her by the Institut Pasteur and this to the detriment of his or her obligations of impartiality and objectivity.
Thus, the candidate should mention all conflict of interests with a member of the COMESP in the dedicated space in the CV (see the current composition of the COMESP here)
APPLICATION
Preparating the application (in French or in English)
It is important to follow the instructions carefully, including the use of the templates and the naming of the files. Only full applications will be processed.
It is recommended to consult the list of criteria used by the COMESP for its evaluation process.
As a reminder, the documents will be consulted by scientists who have declared no conflicts of interest with you. This does not exempt you from the obligation to ensure that you do not divulge information or ideas that you wish to keep confidential prior to any form of disclosure (publications, presentations at conferences or other events, posters, etc.).
Your application should allow assessment of your main results and your role in these achievements, the relevance of your scientific project and your objectives in the context of the structure you are going to join, your autonomy, your expertise, any collaboration you have initiated or participating in, your involvement in the “life” of your structure or in the Institut Pasteur community …
SUBMISSION no later than 12 January 2026
Send by mail to the scientific careers and assessment department (DCES) the application composed of the 2 independent files listed below (dcs@pasteur.fr) (no printed documents)
- Curriculum vitae following the template provided (LASTNAME_CV2026.pdf). This document will be sent to all the committee (COMESP) members susceptible to participate in that session.
- Full application following the template provided (LASTNAME_application2026.pdf). This document will be sent to all the COMESP members once conflicts of interests have been ruled out.
Don’t forget to mention, when submitting your application, whether you would like the research applications and industrial relations department (DARRI) to provide the DCES with an assessment of the innovation potential of your research project.
ADDITIONAL ACTIONS no later than 12 January 2026
Send one copy of your application to the PI and to the Chair of the department.
Ask your PI to send his/her letter of support to the DCES (LASTNAMEof the candidate_LoS_NAMEof the PI_2026.pdf). This letter should allow the COMESP to understand your future environment, the autonomy and resources you will get and your medium-term career prospects. As supporting a closely related individual represents a conflict of interests, the PI concerned should ask the N + 1 to write the assessment for him/her (contact dcs@pasteur.fr if needed).
Request letters of support/recommendation from a maximum of 3 scientists (in addition to the PI). These letters should be sent to dcs@pasteur.fr as pdf file (LASTNAMEoftheCandidate_LoS_NAMEoftheScientist_2026.pdf). These letters should not be included in the application file.
For more information and all correspondence: dcs@pasteur.fr