Prior to preselection, the service de développement RH (Human Resources Department) examines the administrative admissibility of applications and establish the list of candidates admitted to the competition. Also, it forwards to the assessment instances requests for equivalence (diploma, years of research experience) and exceptional authorization to compete (for research director competitions). Candidates who do not obtain the requested equivalence or authorization will be excluded from the evaluation process.
Phase 1 : Eligibility
Step 1 – Preselection based on the candidate’s file
The eligibility board makes a preselection on the basis of the candidate’s file in order to determine the list of candidates to be auditioned. Eligibility results are posted on Inserm pro, and a letter is sent (by e‑mail) to each candidate.
The eligibility board
- Eligibility juries are made up of all the members of each competent commission (CSS or CPAR), with a rank at least equal to that of the positions to be filled.
- Two rapporteurs are appointed for each candidate, to study the application file ; the juries make preselections of candidates to be auditioned.
- The eligibility board interviews the preselected candidates and draws up a list of eligible candidates in order of merit.
Application assessment criteria
The jury evaluates :
- Curriculum and professional experiences
- Production (publications, patents or other products of economic, clinical or social value) identified by the candidate.
- Project and its adequacy in relation to the host laboratory
- Animation (Participation in the financing of his/her research ; notoriety of the conferences ; supervision and teaching…).
For access to the DR2 grade, in addition to the above-mentioned criteria, special attention will be given to leadership ability.
Desired assignment
The host laboratory must be one of the units of Inserm. If you have difficulty identifying an Inserm laboratory, please contact : concours-chercheurs@inserm.fr (indicate the CSS you are applying for, research field and keywords of your project).
Step 2 – Audition
Preselected candidates will be interviewed by the admissibility review board. At least two weeks prior to this, the admitted candidates are sent an e‑mail calling them for interview. At this interview, the candidate gives a talk in French or English describing the research project and then answers questions from the jury in French or English.
Only for the files of candidates declared to be admissible after the interview are examined by the admission board.
For candidates residing abroad, people with disabilities, pregnant women and anyone whose state of health justifies it, the audition can be organized by videoconference (using Microsoft Teams software) on request to the service de développement RH (Human Resources Department): concours-chercheurs@inserm.fr
Notification
Notifications are sent by e‑mail out at least 15 days before the audition date. Inserm is not responsible for non-receipt of the notification. It is the candidate’s responsibility to keep informed of the audition date on Inserm pro or by writing to concours-chercheurs@inserm.fr.
Oral exam accomodations
During the audition :
- candidates with disabilities,
- candidates whose state of health justifies it,
- and pregnant women
can benefit from accommodations designed to adapt the duration and splitting of the exam to their physical means, and to provide the necessary human and technical assistance (consult the candidate’s guide).
Phase 2 – Admission
The admission board use the list of admissible candidates to draw up in order of merit a list of admitted candidates. If need be, an additional list is prepared
The admission board
The common admission board is created for all CRCN applications in the same way as DR2 applications. Each admission board is presided over by Inserm Chief Executive Officer (or his representative) and composed of ten scientists from Inserm or other affiliations with a rank at least equal to that of the positions to be filled. Five of them are members of Scientific Advisory Board (CS in french).
Assignment and appointment of winners
Chief Executive Officer of Inserm decides on the assignment of the winners to a research unit affiliated to the Inserm. That assignment may differ from the preferences expressed in the candidate’s application. Appointments are also decided by Inserm Chief Executive Officer, in the order of admission.
- Posts will be taken up from October 1 of the year of the competition (CRCN).
- Successful candidates in the DR2 competition will be appointed from December 1 of the year of the competition.
