Choose Inserm
Inserm offers researchers from all over the world an environment that is conducive to academic liberty and scientific excellence. This makes it an ideal partner for Choose France for Science, a national initiative offering scientists whose research freedom is impeded in their own countries to continue their work at Inserm.
Inserm is here to help.
If you have any questions, please write to :
Learn more on the French National Research Agency (ANR) platform.
Join Inserm
Scientists of all nationalities can join Inserm. They can apply for Inserm Chairs or to the Atip-Avenir program. They can also participate in civil-service competitive examinations to become research officers or research directors, or apply for contracts aimed at researchers with disabilities.
Inserm Chairs
With Inserm Chairs, the Institute recruits researchers for teaching and research projects. These are public law contracts with a fixed term of 3 to 6 years. At the end of these contracts, selected individuals can join the body of Inserm research directors. This year, Inserm is opening 10 new chairs and is reopening 3 others. The deadline for applications is September 2, 2025.
Atip-Avenir
The Atip-Avenir program is the fruit of a partnership between Inserm and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). It enables young researchers who present a very high-level project to create their own team. It promotes their installation within an Inserm or CNRS host structure and funds their research for five years. Atip-Avenir is a globally recognized label of excellence and a benchmark for obtaining other funding, such as that of the European Research Council (ERC).
Become a Research Fellow
Inserm holds competitive examinations for normal class research officers (CRCNs). This is the first grade of tenured researcher status. These examinations are mainly aimed at holders of a PhD or equivalent foreign university qualification. They take place every year from December onwards.
Become a research director
Inserm holds competitive examinations to become a tenured research director (DR). They are aimed at scientists who can justify at least 8 years of research practice. These competitions take place every year from January onwards.
Contracts for researchers with disabilities
Inserm recruits researchers with disabilities on a contract basis. Applicants join the Institute on a one-year contract, renewable once, and with the potential for tenure.
Commit alongside Inserm
To academic freedom
Inserm upholds the academic freedom and independence of researchers. This is the condition for quality research and scientific progress. To guarantee this, the Institute has set up scientific regulatory bodies :
- Office for Research Integrity (in French)
- Professional Ethics Board (in French)
- Ethics Evaluation Committee / IRB (in French)
To responsible research
Inserm pursues its longstanding commitment to opening up research findings to society as a whole – Open Access. The Institute encourages participatory research projects that promote more inclusive science. In addition, it has equipped itself with tools to make the ecological and societal transition a success.
Join Europe’s leading health research organization
Inserm is present throughout France…
The French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) is a public research institution which operates under the joint authority of the Ministries of Health and Research.
Inserm is present in more than 300 laboratories throughout France.
These research units are most often located in universities and hospitals, where the Institute’s staff work in collaboration with other French research players.
… and in all areas of biomedical research
- Molecular and Structural Basis of Living Organisms
- Cell Biology, Reproduction, Development, and Evolution
- Cancer
- Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics
- Immunology, Inflammation, Infectious Diseases, and Microbiology
- Neurosciences, Cognitive Sciences, Neurology, and Psychiatry
- Pathophysiology, Metabolism, and Nutrition
- Public Health
- Health Technologies
Figures
1st European academic institution for biomedical research patent applications
6th institution worldwide for biomedical research by number of original articles
Inserm participates in 212 and coordinates 97 Horizon Europe projects
Work at an organization open to all
An organization open to the world
Inserm is open to the world : more than 100 nationalities work in its research units and departments.
An inclusive organization
Gender equality, the promotion of diversity, and the prevention of violence and harassment are priorities for Inserm. The same goes for the inclusion of people with disabilities who benefit from the necessary adjustments to work in the best conditions.
HR Excellence in Research
Since 2016, with the HR Excellence in Research label, the European Commission has distinguished Inserm for its commitment to implementing fair and transparent recruitment and evaluation procedures for researchers.
