Junior Research Chair in «Physical activity, sport and women’s health » for the Women’s Health Institute

GENERAL GOALS

As part of the ExcellenceS programme, the Women’s Health Institute of the Université Paris Cité is launching this call for applications in order to :

• Enable young researchers to set up and lead a group within a research team in France affiliated to the Women’s Health Institute – Université Paris Cité. The purpose of the groups thus created will be to strengthen the host team’s research facilities by developing their own themes independently and collaboratively.
• Promote mobility and attract high-level young leaders.
• Develop new research activities and expertise within the scope of Université Paris Cité.

The ExcellenceS – Institut Santé des Femmes support is for a period of 3 years.

The programme is open to any researcher or teacher-researcher who has held a PhD for more than two years, regardless of nationality, working in France or abroad.

 

ALLOCATED RESOURCES

A total of €360k will be allocated over 3 years, which can be spent on salaries, grants and equipment.

The salary for the non-permanent laureate is included in this budget (depending on experience). If the candidate already holds a permanent position, the budget can be used to recruit staff to support the Chair (post-doc – engineer, etc.).

A welcome package of €100k (maximum) may be added if justified and approved by the Women’s Health Institute Board.

Applicants must identify a host team within the perimeter of the Université Paris Cité affiliated to the Institut Santé des Femmes (cf link to the list of the teams), contact this team before submitting their application and include a commitment letter from the host team in their application file. The host team must provide the Chairholder with research premises compatible with the ambitions of the proposed project (installation costs will be borne by the host team), and ensure access to the site’s technological platforms.

The laureate undertakes to take up his or her position no later than 9 months after being notified by the Institute.

 

OUTLINE OF THE ‘PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND WOMEN’S HEALTH’ CHAIR

Context 

Physical and sporting activity (PSA) is a major factor in the health of people of all ages. A sedentary lifestyle, on the other hand, is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, the main causes of death in women.

The gap between men and women in terms of meeting the minimum recommendations for physical activity widens from puberty onwards and persists throughout women’s fertile years, narrowing only at the menopause. Recent studies show that the benefits obtained by women practising PSA are different from those of men, suggesting distinct mechanisms of biological, metabolic, physiological and hormonal response to the stimuli of physical activity.

Menstrual cycle disorders such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) affect a large proportion of women during the fertile period, with possible repercussions on their quality of life, mental health and fertility. In the peri- and post-menopause, various symptoms also compromise women’s quality of life, while the risk of cardiovascular disease increases. Physical activity could be a regulating mechanism for certain hormonal disorders during the fertile period and help to reduce cardiovascular symptoms and risks in the peri- and post-menopause. However, little is known about these aspects, particularly the hormonal transition phases between puberty, the reproductive period and the post-menopause.

The aim of this chair is to gain a better understanding of the impact of physical activity on the different stages of women’s lives and its effects on the specific risks to their health (cycle disorders, infertility, cardiovascular risks, cancers, symptoms linked to the menopause, etc.).

 

Interest of the Chair for the Women’s Health Institute

This Chair is part of Transversal Axis 1 – Living in good health. It may propose a multi-disciplinary subject, encompassing several themes addressed by the Women’s Health Institute.

This Chair could cover a broad period of women’s lives, with physical activity as a primary or secondary prevention tool common to certain diseases affecting women in particular.

 

Expected themes

In particular, the project will aim to :

• Investigate the relationship between physical activity and women’s health during the different stages of their lives (puberty, fertility period, menopause, ageing).
• Understand the specifically female mechanisms behind the effect of physical activity on health, enabling maximum health benefits to be derived from physical activity.
• To identify ways of improving women’s general health and quality of life through physical activity.

 

Methodological approaches

Applicants should provide details in their project of :
– The methodological approaches chosen to measure PSA
– The age groups of the population studied
– The potential areas for action to improve women’s general health and quality of life through PSA.

The feasibility of the project should be clearly addressed.

An educational project or a project to promote research on the theme of the Chair is not required for this research Chair, but could be an asset.

 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

– Holder of a PhD or equivalent in a field relevant to the scope of the Chair.
– Minimum 2 years post-doctorate
– No age or nationality requirements
– Fluent in French or English

 

SELECTION PROCESS

The projects will be assessed by an independent scientific committee.

The selection will take place in two stages : a pre-selection based on applications (April/May 2025), followed by an audition for the pre-selected candidates (May/June 25).

The selection criteria will be as follows

• Quality of the applicant (background and scientific output)
• Scientific quality and feasibility of the project
• Contribution to the Université Paris Cité – Institut Santé des Femmes landscape: coherence and added value

 

APPLICATION FORM

– Online submission until Monday 14 April 2025 at 12.00 am

– Send to the following email address: atrium.sante-femmes@u-paris.fr

– Must include:

1. Completed application form
   Model document available at the following link: https://cloud.u-paris.fr/s/ZZkTHoSZKCR9HKM

2. Letter of commitment from the prospective host research team (affiliated to the Women’s Health Institute – Université Paris Cité) describing how the person applying for the Chair will be integrated and the added value of the project for the Institute and the university.

– List of teams: https://cloud.u-paris.fr/s/ZZkTHoSZKCR9HKM as at 1 January 2025

– An email confirming receipt of the application will be sent to each candidate after submission.

For further information, please contact : atrium.sante-femmes@u-paris.fr

Scientific directors of the Women’s Health Institute : Pr. Vassilis Tsatsaris et Dr. Catherine Deneux-Tharaux