Introduction
The École normale supérieure de Rennes (ENS Rennes) is an institution dedicated to education and research, with the mission of training high-ranking scientific seniors for the public sector. It relies on research-based and research-oriented training. It primarily prepares students for careers in higher education, research, and innovation in the fields of law, economics, management, computer science, telecommunications, mathematics, mechatronics, sports sciences and physical education, and environmental sciences. The scientific strategy of the institution is based on (i) attractiveness at all levels, (ii) a stimulating scientific environment, and (iii) a strong integration of research within education, thereby contributing to the excellence of the academic community. ENS Rennes offers a high-quality scientific and professional environment through the recognized excellence of its partner units, the rigor of its training programs, and specific mechanisms within the institution that encourage scientific investment. ENS Rennes is part of the dynamic ecosystem of Rennes. It is a long-standing partner of the University of Rennes 2 and supports the emergence of the Experimental Public Establishment University of Rennes, of which it became a component institution on January 1, 2023. In this context, ENS Rennes is sustainably positioned in the field of transitions, providing training for all its students on the 21st-century transitions, whether environmental, digital, societal, or industrial. For September 2025, ENS Rennes is recruiting an Associate Professor in Life and Health Sciences applied to Sport sciences, within the department of Sport sciences and physical education (2SEP). The 2SEP department is the only Sport sciences department within an ENS. It carries out both educational and research missions in the fields of Human and Social Sciences and Life and Health Sciences. It is supported by the two Rennes laboratories in Sport sciences, VIPS2 and M2S. It also contributes to the DIGISPORT University Research School (EUR) on the digital challenges for physical and sports practices. The 2SEP department aims to train students in and through research in the field of Sport sciences and to prepare them for the external competitive examination for Physical Education and Sports (EPS) teaching positions. The department’s scientific training project focuses on physical and sports practices, leveraging the opportunities of digital transformation and environmental transition to address health challenges, among others.
Teaching and Implications in the 2SEP Department
The recruited individual will fulfill their entire teaching duties within the 2SEP department (third year undergraduate and Master levels). The candidate will demonstrate their competencies in all or some of the following domains, with priority given to skills necessary for teaching within the research-based and research-oriented training framework. Furthermore, the desired competencies will be appreciated at two levels. The goal is not only to recruit a colleague capable of meeting current training needs as outlined below but also to recruit someone who can propose medium and long-term transformations in the training content in line with scientific advancements. Note that the courses are taught in French, which requires a commitment from the future candidate to master French language in the medium term (max 2 years).
Regarding the competencies sought for research-based and research-oriented training, they are organized around the following areas:
- The biomechanical study of human movement and the understanding of underlying processes, particularly in motor control.
- The use of tools and methods for analyzing human movement at the biomechanical level (e.g., motion capture, IMU, accelerometer), neuromuscular level (e.g., EMG), and even physiological level (e.g., NIRS, EEG) for measurements both in the laboratory and in ambulatory settings (embedded sensors).
- Signal and data analysis based on innovative methods (artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning) to analyze human movement or quantify physical behavior (Human Activity Recognition (HAR)). Statistical data processing and analysis (R software) and programming (Python).
Based on their competencies, the recruited individual will supervise and monitor research initiation theses in Life and Health Sciences for first-year (third year undergraduate level) and second-year (Master level) students.
Regarding teachings related to scientific and professional issues in the context of Physical Education and Sports (EPS), depending on their competencies, the recruited individual may contribute to teachings on learning processes at various practice levels. They may also participate in training for written and/or oral exams as part of the preparation for the EPS aggregation competitive exam.
The recruited individual will fully engage in the daily operations of both 2SEP department and ENS, taking on responsibilities and contributing to collective missions both at the department level (responsibility for a year of training, communication tasks) and at the university level (participation in central councils and/or various committees).
Research
Regarding research, the candidate will develop their scientific activity complementarily within both the future affiliated research laboratory, the Movement, Sport, and Health laboratory4 (M2S lab-EA 7470), and the 2SEP department.
Within the M2S laboratory, the recruited individual will strengthen the thematic research axis focused on physical activity, health, and digital technology. The M2S lab aims to conduct research that preserves the health of physically inactive populations and improves the management of pathological populations through physical activity. The digital transformation in our societies presents a real opportunity to enhance the health status of populations through innovative digital health approaches. Therefore, the M2S lab seeks to strengthen its scientific, technical, and technological expertise in e-health and digital innovations (digital health) to quantify and analyze human movement and, more broadly, physical behavior in a prolonged and ambulatory manner. To address the targeted scientific issues, several approaches and competencies need to be developed or reinforced: a) the use of embedded sensors as autonomous digital technologies (mobile health) to quantify and analyze human movement at various levels: biomechanical, physiological, and energetic; b) the implementation of innovative signal and data analysis methods based on artificial intelligence for movement analysis and understanding, or human activity recognition (HAR); c) the deployment of adapted connected solutions for personalized management of various populations (e.g., healthy and pathological).
The 2SEP department brings together faculty researchers from diverse disciplines who are affiliated with distinct disciplinary research laboratories. It develops collaborative, interdisciplinary research projects that align with one or more of the three ongoing transitions: digital, societal, and environmental. Examples include the European project Yeah!5 and the IRIS-E MOBIDYC6 project, which involve faculty researchers from the department.
The candidate will demonstrate how their expertise will contribute to the full development of this scientific activity and how they plan to mobilize their network and/or develop new collaborations at various scales (local, national, international) to achieve this. In this context, the candidate is expected to present medium-term funding perspectives through applications to significant project calls (ANR projects, European projects).
Application
Applications are submitted via the dedicated “Odyssée” platform7. The deadline is set for April 4, 2025, at 4:00 PM. Beyond the current state of work, the candidate is expected to explain their integration perspectives in terms of both teaching and research by including a project for the integration and development of teaching and research activities in their application file.
Contact
Alexis Le Faucheur
2SEP departement – ENS Rennes
Amélie Rébillard
Deputy director M2S lab
References
www.sciencesport.ens-rennes.fr
www.ens-rennes.fr
https://m2slab.com
https://digisport.univ-rennes.fr