The French Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship Programme offers 10-month fellowships in the seven Institutes of Aix-Marseille, Loire Valley (Orléans-Tours), Lyon, Montpellier, Nantes, Paris and Rennes. It welcomes applications from high-level international scholars and scientists develop their innovative research project in France. The call is open to all disciplines in the social sciences and the humanities (SSH) and all research fields. Research projects in other sciences and in arts that propose a strong interaction and dialogue with the SSH are also eligible. Some host IAS have scientific priorities that need to be taken into full consideration before applying. 

Presentation

The French Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship Programme offers 10-month fellowships in the seven Institutes of Aix-Marseille, Loire Valley (Orléans-Tours), Lyon, Montpellier, Nantes, Paris and Rennes. It welcomes applications from high-level international scholars and scientists develop their innovative research project in France.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, FIAS offers 40 fellowship positions: 4 in Aix-Marseille, 3 in Loire Valley (Orléans-Tours), 10 in Lyon, 3 in Montpellier, 4 in Nantes, 13 in Paris and 3 in Rennes.

The call is open to all disciplines in the social sciences and the humanities (SSH) and all research fields. Research projects in other sciences and in arts that propose a strong interaction and dialogue with the SSH are also eligible. Some host IAS have scientific priorities that need to be taken into full consideration before applying. 

The FIAS fellows will be free to organize their research while benefiting from the support and conducive scientific environment offered by the IAS characterised by a multidisciplinary cohort of fellows and by close relation to the local research centres and laboratories.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 94540

Conditions

All IAS have agreed on common standards, including the provision of a living allowance (2,700€ per month), social security coverage, accommodation, a research and training budget, plus coverage of travel expenses.

Eligibility

Degree & experience

FIAS awards fellowships to outstanding researchers of all career levels, from postdoctoral researchers to senior scientists. The minimum requirement is a PhD + 2 years of research experience at the time of the application. Exceptions will be made for scholars with a Master + 6 years of full-time research experience after the degree (PhD training will not be considered in the calculation of experience).

Mobility

Researchers from all countries are eligible to the FIAS Fellowship Programme but they must have spent no more than 12 months in France during the three years prior to the application deadline.

Applicants must fulfil the transnational MSCA mobility rule: incoming researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the call deadline. 

Disciplines

The programme is open to all social sciences and humanities. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to check the IAS’ websites to learn more about the scientific orientation of the Institutes and their potential opening to disciplines outside the humanities and social sciences. Applications from artists matching the eligibility requirements are welcome.

Administrative requirements

• Applicants must provide full application forms and all requested documents through the online application platform. Incomplete applications are not considered eligible.
• Applications not complying with the maximum length criteria will not be considered. 
• Applications in languages other than English (even partially) will not be considered. This includes letters of recommendation and support.
• Late applications will not considered - the online application platform prevents applicants from submitting after the deadline.

Other

The FIAS Fellowship Programme is committed to ensuring equal opportunities and working towards greater diversity within its academic community. It will not discriminate against researchers in any way (gender, age, ethnic, national or social origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, language, disability, political opinion, social or economic condition).   

Application

Applications are submitted online via www.fias-fp.eu where you will find detailed information regarding the content of the application, eligibility criteria and selection procedure.

Application deadline: June 6, 2023 - 6:00 pm (Paris, France time)

Evaluation and selection

The scientific selection is highly competitive, merit-based and conducted through an international independent peer review.

The candidates considered eligible, will be evaluated by independent international experts and by the FIAS Scientific Committee according to two criteria: 

1. the scientific excellence of the applicant (40% of the mark)
2. the quality of the research proposal (60% of the mark)

The final decision will be carried out at the level of each IAS with its Scientific Advisory Board. It will be based on the marks and ranking of the applicants as well as on:

• the adequacy with the Institute’s research priorities (openly published at the time of application)
• the potential contribution to and interaction with the IAS scholarly community
• the collaborative opportunities with local academic and intersectoral partners
• the ability to nurture long-term scientific and non-academic collaborations
• the expected impact on the applicant’s career

Applicants are notified electronically via their FIAS userspace of the assessment of their project after

(i) the eligibility check,

(ii) the preselection by FIAS Scientific Committee AND

(iii) the final selection by the IAS. 

Calendar of implementation

• Application deadline: June 6, 2023, 6:00 pm (Paris, France time)

• June 2023: eligibility check (i)
• July - October 2023: double peer review
• November 2023: preselection by the FIAS Selection Committee (ii)
• January - February 2024: selection of fellows by IAS Scientific Advisory Boards and communication of results (iii)
• September/October 2024: arrival of fellows

More information

For more general information on the FIAS Fellowship Programme www.fias-fp.eu

For more detailed information on the IAS specific environment and scientific priorities www.fias-fp.eu/about-us/the-institutes