The Centre for Literary and Intermedial Crossings (CLIC) at VUB in Brussels is happy to announce four short (1-2 months) paid Grant Writing Residencies in the period August-December 2025. Candidates will spend the Residency preparing postdoctoral fellowship applications for the Flemish Research Foundation (FWO) and/or Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).

Presentation

The Centre for Literary and Intermedial Crossings (CLIC) is offering up to four short (12 months) Grant Writing Residencies in the period August-December 2025. Candidates will spend the Residency preparing postdoctoral fellowship applications for the Flemish Research Foundation (FWO) and/or Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).

Are you an early-career postdoctoral researcher (max. 6 years post-PhD) with a background in literary studies, theatre studies, journalism studies, translation studies, or related disciplines? Are you eager to start the next step of your academic career in the coming year? Then consider applying for a Grant Writing Residency to prepare your next postdoc project with CLIC!

CLIC offers scholars an interdisciplinary network to stimulate research engaging with the study of literary, cultural, linguistic, and/or intermedial ‘crossings’ along three key concepts: media, genres and spaces.

Support Provided

If you are selected for this Grant Writing Residency, you will:

• receive a 2000-Euro grant writing fee from CLIC per month (for max. 2 months);
• get access to CLIC’s Grant Writing Academy, including CLIC screening sessions and individual consultations with CLIC’s research policy officer;
• receive a tailored calendar for the Residency and the call deadlines, with achievable milestones, support sessions, and tasks;
• receive guidance in how to apply for FWO first, and MSCA second should the FWO application be unsuccessful;
• get a dedicated office space, access to VUB facilities (library, campus restaurant, etc.), and invitations to all CLIC’s activities during the stay;
• find ample opportunities for professional development and networking in an urban, out-ofthe-box thinking, comprehensive research university at the heart of Brussels.

Eligibility

• Applicants must hold a relevant doctoral degree—or have received their doctoral degree by the time defined in the FWO/ MSCA call regulations.
• Applicants can have max. 6 years of research experience after their PhD.
• Applicants who (also) aim to apply for an MSCA-PF must comply with the mobility rules: they may not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the beneficiary (for European Postdoctoral Fellowships), or the host organisation for the outgoing phase (for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the MSCA-PF call deadline.

Application process

Please submit the following documents (PDFs) via email to gry.ulstein@vub.be, with your envisioned CLIC supervisor in CC,

by 31 July 2025:

• A detailed CV, including a list of publications.
• A short application that includes a summary of your research proposal (max. 2 pages) and a motivation (max. 1 page) in which you also motivate your selection of a CLIC supervisor.

NB: please make sure you contact your envisioned supervisor before you submit the application.

If you would (also) aim to submit a MSCA-PF application, you should mention whether you would apply for a European or a Global Postdoctoral Fellowship. In case of the latter, you should also mention which Global host organization and supervisor you will apply with.

Decision

Applications will be reviewed by CLIC’s steering team and 1-2 other senior CLIC (advisory board) members, and shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview.

You can expect a response within two weeks after the deadline (by 14 August 2025). - The online interviews will be held in the second half of August.

VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity. 

Do you have questions about the Grant Writing Residency? Contact Gry Ulstein at gry.ulstein@vub.be.