The Centre for Literary and Intermedial Crossings (CLIC) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is happy to announce up to 5 short (1-2 months) paid Grant Writing Residencies in the period August-December 2026. Candidates will spend the Residency preparing postdoctoral fellowship applications for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and the Flemish Research Foundation (FWO).

Presentation

The Centre for Literary and Intermedial Crossings (CLIC) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is happy to announce up to 5 short (1-2 months) paid Grant Writing Residencies in the period August-December 2026.

Working conditions

Candidates will spend the Residency preparing postdoctoral fellowship applications for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and the Flemish Research Foundation (FWO).

Expected profile

Are you an early-career postdoctoral researcher (max. 6 years post-PhD) with a background in literary studies, theatre studies, journalism studies, translation studies, artistic (practice-based) research 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 ! 

How to apply

Interested candidates can submit their applications to gry.ulstein@vub.be (with their envisioned CLIC supervisor in CC) by 31 May 2026.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview by 14 June 2026 ; online interviews will be held in the second half of June 2026.

Support Provided :

If selected, 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 MSCA first, and FWO second, with the same project ;
• get a dedicated (flex) 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-of-the-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 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.

One of the Residencies is earmarked for artistic research. If you qualify for this Residency, please mark it clearly in your motivation letter and in your email message.

For more details on the call and the application process, see the full call attached or go to the call announcement on CLIC’s website : https://clic.research.vub.be/clic-grant-writing-residency-2026-call-for-applications