Atlas: France > Andean countries

This programme supports research projects that align with the scientific priorities of IFEA, in collaboration with its researchers and partners. Interdisciplinary projects are particularly encouraged.

This call is part of the Atlas Short-Term Postdoctoral Mobility Programme launched by FMSH and its partners.

Financial terms

Each laureate will receive a grant of 4,500 € per stay, intended to cover travel and living expenses.

Eligibility criteria

• Nationality/residence: applicants must be citizens of a European Union country and reside in France.
• Degree/status: applicants must have defended their PhD no earlier than 2020 and be affiliated with a research center or laboratory in France.
• Discipline: applicants must submit an original research project in the humanities or social sciences involving fieldwork in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, or Peru (or several of these countries). Particular attention will be given to projects that align with IFEA’s research themes and that include exploratory fieldwork.
• Language: proficiency in Spanish is required.

Obligations of researchers hosted by IFEA

Researchers hosted at IFEA must reside in one of the countries covered by the institute (Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia). They are expected to participate actively in the scientific life of the research center, where they will be provided with a workspace.

At the end of their stay, researchers must submit to FMSH and IFEA a 10,000-character report (including spaces and notes) detailing the activities carried out during the stay and their contribution to the overall research project.

Please note that before departure, researchers should take the following precautions:

The mobility grant does not cover mandatory health insurance, which is essential in case of illness, hospitalization, or repatriation.

The grant does not include travel expenses between Europe and the host country.

Application file

Applicants must submit a form and a scientific file (research project + appendices) on an online platform. The online platform will be accessible until February 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. (Paris time).

The form and scientific file must be submitted in French.

Contents of the scientific dossier 

The research project:

The research project (between 10,000 and 20,000 characters maximum) must include the state of the art, the theoretical and methodological framework, the steps that the candidate plans to accomplish during their stay, and the institutional partners involved in the research.

The appendices:

• A signed cover letter explaining the reasons for the stay in one of the IFEA countries, the planned collaborations with IFEA, and the relevant scientific partners in the region.
• A CV of no more than two pages, accompanied by a list of publications.
• A letter from the director of the laboratory/research center with which the candidate is associated in France.

How to apply?

1. Reach the online application form http://calls.msh-paris.fr and enter the "Researcher Workspace".
2. You have to be registered on the online platform in order to use it. If you haven’t created an account yet, you will be asked to.
3. Create your profile by filling all your personal information and then enter "create a new application".
4. Select "Programme Atlas outgoing 2026", then the specific call "FMSH–IFEA Andes: France > Andean Countries".
5. Fill all the information tabs.
6. In the "Documents" final tab, you will need to upload your research proposal and the appendices into one single PDF document:

• Research proposal
• Motivation letter signed
• Curriculum vitae (2 pages maximum)
• List of publications
• Letter from the director of the laboratory/research center with which the candidate is associated in France

You can save your application and complete it later several times if you wish, until the closure of the call for applications. Once you have submitted your application, you will no longer have the possibility to amend it. Once submitted, you will receive an automatic email confirming the submission. 

Important: Applications not submitted, incomplete application forms or applications that do not match the above description will not be taken into account.

For any technical information on the platform or in case of you meet difficulties to use it, please contact fadili@msh-paris.fr.

Evaluation process and criteria

A selection committee composed of members from FMSH, IFEA, and external experts will evaluate applications based on the following:

• The quality of the scientific dossier and the methodology developed
• The relevance of going to the Baltic States, South Caucasus, or Moldova in light of the project developed and the researcher's background
• The ability to identify scientific contacts on site

Candidates who have never benefited from the programme will be prioritized.

The results will be communicated to candidates by email at the end of March 2026.