Atlas: France > South Caucasus

Support will be provided for research projects that align with the IRECA’s scientific policy and foster collaboration with its researchers and partners. Interdisciplinary projects are welcome.

This call is part of the Atlas program for short-term postdoctoral mobility, launched by the FMSH and its partners.

Financial terms

Financial assistance of €1,600 per month (paid at the beginning of each month of stay) is awarded to the beneficiaries. It is intended to cover transportation and living expenses.

Eligibility criteria

• Nationality/residence: be a citizen of a European Union country and reside in France
• Degree/status: have defended your thesis since 2021. Be affiliated with a research center/laboratory in France.
• Discipline: applicants must submit an original research project in the humanities or social sciences involving fieldwork to be conducted in Armenia and/or Georgia.
• Language: proficiency in the language of the intended fieldwork location would be appreciated.

Obligations 

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

Successful applicants may submit a publication proposal to the IRECA.

Precautions must be taken before the stay, as this postdoctoral mobility support does not cover compulsory insurance, which is useful in the event of illness, hospitalization, and/or repatriation.

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 8, 2027, 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 proposal should consist of a 15,000- to 20,000-character statement (including spaces and notes) and must include:

• The research question and objectives of the research project
• A state-of-the-art review

Applicants must also provide a bibliography and a detailed research stay programme, including the places and institutions to be visited, as well as any relevant contacts and institutional partners involved in the research (maximum 10,000 characters).

The appendices:

• A signed cover letter explaining the reasons for the proposed research stay in the South Caucasus, the originality of the research to be undertaken, its potential connection with the applicant’s previous doctoral research, and the links and scientific partnerships to be established in the region that are relevant to the research project.
• A CV of no more than two pages, including 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 2027", then the specific call "FMSH-IRECA : France > Caucase du Sud".
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
• A CV of no more than two pages, including a 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, IRECA, and external experts will evaluate applications based on the following:

• The quality of the scientific dossier and the methodology developed
• The relevance of conducting fieldwork in the South Caucasus in relation to the proposed research project and the applicant’s academic and research background
• The ability to identify scientific contacts on site

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