Atlas: France > Baltic States, South Caucasus and Moldova

Research stays can be carried out in the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), the South Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia), or Moldova. Projects focusing on Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Belarus, or Russia may also be supported; in such cases, the fieldwork must be conducted in one of the areas covered by the IRECA (Baltic States, South Caucasus, Moldova), or in Warsaw, where the institute is based.

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 2020. Be affiliated with a research center/laboratory in France.
• Discipline: candidates must present an original research project in the humanities or social sciences involving fieldwork to be carried out in the Baltic States, the South Caucasus, or Moldova. Research projects may also focus on Ukraine, Belarus, or Russia. Particular attention will be paid to exploratory fieldwork.
• Language: proficiency in the language of the intended fieldwork location would be appreciated.

Obligations of researchers hosted by the IRECA

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 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 the Baltic States, the South Caucasus, or Moldova, the originality of the proposed work, its connection to previous thesis work, the links that will be established, and the scientific partners involved in the research project in the area.
• 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-IRECA : France > Pays Baltes, Caucase du Sud et Moldavie".
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, IRECA, 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.