Atlas: Southern countries > France

This research stay is designed to enable researchers to conduct research studies in France: field enquiries, library and archives work. 

This call is part of the Atlas short-term postdoctoral mobility programme offered by the FMSH and its partners..

Fellowship Details

Laureates will receive a monthly stipend of 1 800€ (paid at the beginning of each month of stay). This financial contribution is intended to cover expenditure such as transport and accommodation costs.

Besides, the FMSH and the IRD provide support for visa and logistical support to organise the stay (possibility to have a workspace, letter for the libraries...)

Eligibility Criteria

Nationality: This program is open to researchers originating from Southern countries and affiliated with an institution of higher education and research or a public or private research institute based in one of one of these countries, country located on the intertropical and Mediterranean zone and with low and middle income

Educational Degree: Applicants must have obtained their PhD doctorate and presented their thesis from 2021.

Theme: Applicants must be engaged in research in the humanities and social sciences. Original, interdisciplinary projects (including a crossing of SHS & non-SHS) and bearing a renewed approach to research in and with the South, will be particularly welcome.

Hosting institution:  Candidates are invited to prepare their project in connection with one or more of the research and support units working with and on the South, whether they are affiliated with the IRD or with other French research institutions

List of research units in the "Society and Globalization" department (SOC) : click here

Researcher's obligations 

At the end of their stay, laureates will have to provide the FMSH and the IRD with a report presenting the work done during their stay and the benefits for their research project. The report will be 30,000 characters (excluding spaces) in length.

Application procedure

Applicants will be required to submit an online application form and a scientific dossier (research project + appendices). The online application form will be available on the FMSH website as of october 5th 2026. Completed proposals can be uploaded to the application portal at any time before the application deadline of february 8th 2027, 17:00 (Paris time).

Online application and scientific dossier can be submitted in French or English.

Content of scientific dossier

The research proposal:

The research proposal should consist in a short presentation from 10 000 characters to 20 000 characters (spaces and references included) composed with:

1. State of art, problematic, objective and specific aim of the research project, methodology.
2. A bibliography
3. The detailed programme of the research stay (places and institutions to be visited, contacts, workplan).

Appendices:

• A Curriculum vitae (2 pages maximum)
• A list of publications
• A copy of the PhD diploma
• A letter from the director of the research institution in Romania
• A letter of invitation from the director of the host research institution in France expressing the institution’s willingness to host the applicant during the time of fellowship and explaining the work conditions they can offer

How to apply?

1. Reach the online application form and enter "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 incoming 2027" and then the specific call "FMSH-IFR: Roumanie > France".
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
• Curriculum vitae (2 pages maximum)
• List of publications
• Copy of the PhD diploma
• Letter from the director of the research institution in Romania
• Letter of invitation from the director of the host research institution 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. Applications not submitted, incomplete application forms or applications that do not match the above description will not be taken into account.

For any 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 with members of FMSH, IRD and independent experts will analyse and proceed to final selection of applications regarding the following criteria:

• The quality of the scientific dossier and the methodology developed
• The relevance of a research stay in France regarding the scientific project and the candidate curricula
• The ability to identify scientific contacts in France

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

Candidates will be informed by email of the results from end of March 2027.

For any communication, please mention the call for which you wish to apply in the subject of your email (“ATLAS Southern countries > France”).