Atlas: Southern countries > France

The Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme (FMSH) and the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) offer a short-term fellowship of two or three months each, in France for postdoc researchers from southern countries (country located on the intertropical and Mediterranean zone and with low and middle income), who have presented their thesis from 2018.

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 1 700€ (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 2018.

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.

Content of scientific dossier

The research proposal (up to 10,000 characters excluding spaces) is composed with:

The problematic, the objectives of the research project, contributions to the South

Methodology including how the project will be implemented with the South

A bibliography,

A detailed program of the stay (places and institutions to be visited, contacts)

• A CV of maximum 2 pages
• A list of the five main publications and/or research achievements with scientific and/or societal impact
• A copy of the thesis diploma
• A letter from the director of the institution in the country of residence
• A letter of invitation from the director of the host unit in France explaining the reasons for the invitation, the place of research in the South and with the South in the Unit and explaining the working conditions made available

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 2024 » and the specific call « FMSH-IRD : Southern countries > France ».

5. Fill all the information tabs.

6. In the “Documents” final tab, you will need to upload your research application into one single PDF document:

• Research proposal
• Curriculum vitae (2 pages maximum)
• A list of the top five publications and/or research products with scientific and/or societal/social impactLa copie du diplôme de la thèse
• A letter from the director of the institution in the country of origin
• A letter of invitation from the director of the host unit in France explaining the reasons for the invitation, the place of research in the South and with the South in the Unit and explaining the working conditions made available

7. 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.