Themis programme - US Scholars

Launched as part of the Themis mobility programme, active for the past three years, this call aims to support intellectuals operating in environments marked by obstacles to academic freedom.

It offers a 2- to 3-month research stay in France, enabling selected candidates to pursue their work in the humanities and social sciences—whether through fieldwork, library research, or archival investigations—within a free and intellectually stimulating academic environment.

Financial Details

A monthly allowance of €1,800 is awarded to fellows to cover travel and living expenses. In addition, the FMSH provides assistance in obtaining a visa to France.

Eligibility Criteria

Target Audience: Researchers currently residing in the United States.

Status and Diploma: Applicants must be attached to a private or public higher education research institution / research institute and hold a research doctorate.

Candidates must be under 65 years of age at the time of their stay.

Discipline: candidates must be engaged in research in the humanities and social sciences.

French Host Institution: Before submitting their application, applicants will have to find a French research institution to host them for the time of their stay. 

To help you in your research, you can access the ScanR tool (list of the French research centers).

Obligations of the Researcher

At the end of their stay, researchers must submit a report to the FMSH outlining the activities carried out during their stay and their contribution to their research project.

Criteria and Selection Process

Projects will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

• The scientific quality of the project and the method developed;
• The need to come to France in view of the project and the obstacles mentioned;
• The feasibility of the project during the stay in France.

Applications will be selected by a committee made up of specialists from outside the Foundation.

The results will be communicated to the applicants no later than October 2025.

Application Documents and Timetable

Applicants must submit a form and a scientific file (research project + annexes) on an online platform. The online platform will be accessible from 15 April 2025. Complete applications must be uploaded on the online platform by 30 June 2025, 17:00 (Paris time).

The application form and the scientific file can be submitted in French or in English.

Content of the Scientific File

The research project: The research project consists of a presentation of between 10,000 and 20,000 characters (including spaces and notes) composed of:

• the problematic and the objectives of the research project
• a bibliography
• details of the program of the stay (places and institutions to visit, possible contacts)

Annexes:

• A CV of maximum 2 pages
• A list of the 10 main publications
• A copy of the thesis diploma
• A letter explaining the situation in which the researcher finds themself and the reasons for which the realization of their research is prevented. This information will be strictly confidential and anonymized in the framework of expertise.
• A letter of support of a research center based in France

How to apply 

1. Go to the platform http://calls.msh-paris.fr and enter the " Researcher Workspace ".

2. Log in if you have already created an account, if not, create an account

3. Fill in your profile and click on "create a new application".

4. Select "Themis 2025 Program – US Scholars"

5. Fill in all the tabs of the form

6. In the "Documents" tab, upload a single electronic document in pdf format containing the following documents:

• A research project
• A CV of maximum 2 pages
• A list of the 10 main publications
• A copy of the thesis diploma
• A letter explaining the political situation in which the researcher finds himself and the reasons why the realization of his research is prevented.
• A letter of support from a research center based in France.

7. You can save your application without submitting it and come back to it later, or submit it permanently. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automatic confirmation email. Please note that if your application is not submitted it will not be considered. Incomplete applications or applications that do not correspond to the description above will not be considered.

For any information on the platform, or in case of difficulty in using it, contact fadili@msh-paris.fr.