IAST Toulouse Research Fellowships
Each year, IAST invites applications for post-doctoral Research Fellowships, which offer candidates an opportunity to devote themselves full-time to their research at the start of their careers. Fellows receive support from our newcomer coordinator, ranging from help with settling in (visa applications, housing search, moving budget), to their integration (French classes, activities to explore Toulouse, and other IAST/TSE community events), as well as an office, computer equipment, and a two-year public-sector contract (fixed-term contract in the State Civil Service).
We welcome applications from researchers in a wide range of disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences, including anthropology, economics, evolutionary biology, history, mathematics, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology. Motivated applications from outside these disciplines will also be considered.
We seek candidates with a strong research background in their discipline but open to engaging in interdisciplinarity. Successful applicants must demonstrate an interest in and a commitment to at least one of the other disciplines of IAST. All research interests relevant to studying human behavior and organization are welcome. Interests that complement and enhance those already developed at IAST will be given special consideration. These interests include (to cite a few):
• In anthropology: evolutionary medicine, human health and aging, human behavioral ecology, life history theory, bio-demography, evolution of the family, sexual cooperation and conflict, cultural evolution, social learning, innovation, and cumulative culture.
• In evolutionary biology: social evolution, evolutionary game theory, evolutionary ecology, cultural evolution, evolution of cooperation, evolutionary foundations of preferences, moral and altruistic preferences, and family systems.
• In economics: evolution of moral and altruistic preferences, behavioral/experimental economics, beliefs and motivation, economic history, historical institutions and economic growth, democratization, collective decision-making, game theory, economic complexity, and applied artificial intelligence.
• In political science: comparative politics, political economy, religion and politics, democratic accountability, public opinion, redistribution, political behavior, intergroup tensions, experimental political science, and survey research.
• In psychology: trust and cooperation, moral psychology, psychology of AI, social norms, punishment, moral emotions, social learning, and cumulative culture.
• In sociology: social network analysis, statistical methods, social groups and interactions, inequality, polarization, collective learning, and applied artificial intelligence.
What do we expect from our Research Fellows?
IAST is an institution that fosters communication between disciplines and interdisciplinary research. Key components of this process are exposure to presentations (for example, in a weekly seminar series and annual retreat) and participation in discussions. Research Fellows are, therefore, expected to regularly attend institutional events. If required, they should also be able to contribute to our summer school in quantitative social sciences.
Who is eligible?
Eligible applicants for 2027 must be active researchers who have completed or will complete their PhD after December 2023 and before September 2027 (if the PhD is expected to be completed between October and December of 2027, the start of the fellowship will be postponed accordingly). Motivated applications will be considered from candidates whose PhDs were completed in 2023 or earlier; if applicable, please explain your reasons in your cover letter. Researchers who are either tenure-track or tenured at their present institution should not apply for this research fellowship.
IAST supports equality, diversity, and inclusion. We encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups in academia, including citizens from the Global South.
How do I apply?
To apply for a Research Fellowship, please send your application (before November 15, 2026) by clicking on the link below:
