Iméra Core Call for Applications
2027-2028
For the year 2027-28, Iméra, the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) of Aix Marseille University is opening 5 resident fellowships ranging between 5 and 10 months, targeting academics as part of its core call for applications. Among these, the Fulbright/Iméra Chair in Mediterranean Studies is the subject of a separate call for applications, which will close on September 15, 2026.
All these fellowships are distributed over 4 programs (Arts and science: Indisciplined Knowledge; Interdisciplinary Dialogues; Mediterranean; Necessary Utopias).
General information
To prepare your application and find out everything you need to know about the hosting conditions, please read the attached PDF document and the information on the research programme(s) to which the residency you are interested in is attached (accessible via the search tool in the “Residencies” section).
Click here to download the PDF
Any interested scholar may apply for only one position among those offered above.
Applicants who are former Iméra residents may reapply at least 5 years after their initial research stay.
Fellowships
The list of proposed themes is not exhaustive, but highlights essential concepts or subjects that have already been considered by the chair designers. Other research themes may of course be proposed as long as they relate to the issues of the residency.
Period : 5 months - From 01/09/2027 to 25/01/2028
Profile : Academic
Program : Mediterranean
Themes : Crossed perspectives between Europe and Mediterranean cultures, Nationalising of Religions, Political and Religious Dynamics, Reformulation of social orders, Religions, Social realities
Sustainable Development and Interdisciplinarity – IRD/Iméra Chair – 2027-2028
Period : 10 months - From 01/09/2027 to 28/06/2028
Profile : Academic
Program : Interdisciplinary dialogues
Themes : A world in flux, Agriculture, Anthropocene, Cities and urbanization, Climate change, Conservation of continental and marine biodiversity, Development, Education, Epistemology, Fishing, Food security, Health, Inequalities, Labour, Land-use change, Mobility, Pollution, Social realities, South/South exchanges, Sustainable development, Transformation of ways of life
Transregional studies – EHESS / Iméra Chair – 2027-2028
Period : 10 months - From 01/09/2027 to 28/06/2028, 5 months - From 01/09/2027 to 25/01/2028, 5 months - From 03/02/2027 to 28/06/2028
Profile : Academic
Program : Necessary utopias
Themes : Areal studies, Circulation, Comparisons between cultural areas, Connections, Difference in scales, Echanges, Experimental writing in humanities and social sciences, Migrations, Mobility, Reformulation of social orders, Sensitive / alternative cartography, Social realities, South/South exchanges, Transregional studies
ReligiS: Religions and Societies Facing Contemporary Challenges — ReligiS/Iméra Chair
Period : 5 months - From 01/09/2027 to 25/01/2028, 5 months - From 03/02/2027 to 28/06/2028
Profile : Academic
Program : Arts & Sciences - Indisciplined knowledge, Interdisciplinary dialogues, Mediterranean, Necessary utopias
Themes : National, political, religious and identity movements, Nationalising of Religions, Political and Religious Dynamics, Religions, Secularism
Requirements
- An active knowledge of French and/or English (written and spoken) is essential. Basic language skills in both languages are desirable because of Iméra’s bilingual environment: for example, the weekly seminars (see point below) are held in both languages. Successful candidates who are not fluent in French are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the language during their stay, if not beforehand.
The content of the application may be written in English or French.
- In the interest of research internationalization, just as the local scientific and cultural community should benefit from the methodological traditions brought by the residents, the latter should also benefit from the numerous expertise present on site, where most disciplines are represented. For these reasons, applicants must not have lived in France for more than 12 months in the 3 years preceding the deadline for this call for applications and submit a project that maximizes the resources available on-site (around a hundred laboratories, various archives, a vibrant cultural and associative life, etc.). It is highly recommended to identify key local resources related to the research theme beforehand, mention them in the project, and outline the envisioned modes of collaboration.
- Candidates must commit to participating in the scheduled activities with other residents and the Iméra scientific team. The Community-Building Seminar (CBS) is one of the central activities, held each week (variable duration, minimum 3 hours, or equivalent to one day).
Links to online resources :
- CESAM – Mapping Aix Marseille’s scientific skills and facilities: click here
- List of the 115 research units at Aix Marseille University: click here
- List of interdisciplinary institutes at Aix Marseille University: click here
Calendar
Deadline for applications :
Deadline for applications: Monday 19 October 2026, at 1pm (UTC +2)
Periods of residence :
- 10-month residency: from September 1, 2027 to June 28, 2028
- 5-month residency in the first semester: from September 1, 2027 to January 25, 2028
- 5-month residency in the second semester: from February 3, 2028 to June 28, 2028
Publication of selection results: early February 2026
Contacts
For more information about Iméra’s core call for applications for the 2026-27 academic year, please contact :
- Enrico Donaggio, Academic Director and Director of the Necessary Utopias programme
- Constance Moréteau, Research Coordinator and Head of development for Iméra’s Arts and sciences axis
The entire team will be on annual leave throughout August and will return in early September. During this period, they will not be able to respond to your inquiries. Therefore, please read very carefully all the information available in this call for applications (PDF, pages on the chairs and Iméra research programs associated with the chairs).
