Visiting Fellows – Research Stay in Montpellier

tHIS CALL FOR APPLICATION is now OPEN

This fellowship programme allows research units to host international researchers for stays of three to six months as part of the I-SITE excellence program led by the University of Montpellier.

From 2025, the research themes will focus on public policies and the governance of transitions. Selected researchers will receive comprehensive financial and logistical support.

Scientific context

Collaborations with researchers hosted through the Montpellier Advanced Knowledge Institute on Transitions (MAK’IT) will contribute to the mission of the University of Montpellier and its partners. They will allow for the analysis and support of transitions towards sustainable development.

Contemporary societies are facing multiple, complex and cross-cutting challenges that question the sustainability of our development model and our ability to “live together as a society”. Whether it concerns environmental and climatic changes, demographic dynamics, political or technological developments – particularly those linked to digital technology – these changes are overturning our lifestyles as well as our models of production, consumption, work organisation, education, health, urban planning and mobility.

While these changes offer opportunities, they also carry risks of economic, political and social breakdown, particularly for the most vulnerable populations. They directly call into question the governance of our societies. Supporting transitions towards more sustainable and equitable development models has become a major challenge for public players and society as a whole.

The I-SITE of Montpellier offers a high-level research ecosystem on transitions towards sustainable development around its three pillars: feed, protect, and care.
The aim of this programme is to welcome fellows working on the governance of transitions from a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral perspective. It is open to researchers in the social sciences and any other discipline – in particular life and earth sciences, modelling, digital, etc. – whose work provides essential expertise for understanding and managing transitions.

Priority themes for 2025-2026

Particular – but not exclusive – attention will be given this year to three themes:

Agroecology
One Health
Water reuse

Host terms

Eligible Research Units

The application must be supported by the management of a research unit within the scope of the I-SITE excellence program led by the University of Montpellier on behalf of a consortium of 16 partners from the Montpellier site. Find the list of eligible research units here

Eligible Profiles for Hosting at MAK’IT

Nationality: researchers of any nationality who have not resided in France for more than 12 months during the three years preceding the deadline for applications at the submission date.
Tax residence: candidates must have their tax residence abroad.
Level of qualification: candidates must hold a doctorate (PhD) and have at least 5 years of research experience after obtaining the Ph.D. at the time of their arrival.
Professional affiliation: candidates must have an employment contract with a foreign university or research institution (other than a French research institution abroad) for the whole duration of their fellowship.
Disciplines: all disciplines, including social sciences, engineering and life sciences.
No prior knowledge of Montpellier is required: Researchers who have never benefited from mobility programs are welcome.

MAK’IT will not fund the hosting of individuals who have already received financial support from UM in the same academic year (such as the Explore international mobility program, etc.).

Support and Funding

MAK’IT supports visiting fellows in their administrative procedures related to their installation in Montpellier and organizes an integration program including regular cultural outings.

The financial support provided by MAK’IT for each visiting fellow includes:

Round-Trip Travel: Booked by MAK’IT (second class, economy class).
Monthly Stipend: 1 500 euros per month.
Accommodation: Directly covered by MAK’IT for studio accommodation (Villa Leenhardt) near the Triolet campus or other accomodation through real estate agencies (covering up to 1 800 euros monthly rent).
Relocation Expenses: Visas, health insurance, home and civil liability insurance.
Research Costs: funding available to the visiting fellow at the research unit (1 500 euros per researcher).

Commitments of fellows

Visiting fellows are required to make several commitments during and after their stay:

PRESENCE in Montpellier

Physical presence at the research unit for the duration of the stay (only short absences equivalent to 10% of the hosting period will be allowed).

Scientific Contribution

Presentation of their research at the local research unit.

Activity report

Writing and submission of an activity report at the end of the stay co-written with the host.

Acknowledgments

In case of publication, mention the fellowship of the I-SITE excellence program led by the University of Montpellier.

Commitments of research units

The application will be submitted by the director of the host unit in Montpellier, giving the reasons for the invitation, presenting the research groups involved (including the frequency of interaction with the host team, for example in the form of seminars), the degree of knowledge and interest of the past and/or future collaboration of the invited fellow. The management should also specify the working conditions available in the laboratory (including access to the staff canteen).

The collaboration programme will set out the mutual expectations of the host team and the visiting fellow. The research units are expected to propose a programme of integration and scientific activities allowing visiting fellows to gain knowledge of the Montpellier site, to fit in, and to contribute to research activities.

New responsibilities are established for the year 2025-2026:

PRESENCE in Montpellier

The host must certify attendance and/or absence to MAK’IT each month.

Scientific Contribution

The host must hold a seminar for the fellow to present their research at the unit within the first weeks of their arrival.

Activity report

The host must collect the activity report at the end of the stay co-written with the visiting fellow, indicating a proposal for future collaborations.

Acknowledgments

The host must ensure that the UM signature charter is respected when publishing articles with the fellow. They also mention the support of the I-SITE excellence program led by the University of Montpellier.

Application process

The selection process will involve a committee including external advisors who will receive the applications according to the following criteria:

Evaluation criteria

Scientific Excellence: Quality of the scientific career
Contribution to Public Policies for Transitions
Interdisciplinarity: Encouragement of interdisciplinary exchanges.
Collaboration: Relevance of the stay in Montpellier and potential for strengthening or new collaborations.
Feasability: Precision and realism of the collaboration schedule.
Scientific Inclusion: Proposed actions to ensure the integration of the visiting fellow.
Open Science: Compliance with the University of Montpellier’s open science approach.

How to apply?

The required application documents, in English only, consist of:

Application form signed by the head of the research unit and the visiting applicant, presenting the collaboration program.
CV or link to the up to date ORCID profile of the visiting fellow.
Support letter from the home institution: A letter from the candidate’s current institution confirming its support for their participation in the MAK’IT program.

Only the research unit must use the online form to submit the complete dossier in English. Only complete applications will be considered for evaluation.

SUBMIT THE APPLICATION HERE

calendar

Applications will be submitted subject to a four-month mobility preparation period (visa, accommodation, etc.). There will therefore be two analysis periods:

March 30 2025: for visiting fellowships starting in September 2025
August 31 2025: for visiting fellowships starting in January 2026