Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse (IAST) Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships
- Omran Aburayya
- Sep 28
- 3 min read
If you are finishing, or have recently finished your PhD, the applications for the IAST Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships are now open. These fellowships allow early-career researchers to devote themselves full-time to innovative research at the Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse (IAST), with strong support, interdisciplinary exposure, and resources to develop their scholarship in the social and behavioral sciences. Here's everything you need to know.
🎓 Fellowship Summary
Location: Toulouse, France (Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse, affiliated with Université Toulouse Capitole)
Research Level: Post-doctoral / early career researchers
Target Group: Researchers who have completed, or will complete, their PhD after December 2022 and before September 2026; motivated applications may be considered from those who completed earlier, but with explanation. Applicants must not be tenure-track or tenured in their current institution.
Fields of Focus: Social and behavioral sciences including, but not limited to: anthropology, economics, evolutionary biology, history, mathematics, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology. Interdisciplinary work and motivated projects from outside these fields are also considered. Special consideration given to topics aligned with IAST’s existing research themes (e.g., cooperation & conflict; evolutionary theory; political economy; AI ethics; inequality; social networks; etc.).
Duration: 2 years contract (CDD) full-time.
Value & Coverage: Fellows are provided office space, computer facilities, and a full-time contract (CDD). (Exact salary / stipends are not publicly fixed in the call; additional benefits are discussed with successful applicants.)
Application Deadline: November 15, 2025 for the main application. Reference letters deadline: November 30, 2025.
Start Date: Generally following completion of PhD if before September 2026; exact start-date details are worked out with successful fellows.
📚 Fellowship Overview
The IAST Research Fellowship is designed for early-career researchers to pursue full-time research in an environment that strongly encourages interdisciplinarity and interaction among disciplines. Fellows will have access to:
Office space & computer / IT facilities provided by IAST.
Participation in the intellectual life of the institute: seminars, institutional social events, and the annual retreat.
Possibly contributing to IAST’s summer school in quantitative social sciences (if needed).
Exposure to research teams and scholars in a wide array of disciplines, facilitating cross-disciplinary collaboration.
💰 Benefits
Financial / Material Support: A 2-year full-time fixed term contract (CDD), with office and computing facilities.
Academic Exposure: Opportunity to engage with interdisciplinary research; attend seminars and events; present research; interact with other fellows and faculty.
Networking & Career Development: Being part of a research institute enhances visibility, access to collaboration, possibly supports for other fellowships (e.g. Marie Curie) if desired.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
Be active researchers who have completed or will complete their PhD after December 2022 and before September 2026. If expecting to finish between October–December 2026, the start may be postponed accordingly.
If PhD was completed in 2022 or before, applicants can still apply but must motivate their case in the cover letter.
Not hold a tenure-track or tenured position at their present institution.
Demonstrate strong research background, and also a willingness/interest to work across disciplines.
Underrepresented groups, including Global South citizens, are especially encouraged.
📝 Application Procedure
To apply, one must:
Submit application via IAST’s online application form (not by email).
Deadline for the main application: 15 November 2025.
Reference letters (from at least three referees) must be submitted by 30 November 2025.
🗂️ The application package (in English) must include:
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Cover Letter (max two single-spaced pages), including description of current research and future research plans.
At least two writing samples: e.g., peer-reviewed journal articles, working papers, book chapters.
Reference details: names, titles, e-mail addresses of at least three referees. They will receive automatic emails to submit letters. Ask referees to check spam folders.
Also:
If interested in applying for Marie Curie fellowship and seeking IAST sponsorship, indicate this clearly in the cover letter. The application is evaluated similarly.
ℹ️Additional Information
Language requirement: All materials & communication are in English; French is not required.
Number of positions: There is no fixed number of fellows; appointments depend on the number of suitable candidates.
Interviews & Timeline: Zoom interviews likely from mid-January to early February 2026; final decisions by around mid-March 2026.
Equality, diversity, inclusion: Strong emphasis; IAST explicitly encourages applications from underrepresented groups and from the Global South.
