The Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse (IAST) is inviting applications for its 2027 Research Fellowships, offering early-career researchers an opportunity to devote themselves full-time to research within an interdisciplinary academic environment in Toulouse, France. The fellowship is designed for researchers in the social and behavioral sciences, with applications welcomed from disciplines including anthropology, economics, evolutionary biology, history, mathematics, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology. Researchers from outside these listed disciplines may also be considered if their work is relevant to IAST’s research environment. Successful fellows will receive a two-year public-sector fixed-term contract and institutional support designed to help them establish themselves in Toulouse and integrate into the IAST and Toulouse School of Economics (TSE) community. IAST Research Fellowship 2027 Overview Host institution: Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse (IAST), Toulouse School of EconomicsLocation: Toulouse, FranceOpportunity type: Postdoctoral Research FellowshipDuration: Two yearsContract: Fixed-term contract in the French State Civil ServiceApplication deadline: November 15, 2026Recommendation letter deadline: November 30, 2026Eligible researchers: Researchers who completed or will complete their PhD within the specified eligibility periodApplication language: English What Does the IAST Fellowship Offer? The IAST Research Fellowship provides early-career researchers with an opportunity to focus full-time on their research while participating in an interdisciplinary academic community. Research Fellows receive support from IAST’s newcomer coordinator. This includes assistance with practical aspects of relocating to Toulouse, such as visa applications, housing searches and moving expenses. Fellows will also receive support with integration into the local community through French classes, activities exploring Toulouse and participation in IAST and TSE community events. The fellowship also provides fellows with an office and computer equipment, alongside the two-year public-sector contract. Who Can Apply? The fellowship is intended for active researchers who have completed or will complete their PhD after December 2023 and before September 2027. Applicants expecting to complete their PhD between October and December 2027 may still be considered, but their fellowship start will be postponed accordingly. IAST may also consider motivated applications from researchers whose PhDs were completed in 2023 or earlier. Such applicants are expected to explain the reasons for applying in their cover letter. Researchers who are currently tenure-track or tenured at their institution should not apply for this research fellowship. IAST states that it supports equality, diversity and inclusion and particularly encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups in academia, including citizens from the Global South. Research Areas IAST is particularly interested in researchers who have strong disciplinary backgrounds while also demonstrating an openness to interdisciplinary research. Applicants must show an interest in and commitment to at least one other discipline represented at IAST. Research interests connected to the study of human behavior and organization are welcome. Areas of interest include: Anthropology: human behavioral ecology, cultural evolution, social learning, innovation, human health and aging, evolution of the family and related areas. Evolutionary biology: social evolution, evolutionary game theory, evolutionary ecology, cooperation and evolutionary foundations of preferences. Economics: behavioral and experimental economics, economic history, historical institutions, democratization, collective decision-making, game theory, economic complexity and applied artificial intelligence. Political science: comparative politics, political economy, democratic accountability, public opinion, redistribution, political behavior, intergroup tensions and survey research. Psychology: trust and cooperation, moral psychology, psychology of AI, social norms, punishment, social learning and cumulative culture. Sociology: social network analysis, statistical methods, inequality, polarization, social groups and interactions, collective learning and applied artificial intelligence. What Is Expected of Research Fellows? IAST places considerable emphasis on interdisciplinary interaction. Fellows are expected to regularly participate in institutional activities, including presentations, the weekly seminar series and the annual retreat. Where required, fellows should also be able to contribute to IAST’s summer school in quantitative social sciences. This makes the fellowship particularly relevant to researchers who want to develop their own research while engaging with scholars from different academic disciplines. Application Requirements Applicants must submit their application in English. The application should include: A current CV; A cover letter of no more than two single-spaced pages, addressing current research and future research plans; At least two writing samples, such as published peer-reviewed journal articles, working papers or book chapters; Contact details for at least three referees who are willing to provide recommendation letters. Applicants should be aware that referees are automatically contacted once the application is submitted. Referees have 15 days to upload their recommendation letters, although the final deadline for submitting recommendation letters is November 30, 2026. Applicants are advised to ask their referees to check their spam folders if necessary. Marie Curie Fellowship Sponsorship Researchers interested in an IAST fellowship may also seek sponsorship for a Marie Curie fellowship application. Applicants seeking such sponsorship should submit the IAST application and clearly indicate their intention to apply for a Marie Curie fellowship in their cover letter. Researchers who are only seeking Marie Curie sponsorship, rather than an IAST fellowship, may also indicate this in their cover letter. IAST states that these applicants will be evaluated through a similar process and on the same timeline as IAST fellowship applicants. Application Deadline The deadline to apply for the IAST Research Fellowship 2027 is November 15, 2026. Applicants should also plan ahead because recommendation letters have a later deadline of November 30, 2026, and referees receive an automatic notification after the application is submitted. Zoom interviews are tentatively expected to take place from mid-January to early or mid-February 2027, while recruitment committee decisions are expected around mid-March 2027. How to Apply Eligible researchers interested in the opportunity can submit their application through the official IAST Research Fellowship application form. Apply for the IAST Research Fellowship 2027 Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the eligibility requirements and application instructions before submitting their materials. Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the offering organization. This information is shared for informational purposes based on the official opportunity announcement. Applicants should verify all eligibility requirements, deadlines and application procedures directly with the official institution before applying. GSO does not accept applications or CVs on behalf of the offering organization. For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel Important: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the offering organisation. This opportunity is shared for informational purposes based on the official announcement. Applicants should verify all eligibility requirements, application documents, deadline details and submission procedures directly with Umeå University before applying. GSO does not accept applications or CVs on behalf of applicants. JOIN GSO WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW