The IMéRA/OT-Med specific call is aimed at scientists with a project in connection with global changes and natural hazards in the Mediterranean basin and the semi-arid Sahel regions.

OT-Med (Objective Earth - Mediterranean Basin), a laboratory of excellence sponsored by the university foundation A*MIDEX, includes 10 research laboratories and a research federation (www.otmed.fr). Its teams are pluridisciplinary including environmental sciences, ecology, law, economic and social sciences.

A foundation of Aix-Marseille University, IMéRA is an Institute for Advanced Study, a unique research centre where both emerging and top-level scientists can take advantage of residence schemes to carry out innovative research projects.

IMéRA is specifically aimed at fostering cross-disciplinary projects. It receives scientists and artists of all disciplines (in residence between 3 and 10 months), as well as a few cross-disciplinary teams with joint projects for short stays (2 to 4 weeks). Residents carry out their research in connection with Aix-Marseille University (AMU) teams and laboratories or with partner bodies.

Research undertaken at the Institute is meant to develop interaction within social science, within science, between social science and hard, experimental and health sciences, and links between art and science.

The Institute thus contributes to the emergence and development of world-class cross-disciplinary research approaches on Aix-Marseille University ground and grooms young researchers for such approaches.

It also enthusiastically welcomes projects bearing on Mediterranean territories or submitted by researchers from the Mediterranean rim.

In their applications, candidates should clearly demonstrate their interest in cross-disciplinary projects on the basis of their research or itineraries, by:

  • providing a list of already experienced cross-disciplinary collaborations or of publications calling for such collaboration schemes; or
  • proposing to start one such collaboration and specifying its characteristics; or
  • detailing expected contributions from cross-fertilisation of their own research program with perspectives and intellectual resources of other disciplines.

SCHEDULE

Deadline: 27 November 2015 (this date included)
Duration of residences: 5 or 10 months
Residence periods (to be chosen by the candidates, several choices are possible):

  • 12 Sept 2016 to 6 Feb 2017 (5 months)
  • 20 Feb 2017 to 14 July 2017 (5 months)
  • 12 Sept 2016 to 14 July 2017 (10 months)

WHO CAN QUALIFY ?

Special Labex OT-Med residences at IMéRA are open to researchers (senior or junior) in all disciplines and of all nationalities with a regular status in foreign institutions.

To be eligible, scientist applicants must meet the following 4 conditions:

  • Not to have lived in France more than 12 months during the three years preceding this call for applications;
  • Hold a Doctorate or PhD;
  • Have a university or research position for minimum two years as at the closing date of this call for applications;
  • Carry out a research project in connection with global changes and natural hazards in the Mediterranean basin and the semi-arid Sahel regions.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Application assessment criteria include, but are not limited to:

  • candidate's course;
  • research project;
  • interdisciplinary component;
  • Interaction perspective with OT-Med programme partner research centres as well as with Aix-Marseille University research centres and teams. It is essential to have got in touch with a researcher of the team aimed before submitting an application.

LIVING CONDITIONS

Under a partnership agreement with the OT-Med programme, IMéRA offers: 1- REMUNERATION

IMéRA will pay an allowance to researchers, who fall into two classes.

  • Junior: € 2,300 monthly allowance;
  • Senior: € 3,500 monthly allowance.

Junior class: Researchers who have 2 to 9 years of full-time research experience after obtaining the PhD (PhD training is not considered in the calculation of experience) as at the closing date of the call for applications.

Senior class: Top-level researchers with minimum 10 years' experience in full-time research after obtaining the PhD (PhD is not considered in the calculation of experience) as at the closing date of the call for applications, and university professors.

2. ACCOMMODATION

IMéRA provides free accommodation to residents in one of the apartments of the institute, situated in “Parc Longchamp” in the center of Marseille.

Requests for familial hosting at IMéRA shall absolutely be mentioned in the application form, for consideration. These requests will be satisfied within the constraints of the available accommodations at IMéRA's disposal, i.e. 14 apartments from which 4 can host families (3 apartments for a couple with one child, 1 for a couple with 2 children).

3. TRANSPORT

IMéRA will pay for the residents' ticket from their usual place of residence to Marseille and back.

4. RESEARCH MEANS

IMéRA invites residents to organise an international research seminar on a theme related to their project during their stay, with the possibility of asking several external specialists to participate.

E-CANDIDATURE

Deadline: 27 November 2015 (this date included)

Applications must be in English or French.

Candidates must submit their applications EXCLUSIVELY on IMéRA's website (candidatures-imera.univ-amu.fr). Applications sent by e-mail or by post will NOT be considered.

Online applications must include :
Duly completed application form (mandatory fields);
Files (to be downloaded) including:

  • Curriculum Vitae with a list of publications and/or creations/exhibitions;
  • Presentation of research project (maximum 5 pages) with selective bibliography;
  • A letter of interest by an Aix-Marseille researcher;
  • For junior researchers: one to three letters of recommendation.

Period of residence:

  • 12 Sept 2016 to 12 Feb 2017 (5 months)
  • 22 Feb 2017 to 14 July 2017 (5 months)
  • 12 Sept 2016 to 14 July 2017 (10 months)

Submit an application
Call for projects pdf
Call for project in French