In view of the success of its short programmes, the Madrid Institute for Advanced Study (MIAS), in collaboration with the Centre d'études Picasso at the Musée national Picasso Paris, is launching a new call for applications for ‘PicALsso’ and offering a three-month scientific residency.

This new call for applications for a ‘short stay’ is offered in collaboration with the Centre d'études Picasso. It is aimed at researchers and artists who are pursuing a career of excellence in the fields of the arts, humanities, social sciences and law. It is reserved for individuals who hold a PhD.

Applications must be submitted between 9 February and 30 April 2026 (5 p.m., Madrid time).

General conditions:

The call provides for a three-month, non-renewable stay between 1 September 2026 and 31 July 2027.

• The successful researcher will receive a monthly stipend of €1,000. The MIAS will also cover the cost of return travel between Madrid and the selected candidate's country of residence, up to a limit of €250. Candidates from Africa or Latin America may be eligible for additional mobility assistance of up to €300.
• The three-month stay will be divided as follows: six weeks in Madrid and six weeks in Paris.
• The researcher will be accommodated at the Casa de Velázquez (Madrid) and the Collège d'Espagne (Paris) respectively. As this grant involves mid-term mobility, travel between Madrid and Paris will be reimbursed up to a maximum of €200.
• The researcher will be responsible for obtaining any necessary visas and insurance.

• The researcher will receive a meal allowance of €5 during their stay at the Casa de Velázquez.

Candidate profile:

• Holders of a PhD

The CAS Sofia Advanced Academia Platform offers a number of different fellowship schemes for postdoctoral researchers from the social sciences and the humanities for the 2026/2027 academic year. Full details can be found further below.

GERDA HENKEL FELLOWSHIP

The five-month in-residence fellowships for fundamental historical research in the social sciences and the humanities support PhD holders from the following countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China (only Tibet and Xinjiang Autonomous Regions), Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

SUSTAINING UKRAINIAN SCHOLARSHIP

The SUS programme, coordinated jointly by the Centre for Advanced Study Sofia and New Europe College Bucharest, provides both in-residence and remote fellowships to postdoctoral Ukrainian scholars for five to ten months.

SOCIAL RELEVANCE OF THE HUMANITIES

Up to ten months in-residence research fellowship for international scholars – senior and junior. The programme is guided by the belief that there is a considerable added value for humanities scholars across the academe, whatever their field, to be encouraged to rethink their topics in terms of their broader contemporary relevance (be it political, ethical, religious or academic), yet necessarily of significance for the world we are living in.

ADVANCED ACADEMIA SCHOLARSHIPS FOR YOUNG SCHOLARS

Advanced Academia Fellowships for young Bulgarian Scholars from the fields of the social sciences and the humanities. Annually CAS Sofia grants five nine-month scholarships (including up to one month in a foreign institution) to promising Bulgarian post-doctoral researchers who are striving to advance in their academic career.

RE-LINK FELLOWSHIPS FOR THE BULGARIAN DIASPORA

The Centre for Advanced Study Sofia provides two three-month RE-LINK Fellowships in the field of the humanities and social sciences for Bulgarian scholars residing abroad.

PFORZHEIMER FELLOWSHIPS FOR SENIOR BULGARIAN FELLOWS

As part of the Advanced Academia Fellowship Platform, this call provides the opportunity for Senior Bulgarian scholars from the social sciences and humanities to apply for a five-month research fellowship at CAS for 2025/2026.

The Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF) is Bielefeld University’s Institute for Advanced Study. It offers opportunities—with respect to time, space, and funding—for outstanding interdisciplinary reearch. ZiF is open to scholarly applicants from all disciplines post-PhD, based at a university/research institute in Germany or abroad. Applicants may propose a research project to be conucted with a curated group of (preferably) international colleagues. In support of the work of groups on-site in Bielefeld, ZiF allocates financial resources and pro- vides infrastructure as well as organisational assistance. If an application is successful, ZiF then hosts these groups on its campus, offering ideal working conditions.

 Visiting Groups can, for example, explore new research topics and partnerships, finalise inter-disciplinary publications or conduct small research projects during their stay at ZiF. ZiF cannot support projects that require essential fieldwork, nor can it provide laboratory facilities.

WHAT ZIF OFFERS

• Duration: one stay at ZiF; lasting a minimum of one to a maximum of three months
• Funding Amount: up to EUR 50,000 to cover the costs for travel and accommodation, workshops and/or conferences on-site; please note: personnel expenses (buy-outs) cannot be covered, but an allowance of EUR 50 per day will be paid as a compensation for any additional costs
• Timing: Projects can commence approximately 12 months after the deadline. Dates for a stay at ZiF will be finalized once a grant was made, depending on availability.

Group Requirements

• Size: The minimum number of participants required for a group is three.
• Composition: Different disciplines must be involved; international participation is strongly encouraged. Decisions to not include international fellows must be well justified.
• We expect convenors and the majority of a group to be present at ZiF for their collaboration phase. Additional remote participants may be involved.
• The necessity for interdisciplinary collaboration must originate from the research at hand and must be explained in the proposal. The mere involvement of different disciplines does not suffice to meet this criterion.
• The stage of preparation of the proposed project should clearly show its feasibility within the timeframe suggested.
• A gender balance appropriate to the disciplines involved is expected.

Important Selection Criteria

• Interdisciplinarity
• Academic quality
• Originality on an international level

Selection Process and Timing

Proposals will be selected competitively. Complete submissions will be reviewed externally. Decisions will be made approximately 6 months after the deadline.

CHECKLIST FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications must be submitted by a team of two to four persons who also act as convenors of the group they propose. All convenors must have completed a doctorate and must be affiliated with a research institute/university. One of them acts as the main contact person. 

ANSWERS TO BUDGET-SPECIFIC AND GENERAL QUESTIONS CAN ALSO BE FOUND IN OUR FAQ.

Please contact us with any questions; we are happy to assist!
Dr. Daniela Noll-Opitz  
Dr. Nadine Sutmöller
Email: zif-proposalsupportuni-bielefeld [dot] de (zif-proposalsupport[at]uni-bielefeld[dot]de)

Please address your application to:
Executive Directors 
Prof. Dr. Marie I. Kaiser
Prof. Dr. Eleonora Rohland

Upload your application IN ONE PDF FILE (including CVs) here.

Find all our funding formats here.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: RESIDENT GROUPS AT ZIF

Deadline for Application: 26 March 2026 (midnight CET)

The Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF) is Bielefeld University’s Institute for Advanced Study. It offers opportunities—with respect to time, space, and funding—for outstanding interdisciplinary research. ZiF is open to scholarly applicants from all disciplines post-PhD, based at a university/research institute in Germany or abroad. Applicants may propose a research project to be conducted with a curated group of (preferably) international colleagues.

In support of the work of groups on-site in Bielefeld, ZiF allocates financial resources and pro- vides infrastructure as well as organisational assistance. If an application is successful, ZiF then hosts these groups on its campus, offering ideal working conditions.

Resident Groups may conduct research projects, which require intensive collaboration over an extended period, during a joint stay at ZiF.

Please note: Research projects funded by ZiF are primarily dedicated to theoretical reflection and aim at generating new insights in the disciplines involved, very much in the sense of basic research. ZiF cannot support projects that require essential fieldwork, nor can it provide laboratory facilities.

WHAT ZIF OFFERS

• Duration: one stay at ZiF; lasting a minimum of four to a maximum of six months
• Funding Amount: up to EUR 400,000 to cover costs for travel, accommodation, workshops and/ or conferences (to be held at ZiF), and personnel expenses (e.g. buy-outs)
• Timing: Projects can commence approximately 18 months past the deadline. Dates for the stay at ZiF will be finalized once a grant was made, depending on availability.

Group Requirements

• Size: The minimum number of participants required for a group is three.
• Composition: Different disciplines must be involved; international participation is encouraged. Decisions to not include international fellows must be well justified.
• We expect convenors and the majority of a group to be present at ZiF for their collaboration phase. Additional remote participants may be involved, but must not form the majority.
• The need for interdisciplinary collaboration must originate from the research at hand and must be explained in the proposal. The mere involvement of different disciplines does not suffice.
• The stage of preparation of the proposed project should clearly show its feasibility within the timeframe suggested.
• A gender balance appropriate to the disciplines involved is expected.

Important Selection Criteria

• Interdisciplinarity
• Academic quality
• Originality on an international level
   

Selection Process and Timing

Proposals will be selected competitively. Complete submissions will be reviewed externally. Upon positive assessment, applicants will be invited to an interview by ZiF’s Academic Advisory Board approximately 6 to 8 months past the deadline. The final decisions will be made by the Board of Directors shortly thereafter.

ANSWERS TO BUDGET-SPECIFIC AND GENERAL QUESTIONS CAN ALSO BE FOUND IN OUR FAQ.

Please contact us with any questions; we are happy to assist!
Dr. Daniela Noll-Opitz 
Dr. Nadine Sutmöller
Email: zif-proposalsupportuni-bielefeld [dot] de (zif-proposalsupport[at]uni-bielefeld[dot]de)
 

Please address your application to:
Executive Directors 
Prof. Dr. Marie I. Kaiser
Prof. Dr. Eleonora Rohland
 

Upload your application IN ONE PDF FILE (including CVs) here.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: LONG-TERM GROUPS AT ZIF

Deadline for Application: 26 March 2026 (midnight CET)

The Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF) is Bielefeld University’s Institute for Advanced Study. It offers opportunities—with respect to time, space, and funding—for outstanding interdisciplinary research. ZiF is open to scholarly applicants from all disciplines post-PhD, based at a university/research institute in Germany or abroad. Applicants may propose a research project to be conducted with a curated group of (preferably) international colleagues. In support of the work of groups on-site in Bielefeld, ZiF allocates financial resources and provides infrastructure as well as organisational assistance. If an application is successful, ZiF then hosts these groups on its campus, offering ideal working conditions.

Long-Term Groups offer great organisational freedom and flexibility to meet the needs of various types of long-term projects in several stays; the set-up of the group work is based on the needs of the individual project idea. An overarching project design and coherent approach to planning the group are essential for a successful application.

A Long-Term Group must not consist of a series of individual events. Questions or topics should be addressed in a series of coherent, interrelated meetings. A substantial share of the members of a Long-Term Group should participate in all events; varying experts can be invited if required for the discussion.

Please note: Research projects funded by ZiF are primarily dedicated to theoretical reflection and aim at generating new insights in the disciplines involved, very much in the sense of basic research. ZiF cannot support projects that require essential fieldwork, nor can it provide laboratory facilities.

WHAT ZIF OFFERS

• Duration: several visits to ZiF over a period of up to three years; these recurring visits may add up to a total of ten months
• Funding Amount: up to EUR 200,000 to cover costs for travel, accommodation, workshops and/ or conferences (to be held at ZiF); personnel expenses (e.g. buy-outs) cannot be covered
• Timing: Projects can commence approximately 18 months past the deadline. Dates for visits to ZiF will be finalized once a grant was made, depending on availability.

Group Requirements

• Size: The minimum number of participants required for a group is three.
• Composition: Different disciplines must be involved; international participation is encouraged. Decisions to not include international fellows must be well justified.
• We expect convenors and the majority of a group to be present at ZiF for their collaboration
• phases. Additional remote participants may be involved.
• The need for interdisciplinary collaboration must originate from the research at hand and must be explained in the proposal. The mere involvement of different disciplines does not suffice to meet this criterion.
• The stage of preparation of the proposed project should clearly show its feasibility within the timeframe suggested.
• A gender balance appropriate to the disciplines involved is expected.

Important Selection Criteria

• Interdisciplinarity
• Academic quality
• Originality on an international level

Selection Process and Timing

Proposals will be selected competitively. Complete submissions will be reviewed externally. Upon positive assessment, applicants will be invited to an interview by ZiF’s Academic Advisory Board approximately 6 to 8 months past the deadline. The final decisions will be made shortly thereafter.

CHECKLIST FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications must be submitted by a team of two to four persons who also act as convenors of the group they propose. All convenors must have completed a doctorate and must be affiliated with a research institute/university. One of them acts as the main contact person. 

ANSWERS TO BUDGET-SPECIFIC AND GENERAL QUESTIONS CAN ALSO BE FOUND IN OUR FAQ.

Please contact us with any questions; we are happy to assist!
Dr. Daniela Noll-Opitz  
Dr. Nadine Sutmöller
Email: zif-proposalsupportuni-bielefeld [dot] de (zif-proposalsupport[at]uni-bielefeld[dot]de)

Please address your application to:
Executive Directors 
Prof. Dr. Marie I. Kaiser
Prof. Dr. Eleonora Rohland
Upload your application IN ONE PDF FILE (including CVs) here.

Find all our funding formats here.

NIAS has opened its fellowship calls – welcoming thinkers whose curiosity and insight transcend disciplinary boundaries. Scholars, journalists, artists and writers come together in a vibrant community where ideas breathe, collide and take shape.

In a time of complex global challenges, these fellowships are more important than ever: they create space to move beyond comfort zones, question assumptions, and pursue ideas unbound by immediate utility. At NIAS, the value of research is not measured primarily by immediate outcomes but by the questions it provokes, the perspectives it reveals, and the conversations it sparks.

The fellows include Safe Haven researchers: scholars whose work has been disrupted by war, conflict or persecution. Their presence signals a form of intellectual life that is grounded in the world, alert to its pressures, and free in its thinking.

The calls are an invitation to inhabit a space where curiosity reigns, creativity flourishes, and the boundaries of knowledge expand – one bold question at a time.

Founded in the 1970s, NIAS was the first institute for advanced study in continental Europe and the third globally, following Princeton and Stanford. At a time when academia was siloed and national in scope, NIAS brought together scholars from different disciplines and countries to rethink boundaries – a mission it continues to uphold.

The Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study (NIAS) offers a wealth of fellowships. Besides the NIAS individual and group fellowships for scholars who wish to carry out research in the humanities and the social sciences, we offer several fellowships in cooperation with our partners:

• The new KB Fellowship allows researchers to explore topics related to the future role of public libraries and how they can remain sustainable as democratic institutions.
• Distinguished NIAS Lorentz Fellowship: for scholars bridging the humanities, social sciences and natural or technological sciences.
• Safe Haven Fellowship: for scholars, artists, writers and journalists unable to work in their home countries due to conflict or war.
• The Golestan Fellowship is aimed at researchers from the medical or biological sciences.
• Willem F. Duisenberg Fellowship: for researchers in the field of applied monetary economics, macro-economics or public finance.
• The Fonds BJP Fellowship allows journalists to devote themselves to a substantial journalistic project—such as a non-fiction book, series of articles, podcast, documentary, or multimedia production.

To maintain sound selection procedures, a maximum of 216 eligible applications will be assessed for the NIAS Individual Fellowship call. In line with NIAS’ commitment to achieving an equal number of fellows from the Netherlands, the Global South, and the Global North, no more than 72 eligible applications will be admitted in each of the categories. The call closes on 16 March 2026 at 12:00 noon CET. Applicants are strongly urged to submit early to secure consideration.

Whether or not this opportunity is right for you, we warmly encourage you to share it with your network – good opportunities grow stronger when they circulate. Any questions about applying for a fellowship can be addressed to selectionnias [dot] knaw [dot] nl (selection[at]nias[dot]knaw[dot]nl).