Application and Residency Conditions 2024-25
Germaine Tillion Chair – Tomorrow, the Mediterranean, Sud Region / Iméra
The Germaine Tillion Chair is the result of a partnership between the Sud Region, Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, and the Institute for Advanced Study in Aix-Marseille (Iméra). Its objective is to develop interdisciplinary and forward-looking research at the highest international level on the general theme of “Tomorrow, the Mediterranean,” exploring the Mediterranean world and its future.
The chair was named after the ethnologist Germaine Tillion (1907-2008) due to her significant contributions and involvement. As a member of the resistance within the Musée de l’Homme network and a deportee to Ravensbrück, she played a major role in Western production of knowledge on Mediterranean societies. Her work on North Africa, where she conducted investigations starting from the 1930s, is particularly noteworthy. Her influential book, Le Harem et les cousins, was published after the end of the Algerian War, during which her complex humanistic commitment against torture and her advocacy for the creation of social centers remained at the core of her relationship with the Mediterranean world.
The Germaine Tillion Chair specifically focuses on “Tomorrow, the Mediterranean.” The aim is to examine and envision the potential forms of the Mediterranean in the Anthropocene era, considering climate change and the transformation of our planet. This invites us to perceive the Mediterranean as a becoming bio-region, encompassing both its human realities and the transformation of ways of life.
This call for applications is open to senior academics and researchers from all disciplines who have achieved international recognition in their field (awards, publications, international expertise, etc.).
The holder of the Germaine Tillion Chair, selected by a scientific committee, will be hosted in residence in Marseille to conduct research in collaboration with teams and laboratories at AMU (Aix-Marseille University), as well as partner institutions in the Sud Region. The duration of the residency is either 10 months or 5 months, with two positions available.
The general theme of the Germaine Tillion Chair, “Tomorrow, the Mediterranean,” encompasses various research topics such as:
- The major human challenges posed by the Anthropocene, at the scale of the Mediterranean.
- The transformation of ways of life in the face of climate change.
- Urban changes and anticipated territorial policies.
- Political, identity, and religious dynamics emerging in the Mediterranean.
- Social movements, democracy, and the fight for freedom that are gaining momentum.
- The aspirations and expectations of younger generations.
Deadline : October 16, 2023 at 1 pm (french time)
Duration of residences: 5 or 10 months
Residence periods (to be chosen by the candidates, several choices are possible):
- September 2, 2024 to July, 4 2025 (10 months – Full year)
- September 2, 2024 to January 31, 2025 (5 months – Semester 1)
- February 10, 2025 to July 4, 2025 (5 months – Semester 2)
The Germaine Tillion Chair is open to experienced researchers from all disciplines, with precedence given to social science.
To be eligible, candidates should:
- Hold a doctorate or PhD.
- Not have resided in France for more than 12 months in the three years preceding the call for applications.
- Have an employment contract (permanent or not) in a foreign university or research institution during the residency.
The chairholder will receive a 3,000 euros fixed monthly allowance during their stay.
They will also benefit from paid travel expenses and free accommodation on Iméra premises.
The criteria for evaluating applications include, without limitation:
- Researcher’s scientific excellence as per the highest international standards in the field.
- Scientific quality of the project, in particular its cross-disciplinary facet, crucial for the researcher’s integration into Iméra’s collective thinking dynamics.
- Researcher’s ability to carry out prospective reflection.
- Researcher’s international recognition and the original quality of the proposed public lecture series.
Online applications must include the following supporting documents:
- A duly completed application form (mandatory fields);
- A curriculum vitae including a list of publications;
- A presentation of the project (maximum 5 pages) followed by a selective bibliography (compulsory for researchers);
- A letter of support from an Aix-Marseille University researcher or associate/assistant professor.
The South Region (Région Sud) is a local authority. Its role is to provide a public service by ensuring the general interest of the inhabitants, their well-being and equal opportunities in the regional territory.