Recommendations for submitting an application to the “Mediterranean” program
1. The research project must have a content relevant to the intention of spending a research stay in an institute for advanced study based in Marseille.
2. The research project must have a content relevant to the thematic lines of the Mediterranean program.
Application and Residency Conditions 2025-26
The Germaine Tillion Chair, a result of a partnership between the Région Sud, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur, and Iméra (Institute for Advanced Study of Aix-Marseille), aims to develop top-level international interdisciplinary and forward-looking research on the general theme “Tomorrow, the Mediterranean,” focusing on the Mediterranean world and its future.
The name of ethnologist Germaine Tillion (1907-2008) was chosen for this chair because she embodies a prominent figure of action: a member of the resistance within the Musée de l’Homme network, deported to Ravensbrück, and a major figure in Western knowledge production on Mediterranean societies, particularly through her work on North Africa where she began her research in the 1930s. Her landmark book The Harem and the Cousins was published after the Algerian War, during which her complex humanist engagement against torture and for the creation of social centers remained central to her relationship with the Mediterranean world.
The Germaine Tillion Chair specifically focuses on “Tomorrow, the Mediterranean.” It aims to explore and imagine possible futures for the Mediterranean in the Anthropocene era, considering climate disruptions and the transformation of our planet, which prompt us to think of this world as an evolving bio-region, in both its human realities and the transformation of ways of life.
This call for applications is addressed to senior academics and researchers from all disciplines, with international scientific recognition (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 of Aix-Marseille University and partner structures of the Région Sud. The duration of the residency is 10 months, or 5 months for two holders.
The general theme of the Germaine Tillion Chair, “Tomorrow, the Mediterranean,” particularly welcomes research topics such as:
- The major human challenges raised by the Anthropocene, on a Mediterranean scale
- The transformation of ways of life in the face of climate change
- Anticipating urban changes and territorial policies
- Social, democratic, and freedom movements
- National, political, religious and identity movements
- The expectations and horizons of younger generations
Application deadline: October 21, 2024, at 1:00 PM (French time)
Residency duration: 5 or 10 months between September 2025 and July 2026
Proposed residency periods (candidate’s choice, multiple choices possible):
- 10-month residency: from September 1, 2025 to July 3, 2026
- 5-month residency in the first semester: from September 1, 2025 to January 30, 2026
- 5-month residency in the second semester: from February 9, 2026 to July 3, 2026
The Iméra/Région Sud Chair is open to confirmed researchers from all disciplines, with priority given to the humanities and social sciences. Eligible candidates must meet the following conditions:
- Hold a Ph.D. or doctorate
- Not have resided in France for more than 12 months in the 3 years preceding the call for applications
- Have a work contract (permanent or not) with a foreign university or research institution during the residency
The chair holder receives a monthly allowance of 2500 euros during their stay.
They also benefit from travel expense coverage and free accommodation on the Iméra site.
The evaluation criteria include, but are not limited to:
- The scientific excellence of the researcher according to the highest international standards in the field.
- The scientific quality of the project, particularly its interdisciplinary dimension, crucial for the researcher’s integration into the collective creation dynamic at Iméra.
- The researcher’s ability to provide forward-looking reflections.
- The international recognition of the researcher and the originality of the proposed series of public lectures.
The online application file consists of the following documents:
- The completed application form (mandatory fields).
- Files to upload:
- A curriculum vitae including a list of publications
- A presentation of the research project (maximum 5 pages) followed by a selective bibliography
- Optional: A support letter from a researcher or professor from the Aix-Marseille site and/or a letter of reference from someone who has played a decisive role in the scientific career of the candidate
The Région Sud, Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur is a regional authority. Its role is to provide public service, ensuring the general interest of the inhabitants, their well-being, and equal opportunities in the regional territory.
