Frequently asked questions

The host laboratory

• Is it necessary for the host research center/university to be in France  or other European countries are possible?

For this call for application only host research centers based in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France are eligible.

• Does Le Studium host social sciences researchers?

This call for applications does not target any specific research theme. It is open to international experienced researchers in all disciplines including social sciences and humanities.

• A type of project in the context of an ongoing collaborations would be welcome?

Yes, the mobility can help to strengthen the existing collaboration.

• Does it make any difference if I already have an established collaboration with my French colleague — such as joint projects or previous/current partnerships? Is that considered an advantage, a disadvantage, or does it make no difference?

It makes no difference. The award can reinforce an existing collaboration or open new collaboration horizons. The selection committee will base its decision on the evidence of fruitfulness of the proposed collaboration. Do not hide an existing collaboration anyway.

• Do I have to contact a host professor to write me an invitation letter?

Yes, the host laboratory that agrees to host you has to provide a support letter.

• Can we have more than one host researcher?

Yes, especially if they are in two different labs, it shows the interdisciplinary aspect. On the submission platform, you are invited to present the other host in the “collaborator” section.

• Are the awards to conduct lab research or it's mainly writing fellowship?

The main focus of all awards is about conducting research. In parallel of the lab research, writing grants with your host would reinforce the expected impact of your fellowship

• Will you help in contacting host scientists from the host institute? Because Professors might not accept to reply to the enquiry at the first attempt. How to contact Professors?

Candidate should strive to identify a host laboratory; a list of research institutes and laboratories is accessible on this link: https://www.lestudium-ias.com/regional-ecosystem/research-institutes-and-laboratories

If no laboratory is identified or if no answer is received after contacting the potential host institution, the candidate can contact the Le Studium Scientific Manager (aurelien.montagu@lestudium-ias.fr) who will try to identify a host research institute/ laboratory that matches the research project.

• Are interdisciplinary projects involving AI and healthcare encouraged to collaborate with multiple host labs?

Yes, interdisciplinary projects potentially involving multiple laboratories are most welcome.

The awards

• How can I survive in France without a salary provided by Le Studium?

To apply for a professorship, visiting researcher or integration fellowship award, you need to be affiliated to an institution. If your home salary is not enough, you can look for a complementary funding (e.g. embassies, foundations, EU MSCA Schemes, etc...)

• Are associate professors in the category of researcher or professor, may Associate Professors apply for a Professorship fellowship?

Yes, associate professors can apply for a professorship. We do not make any distinction between associate, assistant and full professor.

• Is it possible for junior researcher (6 years after PhD and assistant professor) to apply?

Yes, the eligibility requirement is to have more than five years of experience after the PhD completion for the Professorship and Visiting Researcher awards, three years for the Integration fellowship.

• Regarding the 3-5 years experience, do you consider MD applicants (without PhD)?

No, it is only possible for researchers with a PhD degree to apply.

• Are short 3-month visits recommended, or is it better to propose a longer visit? For visiting researcher, do we have better chances if the stay duration is less than 12 months?

No, it depends if the proposed duration is in line with the project feasibility.

• For the Visiting Researcher, is the 800 EUR travel cost for the full duration of the visit or each month?

For all awards, the contribution to travel costs is maximum 800 EUR and the payment is based on presentation of receipt. These travel costs include the relocation in the Centre-Val de Loire region and does not relate to travel costs to attend conferences for example.

• Short stays for visiting researchers could be split in two or three stays?

No, the visits take place in the format of consecutive months.

• Does this fellowship support Postdoc? If yes, so do I need to first find an host institute and then find host professor and then they will provide letter of support and CV of host scientist?

The awards do not include any remuneration and cannot be seen as postdoc as such. However, if the candidate obtains a leave from her/his home institution, s/he is welcome to apply to a visiting researcher position of up to 12 months. Host institutions can be identified on this page: https://www.lestudium-ias.com/regional-ecosystem/research-institutes-and-laboratories. After their agreement to support the visit, they are able to deliver the necessary documents.

• Is the fellowship compatible with other grants for the stay? Trying to find a salary supplement for French life would be helpful

Absolutely, other sources of funding can support the Le Studium fellowship award.

• For integration Fellowship, what does that mean integration in the ecosystem? Is it something to do with environment, or a general fit?

For this award, the researcher will be invited to discover the scientific research ecosystem of the host laboratory, will be introduced to the planned opportunities of recruitment and accompanied to prepare an application with all information in hands. The host laboratory will conduct most of this dedicated support.

• Fully furnished housing: is it mean researcher don't have to pay rent?

Yes, all the housing costs are covered by Le Studium (rent, heating, electricity, water, wifi… etc.)

• Can the researcher leave for a short period of time and come back, for example visiting their home institution or another University in Europe for a few days?

Yes, this is doable as you can take some short leaves (a few days) to serve your research interests but the objective of these awards is that the researcher is present in the Centre-Val de Loire region during the time of the award. Absences need to be agreed in advance and notified.

• For visiting researchers, is it ok to visit another institute for two weeks (or a bit more) of another institute outside France?

The objective of these awards is that the researcher is present in the Centre-Val de Loire region during the time of the award. Long absences are not suitable. Absences need to be agreed in advance and notified.

• Is it possible to apply for a visiting researcher position without having a permanent post, for example, by doing a postdoctoral or using my own resources?

Candidate don’t need to hold a permanent position, postdocs are eligible to apply as long as they can take a leave from their home institution. For professional liability insurance purposes, the researcher will need to provide a certificate of affiliation from her/his home institution.

• Is there any monthly fellowship for visiting researchers?

No, awarded visits are for a minimum of 3 months.

The application process

• Is it possible to apply for more than one category at the same time (for example, both Professor and Visiting) — even if, of course, only one could eventually be used?

No, it is not possible, you have to choose which award you want to apply.

• Do you admit scholars from Africa?

Yes, researchers from all countries are welcome to apply.

• Do you have a quota system in order to give equal opportunity to all nationalities?

No, a successful application depends on the three listed criteria only: scientific quality 50%, impact of the proposed research & collaboration 25%, career development, track record of the applicant and relevance of the choice of the host laboratory 25%.

• Is the 3 to 5 years after phD from the application deadline or starting date of the visit?

It is from the call for applications deadline.

• Can researchers with 20 years of experience apply?

For professorship and visiting researchers yes, for the integration fellowship no, for which the maximum would be 10 years.

• Can retired researchers apply?

There is no age limit, but you must have a current affiliation at your home institution for insurance reasons. This makes it more difficult for retired researchers to apply if they don’t have emeritus status at their university. We invite you to contact us before applying in order to analyse each specific case.

• Is there any template to prepare the application?

Yes, there is one on this page: https://www.lestudium-ias.com/programmes/smart-loire-valley-programme.

• What is the success rates for the different awards?

It depends on the amount of application received which changes each year. On average, it is around 35%.

• Is it permitted for two scholars from two different universities to apply together for a single project they are working together?

No, the awards are individual ones.

• Can you apply to a visiting researcher first, get it and later on the following year in 2027-2028 apply for a professorship . i.e. can you be awarded two fellowships in a life time from Le Studium?

Awards need to be separated by two selections, i.e. if awarded in June 2026, the next potential award is not before June 2029.

• For the CVs, do you have a template or any format will do?

There is no specific format for CVs but they should not exceed 10 pages.

• How the external reviewers are selected, after the application based on the scientific field of applications?

Yes, external reviewers are selected according to the specific topic of the proposed research project. Each application receives a minimum of 3 external reviews before the final review of the Scientific Council.

• What are the criterion for Professorship if there is no teaching required ?

The selection is based on the three listed criteria only: scientific quality 50%, impact of the proposed research & collaboration 25%, career development, track record of the applicant and relevance of the choice of the host laboratory 25%.

• Are there any arrangements in place for teaching exchanges that would allow part of one’s teaching to be carried out locally, and for us to host a visiting professor afterwards?

Nothing prevents the visiting professor to find an arrangement with the host institution to teach a few hours. The arrangement usually found is to set the visit period prior or after the teaching duties period in the home institution.

• Can the applicant propose to exclude potential reviewers?

Yes, the applicant can write a message to the Scientific Manager to submit a request to exclude potential reviewers giving some explanations.

• How does the evaluation committee balance the scientific excellence of a project with its potential regional impact when the research is primarily computational or AI-based, as in biomedical image analysis?

The selection committee uses prior external evaluations carried out by experts in their field. The collective review and thoughtful discussions of each submitted project guarantee a wealth of expertise.

•  How many applications do you receive per year?

Number of applications varies each year according to the number of awards open. Let’s say between 60 and 90 on average.

• When we first register on the website through the “Apply” platform, do we need to put the exact same title of the project as the one that we will submit in the end (as maybe the title will evolve after discussions with the host before the final submission)

You will be able to change the title afterwards.

• Is the references list included in the 10 pages length of the scientific Part B?

You can include the reference list at the end of the Part B, after the 10-page limit.

• Is it advised to add figures to illustrate our scientific project in Part B? 

Not specifically. If you do so, we advise to reference the figures correctly.

What happens next?

• If accepted, what will be the starting period?

We offer about ten months of flexibility to start the fellowship, between September 2026 and June 2027. For the integration Fellowship the last date to start is in the course of February 2027.

• What is the cost of living?

The award include the accommodation costs and utilities (heating, electricity, water, wifi...). Cost of living depends on the family size and own lifestyle.

• Are there any age limits to bring the kids?

Children under 18 are welcome.

• Are their school options available in English?  Or is it only in French?

School options are in French.

• What if I need to come back to my country of origin for a week or two?

You will have holidays included in your contract, depending on the length of your visit. Le Studium has to be informed about it. The goal is to spend as much time as possible in Centre-Val de Loire.

• How to you evaluate the programme after the mobility? Do I need to have publication?

You will have to hand in a scientific report that will be published in open access on Le Studium website. Publications will be tracked over time to enter the Le Studium HAL collection.

• What does it mean that the accepted researcher has the possibility to organise an international conference?

It is an opportunity offered to all awarded researchers. An internal call for applications is lauched every year. Projects of conferences are submitted to a selection committee.

• The budget for the conference organization has a limit? Le Studium has possibilities of hosting a conference in its installation?

If the conference project is selected, Le Studium will provide funding of up to €8,000 and take care of all logistical organisation and event communication. Additional fundings to cover all costs are most welcome.

• These conferences are organised at the Le Studium or in the Fellow's institution of affiliation?

The events are organised in the Centre-Val de Loire region, Le Studium takes care of the logistics of the event and the fellows with their host are in charge of the scientific programme. The venue is decided according to the number of participants and specific needs.