Call for MECAM- Fellowships for Postdoctoral and Scholars 2026-2027 is open now!!!
The Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) invites applications for eight residential fellowships for postdoctoral and advanced researchers in the humanities and social sciences for the period from September 2026 to April 2027. Under the overall theme “Imagining Futures: Dealing with Disparity” MECAM is dedicated to a research agenda framed by five interrelated ‘Interdisciplinary Research Fields’ (IRFs): Aesthetics & Cultural Practice, Inequality & Mobility, Memory & Justice, Resources & Sustainability, and Identities & Beliefs. Applications should be related to the main theme and at least one of the IRFs. This call for applications is open to researchers from all countries, including Tunisia.
Get the Youth Opportunities iOS App here for the fully-funded opportunities.
The Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM), based in Tunis, promotes interdisciplinary, interregional, and intergenerational research. As a centre for Advanced Study, it is dedicated to free academic exchange in the humanities and social sciences on the processes and issues that divide and connect the Maghreb, the Middle East and Europe historically and in our time – e.g., beliefs, cultural practices, distribution of resources, migration, rule of law, socio-economic conflicts, or (transitional) justice.
Youth Opportunities invites you to join your preferred channel to get the latest updates directly to your messenger inbox.
1. Youth Opportunities: https://m.me/j/AbZTmgEzD1UchDte/
2. Fully Funded Conferences: https://m.me/j/AbZTfhFTiPCnXf2D/
3. Full Scholarships: https://m.me/j/AbbrjbkOMM6I68Cs/
4. Paid Internships/Jobs: https://m.me/j/AbaAskb6jFFnRser/
5. Circle: https://m.me/j/AbY0vVKSPJULUnE4/
With this call for applications, MECAM invites postdoc and advanced scholars in the social sciences and humanities to apply for long-term fellowships with their own research projects that relate to one or more of MECAM’s Interdisciplinary Research Fields (IRFs) under the guiding theme of “Imagining Futures: Dealing with Disparities”:
- Aesthetics & Cultural Practice examines how aesthetic forms and cultural practices influence the
process by which models and imaginations of the future are expressed and (re-)negotiated. It also
investigates the ways in which disparities, political and societal transformations influence aesthetic and
cultural practices; - Inequality & Mobility has a focus on social and economic inequalities, the resulting sense of
insecurity, and their role in the (re-)negotiation of visions and models of the future. The IRF specifically
explores how distinct forms of disparity (incl. concrete policy decisions) drive or restrain mobility and
how in turn, mobility can exacerbate or mitigate inequality; - Memory & Justice discusses legacies of the past, including their legal, political and cultural
perceptions and frames in relation to different assessments of the present and to models and (re-
)negotiations of the future. Research sheds light on the ways in which differential access to political
power shapes questions of accountability, fact-finding, amnesty, judicial reforms, human rights claims
and the legitimate sources of law in post-conflict societies and beyond; - Resources & Sustainability investigates how societies in general and political decision-makers in
particular deal with burgeoning socio-economic disparities and growing environmental problems. This
IRF studies which economic models might ensure a politically, socially and ecologically sustainable
future. Especially rentier and extractivist economic models in the Maghreb/Middle East are addressed
here as these models generate particular forms of disparities and thus also interesting visions of the
future; - Identities & Beliefs examines co-existing, sometimes competing identities and belief systems which are partly impacted by political power dynamics. Disparities are felt, perceived and articulated very differently from the vantage point of diverse identities and beliefs, resulting in pluralistic ways of (re-)negotiating imaginations and models of the future. Possible research foci are on different identities (religious, ethnic, national(ist), local(ist)), diverse political ideologies, and belief systems.
The Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM), based in Tunis, promotes interdisciplinary, interregional, and intergenerational research. As a centre for Advanced Study, it is dedicated to free academic exchange in the humanities and social sciences on the processes and issues that divide and connect the Maghreb, the Middle East and Europe historically and in our time – e.g., beliefs, cultural practices, distribution of resources, migration, rule of law, socio-economic conflicts, or (transitional) justice.
Benefits
- Monthly stipend: Fellows receive a regular allowance to cover living expenses during the 8‑month residency in Tunis.
- Relocation allowance: Travel costs to and from Tunisia are reimbursed, following the “no gain / no loss” principle (you won’t lose money relocating, but it’s not designed for profit).
- Accommodation support: Assistance with housing arrangements in Tunis.
- Local travel support: Costs for commuting or short trips within Tunisia are covered.
- Field research funding: Limited financial support is available for conducting research in Tunisia.
- Network: Fellows will become part of the MECAM network, which will is built up by subsequent groups of
fellows, and by the scholars of the institutions that are involved in the institutional framework. MECAM and its partner institutions offer networking and publication opportunities via specific
networks, formats and support. - Exchange and Debate: The primary aim of MECAM is to create a high-quality and flexible setting for peer-to-peer exchange
and debate between researchers from different countries, disciplines, and in different phases of their
academic career: The fellowship combines virtual and in-person forms of exchange and debate, and
facilitates collaboration and engagement with scholars at MECAM partner institutions, students, and
the wider public. The MECAM directors and coordination office in Tunis support fellows during their
stay. A key part of academic life are the annual Study Day in early-December and the Event Week
(“MECAM Spectrum”) in mid-April, which are mainly coordinated and organized by the fellows. During
this week, they present their work and invite external guests. MECAM’s partner institutions also offer
opportunities for publication and academic exchange. - Flexibility: MECAM fellows can pursue their individual research projects in the form they choose, be it an
academic article, an essay, a policy paper, a book, a report, etc. Projects can have particular
components of field or archive research (in Tunis, and/or a neighbouring state in the Maghreb if
the duration does not conflict in principle with the obligation for residence). - Support: MECAM provides its fellows with shared office workspaces at its premises, which they are expected
to use primarily. It also offers publication facilities for open-access and peer-reviewed formats of
publication through the infrastructures of MECAM and its partners. Logistical support with travel,
accommodation, and field research in Tunisia is provided. Furthermore, the exchange between
fellows is facilitated through a secure digital workspace (TrafoHub) and other digital tools.
Eligibilities
Applications are welcome from postdoc and advanced researchers of all fields in the social sciences and
humanities if:
- You are interested in discussing your research in the framework of MECAM’s main theme “Imagining
futures: Dealing with disparity” with colleagues from the Maghreb, the Middle East, Europe, and
other regions of the world. - You want to engage in collaborative work, in debate and exchange with other researches working on topics related to the five IRFs.
- You are interested in revisiting your research from a different vantage point.
- You want to become part of a network of interdisciplinary, intergenerational, and transregional
exchange and debate on disparity and the competing models for the future that co- exist in the
societies of the contemporary Maghreb, Europe, and other parts of the world. - This call for applications is open to researchers of all ages and genders from all countries,
including Tunisia. - Independent scholars and researchers without a current institutional affiliation are eligible to apply
- Please note that current PhD candidates (doctoral students) are not eligible to apply. The call is open
to postdoctoral and advanced researchers only.
Application Process
MECAM assigns its partner institution, Forum Transregionale Studien in Berlin, with the processing of personal application data. Therefore, we kindly ask you to submit your application in English or French via the secure online application platform of the Forum Transregionale Studien by 2 March 2026, 12.30h CEST.:
Apply here: https://application.trafo-berlin.de/
Applications by email will not be considered.
- As part of your application, you will be asked to upload:
- Curriculum vitae including publications (2-3 pages),
- Research proposal: Short abstract of your project (max. 1000 words),
- One recent writing sample: journal article (published or forthcoming), book or
thesis chapter
In addition, during the application process you will be asked to write:
- A detailed explanation of how your research proposal is connected to the Maghreb region
and aligns with MECAM’s guiding theme “Imagining Futures – Dealing with Disparity” and at
least one of its IRFs (1-2 pages), including a clear statement of how you intend to engage
with MECAM during your fellowship, highlighting its significance for your academic career
development, and what specific goals you aim to accomplish during your fellowship, - Names and contact details of two referees (university faculty members or
practitioners in a field - relevant to the applicant’s project; no letters of recommendation required).
Application Deadline: March 2, 2026 (41 Days Remaining)
Apply nowOfficial link
