Calls for Applications, Join us

CFA – TANDEM Program, CNRS / AV ČR 2026–2027

The French Research Center in Humanities and Social Sciences in Prague (CEFRES) in Prague, the French National Research Center (CNRS), the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Charles University (UK) are launching the fifth call for applications for the TANDEM incubator program of the CEFRES Platform.
TANDEM program endeavors excellency in social sciences and humanities by bringing together Czech and French colleagues to intensify scientific collaboration between our countries in the European Research Area.

The aim of the program is to associate two researchers, one from the CAS and one from CNRS or affiliated to CNRS (i.e. member of an UMR) around a joint research project leading to foster joint Czech-French scientific collaboration through the submission of a project proposal:

ORGANIZATION AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES

One TANDEM team will be selected and will work for two years, starting in February 2026 and it will be based at CEFRES in Prague.

  • The CAS researcher of the TANDEM team will be appointed for 50% of his/her work time at CEFRES with extra salary (max. financial support is 600 000 CZK per year, only personnel expenses are eligible). The CAS researcher must be employed at a CAS institute for the entire period of the grant provision at full-time or min. 50% part-time. Provision of funding for the second year is conditioned by approval of the running project report.
  • CNRS researcher will benefit subsequently:
    • from a CNRS mobility grant (SMI – Soutien à la mobilité internationale) to support regular research stays at CEFRES from February to August 2026
    • then from expatriation by the CNRS to CEFRES (délégation / affectation CNRS, with appropriate indemnity for residence abroad), for 1 to 3 years (subject to selection by the CNRS). In cases where the request has not been successful, the researcher will benefit again from a CNRS mobility grant (SMI) as for the first year.
  • A postdoctoral researcher will also be recruited by the TANDEM team: the position will be co-funded by CEFRES and Charles University for 2 years (2026—2027). The call will be announced on both Charles University and CEFRES websites

During the common research period the recipients:

  • will be expected to organize one Czech-French and (Central-)European scientific event at the CEFRES per year (workshop, seminar, conference)
  • will be advised to participate in the common ERC pipeline launched by Charles University & the Czech Academy of Sciences
  • will be offered the support of the Institute of Humanities & Social Sciences of the CNRS in developing European research applications.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

The selection will be based on the potential of the team to submit a successful project proposal. Members of the selection committee are representatives of the CAS, CEFRES, CNRS and Charles University.

Project proposals in English (preferred) or in French must be completed and submitted within the stated deadline. Knowledge of English is sufficient.

It is highly recommended for the applicants to contact the program coordinators on behalf of CAS & CEFRES before submitting their proposal: an ad-hoc webinar to discuss both scientific and practical issues may be organized if needed.

IMPORTANT: Information on the TANDEM program is published by the CAS (for researchers from the CAS on KIS platform) and at the same time by the CEFRES (for researchers from the CNRS, in the present article).

PROJECT PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Project proposals must be submitted in parallel to both partner organizations according to their instructions. Only project proposals considered eligible by both partner organizations will be evaluated.

On the CNRS side:
CNRS researchers should send their applications to Mr. Mateusz Chmurski, Director of the CEFRES (please find the contact below and download the application form here).

On the CAS side:
Complete project proposals must be submitted in the KIS application and simultaneously via the CAS data mailbox (CAS ID fr6adt5) within the stated deadline. Only project proposals submitted simultaneously in the KIS application and via the CAS data mailbox by the deadline of the call are considered as submitted and will be evaluated. Project proposals submitted in any other way will be rejected on formal grounds.

On the CAS side, the successful project proposal will be funded based on the respective grant that shall be provided to the CAS institute in accordance with the Guideline of the Academy Council of the CAS on Grants Provided by the Czech Academy of Sciences. More information about Grants applications will be published on this CAS website.

⇒ The CAS Guidelines on TANDEM program with all detailed terms and conditions is here (CAS intranet link).

SCHEDULE

Opening of the call: March 3, 2025
Deadline for submissions: May 9, 2025, 23:59 CET
Selection by the  Committee: May 2025
SMI & delegation / affiliation applications (CNRS): October-December 2025
Launch of the selected project: February 1, 2026

CONTACTS

Please send any inquiries related to your TANDEM application to the following coordinators:

  • Mateusz Chmurski, Director of CEFRES: CEFRES may help CNRS (or CAS) applicants to find potential CAS (or CNRS) research partners, mateusz.chmurski@cefres.cz tel.: (+420) 224 921 400
  • Jana Whalen, CAS, Division of International Cooperation, Národní 3, 117 20 Prague 1, whalen@kav.cas.cz , tel.: (+420) 221 403 354