Call for Visiting Fellows

Fall Term 2025

The National Center of Competence in Research nccr – on the move aims to
enhance the understanding of contemporary phenomena related to migration
and mobility in Switzerland and beyond. Connecting disciplines, the NCCR
brings together eleven research projects from the social sciences, economics
and law. Managed from the University of Neuchâtel, the network comprises
eight universities in Switzerland.

Incoming Short-Term Visiting Fellowships

To enhance international exchange and coope- Candidates should identify in their application
ration, the nccr – on the move offers short-term one of the following research teams – Individual
incoming Visiting Fellowships. The Fellowship Project (IP) – they may be interested in joining
Scheme can be used to host senior (PostDoc) and being hosted by in Fall 2025:
and junior (doctoral students and Master’s de-
gree holders) researchers from abroad, who IP40: Narratives of Crisis and Their Influence in
wish to collaborate with the nccr – on the Shaping Discourses and Policies of Migration
move for a duration of two to three months. and Mobility
Applications from researchers coming from or
based in a low or middle-income country are IP41: A European Desert? The Territorial Econo-
particularly encouraged. mics and Politics of Emigration in Crisis Regions

Based on the approved length of stay, the NCCR IP43: Attitudes Towards Migration and Demo-
determines a lump sum for each Fellowship to cracy in Times of Intertwined Crises
cover living and travel expenses. The lump sum
is calculated on the basis of a monthly stipend Important: For IP43, applications are only ac-
of CHF 3,500, plus expenses for one roundtrip cepted for Subproject one: How Identity, Emo-
from the place of residence to the host univer- tions and Ideology Shape Immigration Attitudes
sity and the travel expenses to nccr – on the in Intertwined Societal Crises (led by Prof Eva
move events within Switzerland. Green), and for a candidate conducting research
with multilevel models using survey data.
During the visit, the Fellows pursue a small
joint research project in collaboration with the IP45: Dealing with Crises and Liminal Situati-
research team hosting them. Such projects ons: The Agency of Ukrainian and Syrian Forced
can include, but are not limited to, cooperative Migrants in Three National Contexts
small-scale research, the elaboration of a joint
research proposal, the preparation and/or reali- More information on the nccr – on the move, the
zation of a workshop, or a joint publication. The focus of the research, and the Projects can be
Fellows are also expected to participate in the found on our website. Only the research teams
nccr – on the move activities during their stay, listed above will consider applications for this
and present their research at an NCCR event. call.

The National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs)

are a funding scheme of the Swiss National Science Foundation 2
Eligibility Application Procedure
Applying Senior Fellows need to fulfill the follo- Applicants have to register through this link and
wing requirements: upload the following documents:

– have completed doctoral training; – curriculum vitae;

– provide the names of two referees (upon re- – name and contact of two referees;
quest from inviting Projects, candidates may – confirmation that they have a Master’s or a
be asked to submit recommendation letters); PhD degree, or that they are enrolled in doc-
– choose and indicate one Project as a poten- toral training;
tial host (depending on affinities with their – list of publications (if applicable);
research); – motivation letter (one page) explaining why
– present a research plan that illustrates po- the applicant wants to join the nccr – on the
tential synergies and collaborations with the move and the partner institution(s) and indica-
work undertaken in the nccr – on the move ting one Project as potential host (depending
and with members of the NCCR, in particular on affinities with their research);
with the Project they would like to be hosted – research plan (two pages) describing the
by; planned research and its relevance for the
– not have a professorship or other tenured nccr – on the move, the nature of the planned
position in a university located in a coun- cooperation within NCCR members, and in
try listed under category A identified by the particular with the Project they would like to
International Sociological Association (ISA) at be hosted by, and the expected output (e.g.,
the time of application; publications, a workshop, joint project sub-
– not have a permanent affiliation and/or a per- mission, etc.).
manent residence in Switzerland at the time
of application.

Applying Junior Fellows need to fulfill the follo- Deadline for applications is 15 March 2025.
wing requirements:

– be enrolled in a doctoral training program in

a university abroad, or be in possession of a Please note that the Fellowship is not a salary,
Master’s degree; and that it is only meant to cover the living and
– provide the names of two referees (upon re- travel costs linked to the stay in Switzerland.
quest from inviting Projects, candidates may Please also note that obtaining a travel visa is
be asked to submit recommendation letters); subject to acceptance by Swiss authorities.
– indicate one Project as a potential host (de-
pending on affinities with their research); Upon the award of the Fellowship, and prior to
– present a research plan that illustrates po- their travel to Switzerland, the Fellow will have
tential synergies and collaborations with the to provide proof of valid health insurance (e.g.,
work undertaken in the nccr – on the move European Health Insurance Card or “Schengen
and with members of the NCCR, in particular Insurance”).
with the Project they would like to be hosted
by;
– not have a permanent affiliation and/or a per-
manent residence in Switzerland at the time
of application.

The National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs)

are a funding scheme of the Swiss National Science Foundation 3
Selection Procedure More information
The decision regarding the final selection will be For more information, you may watch the video
based on the following criteria: of the information session that was recorded
for the previous call (Spring 2025). Please bear
– all formal requirements are met (see conditi- in mind that deadlines and research teams
ons under eligibility); (Individual Projects-IP) listed for this call are
– the research team chosen by the applicant is different from the ones mentionned in the
willing to receive the Visiting Fellow; video.
– quality of the proposed research plan;
– synergies with respect to the nccr – on the For any questions, please contact Lucas Oesch,
move research agenda; Scientific Officer of the nccr – on the move at
– academic potential of the applicant and be- [email protected].
nefits of the proposed cooperation for the
nccr – on the move (publications, project sub-
missions, etc.);
– scientific track record of the applicant;
– in case of applications meeting all the previ-
ous criteria and of equal quality, priority will
be given to:
· candidates which have not previously
worked in the NCCR and/or have not pre-
viously co-published with members of the
NCCR.
· scholars who are based or coming from
countries listed under categories B and C
identified by the International Sociological
Association (ISA).
· early career researchers or scholars wit-
hout a fixed-term position.

The final decision on the Fellowships will be

made by mid-June 2025. The Fellowships
will officially begin in September, October or
November 2025, as agreed between the Fellow
and the research team hosting them.

The National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs)

are a funding scheme of the Swiss National Science Foundation 4