Call for proposals ExposUM FELLOWSHIPS 2024
ExposUM is an initiative of the University of Montpellier and its partners1 aimed at establishing an open, off-campus institute of reference for research, training, and science-society interfaces on the environmental determinants of human health. Winner of the ExcellenceS (PIA4) call for projects and supported by the Occitanie Region, ExposUM is funded to the tune of €46.4 million over the period 2022-2030.
Context & objective of the call
The exposome refers to the sum of all exposures throughout life to environmental and social factors that affect human health by causing, promoting, modulating, or preventing diseases, whether communicable or not. In this sense, it is the environmental counterpart of the genome, with which it interacts throughout an individual's life.
Research ExposUM Research Division aims to support and accelerate the acquisition of primary knowledge in an interdisciplinary, coordinated, and non-segmented manner in the fields of exposome research relating to the four pillars:
- Strengthen the monitoring of environmental exposures,
- Refine understanding of the ecology of hosts, pathogens, reservoirs, and vectors ( One Health approach),
- Improve fundamental knowledge of biological mechanisms that may be modulated by the exposome.
- Study the consequences for human health.
Data science forms a bridge linking these pillars, both in terms of methodology and analysis, and in terms of leveraging results. A second bridge, consisting of the study and development of new exposure control strategies, completes this architecture, which is linked to the Interfaces and Training pillars.
To this end, the ExposUM Institute is offering two research fellowships entitled ExposUM Fellowships for the start of the 2024 academic year . These complement the call for regular research projects and are in line with the I-SITE MUSE attractiveness program.
The ExposUM Fellowships program supports efforts to consolidate and develop local expertise and scientific potential at the site in areas related to the Institute's themes.
Calendar
- Publication of the ExposUM Fellowshipscall for applications: January 19, 2024.
- Deadline for receipt of applications: April 1, 2024.
- Evaluation and selection of applications: April 2024.
- Announcement of results: May 2024.
- Start date: September to November 2024.
Financing terms and conditions
These two-year positions are renewable once for an additional two years. They cover, where applicable, the winners' salaries and an environment budget of €200,000 per year.2 including the salary cost of recruiting at least one postdoctoral researcher (individual cost to the employer starting at €46,000/year, adjusted according to experience and expertise) and the balance corresponding to other project expenses (recruitment of an engineer or technician3, operating and equipment costs), contributing to the implementation of an original research project on the exposome.
Eligibility
The ideal candidates are Professors and recognized researchers and Professors who wish to join one of the research structures within the ExposUM Institute to carry out ambitious and original research projects.
All PhD holders whoare currently teaching and researching or researching outside the site, whether non-permanent or tenured (with the possibility of adjusting teaching duties within the project budget), are eligible.
Nationality and country of residence are not eligibility criteria.
The affiliated laboratory (research unit of the ExposUM consortium, whether or not the University of Montpellier is involved in joint supervision) is left to the candidate's choice, who must have identified it at the time of application, with the approval of the management of the laboratory concerned (see below).
The research project must fall within the field of exposomics, i.e., the study of environmental determinants of human health in the broadest sense.
Application formalities
Applications will be evaluated in a single stage based on a dossier, written in French or English, which must include:
- a letter from the management of the target laboratory explaining why they want to host you, talking about why the project is interesting and how it fits into their long-term plans for the unit, and the potential for the position and team to continue after the project ends: 2 pages max,
- a profile of the candidate, including a complete CV and a statement demonstrating their ability to develop their own research topic and potentially lead a young, promising team (e.g., ATIP-Avenir), their potential to gain international recognition (e.g., ERC Starting Grant), their ability to lead a structuring project, and their career prospects: 3 pages maximum,
- a description of the research project (state of the art, schedule, potential impacts), a provisional timetable and budget (indicating other funding already available or expected): maximum 7 pages,
- for candidates who are not tenured in France, a commitment to apply for competitive examinations for teaching and research positions or statutory research positions.
These four elements must be merged in this order (no template is provided) into a single PDF file named EUMF_LastNameFirstName.pdf and sent by email with [Fellowship Application] in the subject line before April 1, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. (UTC+2).
Evaluation
The evaluation and selection of applications will be carried out by the Scientific and Strategic Orientation Council (SSOC) of the ExposUM Institute, on the basis of the quality and scientific potential of the applicant and the project, the appropriateness of the project with the themes of the Institute and the coherence of the project with the strategy of the partners of the consortium, with the goal of reinforcing attractiveness and the scientific influence on an international level.
Applications demonstrating one or more of the following qualities will be given preference, provided they are of equivalent scientific merit:
- a highly interdisciplinary project (especially if it includes a humanities and social sciences component);
- the initiation of new partnerships (academic or otherwise);
- research focused on One Health, Global Health, and the Global South.
Commitments
Selected candidates agree to:
- begin their research activities in the identified research unit between September and November 2024;
- comply with the Nagoya Protocol, where applicable;
- include the logos of the University of Montpellier, France 2030, the ExposUM Institute, and the Occitanie Region in all documents relating to the implementation of the project;
- provide a report on the activities carried out each year at the Institute;
- For non-tenured winners, apply for competitive examinations for teaching and research positions or statutory research positions.
Results
| Carrier | Fellowship Title | joint research unit |
| TESSANDIER Nicolas | Combining a vagina-on-a-chip model and clinical investigation to evaluate the effect of chemicals from menstrual protection products on the vaginal environment | MIVEGEC |
| Constanze Ciavarella | Modeling the role of heterogeneity in the transmission of infectious diseases | CECB |