Fulbright Postdoctoral Award in the Social Sciences: EHESS (Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales - School for Advanced Studies in Social Sciences)
France
Number of recipients
In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.
Conduct research in the area of specialization at EHESS (Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales -- School for Advanced Studies in Social Sciences) in Paris.
Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS)
Nine to 12 months (12 months preferred)
Cognitive science is also welcome.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
A letter of invitation from the hosting EHESS professor is required. A directory of academic staff may be found here.
Ph.D. required and must be obtained by June 2025 at the latest.
You may be asked to participate in an interview as part of the in-country selection process.
Charlotte Goodwin, US Program Officer at the Franco-American Fulbright Commission
Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS): (French), (English)
To contact EHESS, please write to AppelRI@ehess.fr.
Approximately $2,500 per month before taxes, with employee benefits (including enrollment in the French national healthcare system).
There is no allocation for accompanying dependents. Applicants are responsible for finding their own housing, although some host institutions may facilitate the process. The Euraxess network can also help with housing and local logistics.
International travel allowance provided for grantee only. All research scholars receive a travel allowance of €1,200 (approx. $1,300).
France offers free public schooling from nursery school through high school of excellent quality. The French healthcare system is among the best in the world. It is very easy to book appointments with healthcare professionals, and costs are affordable. A standard doctor's visit costs 26.50 euros (approximately $28). Housing can be expensive, particularly in the bigger cities. In Paris, the average rent for a two-room apartment is around $1400 per month, and $900 per month for a studio apartment. There are comprehensive public transportation and high speed rail networks throughout France. In Paris, an annual adult public transportation pass costs between 700 and 800 euros (approximately $870). There are reduced prices available for seniors, young adults, and children.
Visa fees will be waived for Fulbright grantees and their accompanying dependents. The Fulbright Commission will provide support and guidance for the visa process.
Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State and the Fulbright Commission in the host country reserve the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.
France
Why France?
France has been the world's top tourist destination for over 25 years. Visitors come from all over to enjoy French cuisine, tour its famous museums and monuments, and explore its beautiful cities. More on French tourism and attractions.
The country has an excellent and accessible healthcare system, a high-quality public school system starting at nursery school, comprehensive public transportation and high-speed rail networks, and lively cultural scene.
France is also a key place to do research, teach, or pursue professional development. It is home to 72 universities, 227 engineering schools, 220 business schools, 45 state art schools, 22 architecture schools, and 3000 private institutions of higher education. Research is a high priority: 2.22% of the country's GDP is devoted to research and development. The CNRS (national scientific research council) produces the highest number of scientific publications in the world. More on reasons to choose France and the French research landscape.
Applicants can find useful practical information about life in France (housing, schooling, etc.) through the free national Euraxess network.
Being a Fulbrighter in France
Fulbright France hosts two all-grantee events every year (orientation in September and mid-year meeting in February) in Paris. Fulbrighters gather together to get practical information, meet each other, learn about important issues in French society, and explore the cultural sites of Paris. There are also other activities on offer, including conferences, informal gatherings around a galette des rois or French cheeses, and concerts from Fulbright musicians.
Candidates interested in applying can visit the Franco-American Commission's website. For more detailed information, contact Charlotte Goodwin, US Program Officer at the Franco-American Fulbright Commission, at cgoodwin@fulbright-france.org.
Quotes from Fulbright scholar alumni:
"My fellowship helped me establish new connections and cement existing research collaborations with French scientists and their students in a substantial way that will carry forward for at least the next decade. The program also gave me a new window into the graduate education of French students that I will bring back to my home institution and that will benefit them and future exchanges that will occur. Finally, the experience gave me, and my family a much more detailed picture and appreciation of France and its people with new insights into its history and prehistory, people, and society."
"I refer to this year as the 'magical year' because I was able to focus on my research, to make enduring connections with researchers based in France, to drastically deepen my ability to work in French, and to enjoy my daily life in a way I often find impossible while I’m in the midst of a full semester of teaching, administrative work, and meetings at my home institution. I came to better understand French academia and to build professionally meaningful relationships at my host institution. I was a citizen of a city, a member of an institution, and a speaker of a language in which I was immensely happy."
“The Fulbright program enabled me to develop several completely new avenues of research that would have been absolutely impossible without having this extended time to be in residence in my French host lab. On a personal level, Fulbright enabled me and my family to have a fascinating and immersive year in European culture that will especially benefit our kids for decades to come.”
Fulbright France has an active YouTube channel with many interviews of Fulbrighters past and present: https://www.youtube.com/user/ComFulbrightFR.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
The Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), founded in 1975 in Paris, is a prestigious school that gathers 800 high-profile scholars from various disciplines and areas studies. The EHESS trains students in all disciplines of the humanities and social sciences (history, anthropology, sociology, economics, geography, linguistics, psychology, political science, philosophy, and mathematics), and focuses on methodological innovation using critical tools and new theoretical approaches.
EHESS aims to develop interdisciplinary studies within social sciences as well as in relations with other major scientific fields, such as public health, environmental sciences, and mathematics. This multi-dimensional approach is complemented by an emphasis on widening the social sciences’ geographical scope. EHESS’ cross-disciplinary research groups cover all regions of the world.
EHESS’ activities are organized into different research centers, more than 30 of which are run in collaboration with the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). These research centers constitute the intellectual core for doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers at EHESS.
The EHESS’ international focus is at the heart of both its research centers and its collaborations with those universities and scientific centers around the world, where today’s most significant advances in social sciences are being made.
Applications for the post-doctoral program should include these international dimensions. The first mission of the EHESS is to help young researchers acquire an international scientific background through the quality of its training, the international profiles of its professors, and the quality and scope of its research.
Located in Paris, the EHESS offers an outstanding research environment.
In addition to pursuing his or her own research, the grantee will participate in a seminar series conducted by the associated research center.
Quotes from Fulbright-EHESS alumni:
"I refer to this year as the 'magical year' because I was able to focus on my research, to make enduring connections with researchers based in France, to drastically deepen my ability to work in French, and to enjoy my daily life in a way I often find impossible while I’m in the midst of a full semester of teaching, administrative work, and meetings at my home institution. I came to better understand French academia and to build professionally meaningful relationships at my host institution. I was a citizen of a city, a member of an institution, and a speaker of a language in which I was immensely happy."
"During my Fulbright postdoctoral year, I was not only able to pursue my own fascinating ethnographic research, but best of all, I was able to learn about the amazing, innovative, and incredibly inspiring work that was being done by my fellow Fulbrighters past and present. This peer inspiration helped to remind me how truly lucky I was to have this research opportunity, and this inspiration is what I’ve carried with me as a reminder during challenging global times that there are really are incredible people out there who have the drive, know-how, and bravery to spark change and make the world a better place. They may not all be Fulbrighters, but all Fulbrighters are among them."
"My Fulbright postdoc placed me at an internationally-renowned research center that gave me access to an entire department of specialists on the history and culture of the country. With their help, I learned new methods in oral history and conducted a dozen in-depth interviews with experts in the field of French cultural diplomacy. With ample resources and new connections, I received a Marie Curie fellowship to continue my research in Europe and prepared a book manuscript to share my work with a wide audience back in the United States."