Are you a postdoctoral researcher with a background in critical social sciences and an interest in work and organizations?
The LEST is looking for motivated candidates to develop projects for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) 2026, in areas such as: sustainable transformations of work and organizations, youths, educations and mobilities, and risks, norms and professional relations
This prestigious programme funds individual research projects in international mobility, promoting the development of scientific skills, knowledge transfer and visibility for early career researchers. This is an excellent opportunity to work with highly specialised teams, develop cutting-edge research and benefit from an international and interdisciplinary environment in the south of France.
Selected applicants will receive support from the LEST and especially from the MER, in the writing process (workshop on the 20th of May)
Our scientific research follows principles of Open Science and is organized around three main research axes:
- Changes, Organizations and Transitions (COT)
- Youths, Educations and Mobilities (JEM)
- Risks, Norms and Professional relations (RINOREP)
Research axes and opportunities for MSCA
Change, Organizations and Transitions (COT)
The objective of this research area is therefore to address changes in work and organisations, taking into account ecological and human issues and how they are integrated into transition trajectories in our analyses. Studying the evolution of organisational forms in response to complex social and ecological challenges such as biodiversity loss and digitalisation also requires examining multi-level and multi-stakeholder transformations in order to understand how they can or cannot ensure a form of co-viability between humans and non-humans, i.e. ecological and social sustainability.
Youths, Educations and Mobilities (JEM)
This research area aims to analyse changes in the economic and social conditions of work and their impact on the evolution of inequalities, whether they decrease, increase, or change in nature or form. These changes will be analysed from a dynamic perspective that emphasises three dimensions that reveal these changes: international mobility and migration, the circulation of knowledge and its incorporation into the practices and behaviour of young people.
Risks, Norms and Professional relations (RINOREP)
This research area proposes to continue and deepen the work undertaken at LEST over several years on organisational dynamics and changes in management standards and public policy that contribute to regulating labour relations. The scientific challenge is to refine, through an interdisciplinary approach, our understanding of changes in organisational models, both in terms of how activities are managed and in terms of working conditions, the dynamics of professional relations and social relations at work.
Coordinators contacts can be found on the pages of each axis, and applicants may reach out all lab members directly
Who can apply?
The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are aimed at candidates with a PhD (up to 8 years' experience), of any nationality, who have not resided in France for more than 12 months in the last 36 months before the call deadline.
Before contacting us, please check information and criteria on the MSCA website
Important dates:
30th April 2026: Deadline for expressing interest in submitting a proposal with LEST and getting support with the MER
20th May 2026: Webinar « How to prepare a strong MSCA Postdoctoral proposal » (MER)
Q&A Sessions: end of July and August 2026 (MER)
9th September 2026: Deadline for official submission to the European Commission
What we offer:
· Scientific support by the lab
· Expert support in preparing the proposal by the MER
· Access to state-of-the-art research facilities in Aix-en-Provence, France
· Integration into an interdisciplinary research centre[HB2]
MER writing session:
MER is organising a writing session on the MSCA-PF 2026 call on 20th May 2026, aimed at supported researchers in their application
🔗 More information and registration here
How to express interest for support at the LEST?
Those interested should express their interest directly to the Lab Director Christophe Baret, an axis coordinator or a lab member they wish to collaborate with at the LEST. With the expression of interest, candidates should send their updated CV, a preliminary project idea and indicate the motivation (brief explanation) that leads them to consider applying with the LEST.
