Within the framework of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 (MSCA-2025-PF-01-01) promoted under Horizon Europe, the Instituto de Ciências Sociais [Institute of Social Sciences] of the University of Lisbon, Portugal (ICS-ULisboa) is now accepting expressions of interest from researchers in the areas of social and cultural anthropology, political science, economics, human geography, history, social psychology, and sociology.

HOST INSTITUTION

ICS-ULisboa is an internationally recognized interdisciplinary research centre that gathers scholars from across the social sciences. In its 2025 evaluation, the Institute was reconfirmed as an “Institution of Excellence” by international review panels. ICS-Ulisboa: a) conducts rigorous interdisciplinary research, both fundamental and oriented to the demands of society and the public sector; b) coordinates key infrastructures for the collection, management, preservation and dissemination of data; c) promotes outreach, public engagement and Open Science. It offers excellent working conditions, financial support for research and access to international net-works.

The Institute’s premises are located in Lisbon, a beautiful and historical city offering a rich array of cultural and social activities. Proposed work plans are expected to fit at least one of ICS-ULisboa’s seven Research Groups and four Thematic Lines (TL):

TL1 Sustainability explores a plurality of themes, methodologies and objects of study concerning environment-related perceptions, practices, politics, policies and governance. Spearheading this socio-ecological and territorial research agenda are the emergent scientific challenges of climate action, energy poverty and transition, the changing landscape of food production and consumption, and future cities and the impacts of urbanisation.

TL2 Citizenship addresses emergent policyrelevant research challenges related to the reduction of social and political inequalities (including gender inequalities) and the need for effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions of governance. Linking research and policy across multiple actors, this TL contributes to identifying new issues, monitoring of developments, and actively supporting evidence-informed policymaking.

TL3 Inclusion and Vulnerabilities examines socially unequal and contrasted territories, exposing different forms of vulnerability. Research under this TL is crucial to collecting, organising, explaining, interpreting and disseminating data for the design and implementation of effective policies, which promote inclusion and reduce vulnerability in complex societies. It also engages citizens and communities in collaborative thinking and co-design to achieve more inclusive social environments.

TL4 Memories and Legacies encompasses both the ways the past is reconstructed in the present and the historical roots of contemporary issues. It analyses narratives, visual media, commemorations, spaces of memory and other elements involved in the work of collective remembrance, and examines how socio-economic and political structures, imaginaries, ideas and conceptual formations impinge on the present. This TL explores themes like globalisation, inequalities, racialisations and racisms, economic growth and development, bodily practices, and pandemics, emphasizing the study of the culturally diverse histories of Portuguese-speaking countries and diasporic communities.

Additionally, ICS-ULisboa welcomes potential candidates from all academic backgrounds who wish to develop a research proposal aligned with the activities of its ERA Chair on Imagination and Society. This initiative unfolds along three key interdisciplinary axes: i) Imagination in the Age of Anxiety; ii) The Frontiers of Imagination and the Imagination of Frontiers; iii) Rethinking the Past, Imagining the Future.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible prospective candidates must hold a PhD degree and have a postdoctoral experience of up to 8 years at the date of the call deadline (10th September 2025). Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be considered eligible. Years of experience outside research and career breaks (e.g. for parental leave) will not count towards the amount of research experience.

All prospective candidates must comply with the MSCA mobility criteria:

For European Fellowships:

• they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host institution for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before the call deadline.

For Global Fellowships:

• they cannot have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organisation for the outgoing phase for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before the call deadline;
• they must be nationals or long-term residents (for at least 5 consecutive years) of a Member State or Associated Country.

Further details on eligibility and requisitesfor the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are available in Part 2 of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2025.

SELECTION PROCEDURE AND DEADLINES

Expressions of interest must be submitted to ICS-ULisboa through the form available at the following link:

https://forms.gle/r7K8aWzSj2PauFLx7

All applications must include:

1. A detailed curriculum vitae;
2. A research proposal, according to the guidelines provided in the online form;
3. A cover letter describing the prospective candidate’s current research interests and motivation to indicate ICS-ULisboa as the host institution;
4. A copy of the PhD diploma (or proof of successful defense).

Applicants may indicate the researcher who will be responsible for supervising their work plan at ICS-ULisboa. Selected candidates who cannot provide such information, will be assigned a supervisor based on their profile and the proposal.

• Expressions of interest must be submitted by June 9, 11:59 PM, Lisbon time. Only proposals submitted through the online form will be considered.
• All applicants will be informed of the panel decision via e-mail by June 30.
• Selected candidates will receive support from the Institute’s R&D unit and the designated supervisors to develop their proposals. Full proposals must be sent for validation by mid-August.

The official Call deadline is September 10, 2025, at 5:00 PM, Brussels time.
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CONTACT DETAILS

Instituto de Ciências Sociais da Universidade de Lisboa (ICS-ULisboa)
9, Avenida Prof. Aníbal de Bettencourt 1600-189 Lisbon, Portugal
mscurie@ics.ulisboa.pt
www.ics.ulisboa.pt