FAQs – IARC Postdoctoral Fellowships and IARC Mid-Career Visiting Scientist Award
WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR BOTH CALLS?
Applications must be submitted via our online application form by 9 May 2025 midnight (CET) as mentioned in our calls.
WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR BOTH CALLS?
Eligibility criteria for our IARC Postdoctoral Fellowships:
– Nationalities from LMICs only
– PhD degree (*1) to be obtained within 5 years of the application deadline or by the time of starting the fellowship
– Candidates with a MD (*2) obtained within 5 years of the application deadline or by the time of starting the fellowship can also apply, but should have obtained a MPH degree or similar additional training and already have some research experience and publications
– Proficiency in English at a level sufficient for scientific communication required
– 2 reference letters to be submitted by the deadline of application
– The research proposal must demonstrate project feasibility and alignment with the scientific host branch activities (*3)
– Candidates currently/having been at IARC as postdoctoral scientist or doctoral student for a period greater than six months, are not eligible
Eligibility criteria for our IARC Mid-Career-Visiting Scientist Award:
– Candidates must have a nationality from a LMIC and live and work in a LMIC
– PhD degree (*1) obtained more than 5 years and less than 15 years ago of the application deadline
– Candidates with a MD (*2) obtained more than 5 years and less than 15 years ago of the application deadline can also apply, but should have obtained a MPH degree or similar additional training and already have some research experience and
publications
– Applicants must belong to the staff of a university, research or public institution and must provide written assurance of a post to return to for the period after their Award
– 2 reference letters are required to be submitted by the deadline of application, as well as proof of recent publications in international peer-reviewed scientific journals
– A research proposal (*3) that is feasible, supported by and is a good fit with IARC’s strategy and with IARC Host Branch/collaborator is essential
– Candidates currently/having been at IARC as visiting scientist or postdoctoral scientist, are not eligible.
*1 If your application is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s) for this position.
IARC/WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
*2 MD stands for Doctor of Medicine. It is a designation that indicates someone who has completed medical school. To be an MD, you must finish medical school and receive another 3 years of training through residency OR training in a specialized field of medicine.
*3 WARNING
Your application must be your own. It is not allowed to use Artificial Intelligence noting that a tool will be used to scrutinize your answers. Clearly indicate
the references of any material you use from any source. Plagiarism is a serious offence, and, as IARC expects the highest standards of integrity from its personnel, is entirely unacceptable conduct. Therefore, if it is found that you have failed to reference material from any source, including the internet, intranet, IARC publications and academic material
(including that to which you contributed), it will lead to the disqualification of your application.
DO I NEED AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE CERTIFICATE FOR MY APPLICATION?
An English language certificate is not required, but the applicant must have a proficient level to conduct scientific work in English.
This will be assessed by the selection committee through the application file (English publications, project proposal) and during the interview stage (if applicable).
WHAT ARE IARC's HOSTING CONDITIONS?
IARC Postdoctoral Fellows and IARC Mid-Career Visiting Scientist Awardees will come to IARC within the framework of the IARC Research Training and Fellowship Programme as Early Career and Visiting Scientists (“ECVSs”).
ECVSs do not have the status of an IARC/WHO employee nor will the period of training create an employee/employer relationship. From the administrative point of view, ECVSs will retain the status of Early Career and Visiting Scientist within the IARC Research Training and Fellowship Programme, which is subject to the rules and regulations governing trainees, students, postdoctoral scientists and visiting scientists at IARC, as described in the IARC Research Training and Fellowship Programme Handbook – available on the IARC intranet upon arrival.
ECVSs will not be entitled to benefit from the United Nations pension fund, the WHO staff health insurance (SHI) nor from the French social protection system (i.e. unemployment benefit / French state pension, etc.). It is the responsibility of ECVSs to make their own arrangements in this regard should they wish. However, during the hosting period at IARC, insurance for accident and emergency illness, accidental death or partial or total disablement will be provided automatically by the Agency.
ECVSs have a normal workday of 8 hours / 40 hours per week, not including the time taken for lunch break (a minimum of 30 minutes and typically 1 hour).
ECVSs may be named in grant applications submitted by IARC subject to the conditions specified in the IARC Research Training and Fellowship Programme Handbook as CO-PIs in grant applications on behalf of IARC. In any case, all grant applications must follow the established IARC internal clearance and approval procedure.
A contract within the IARC Research Training and Fellowship Programme can in principle not be granted to anyone bearing any of the following relationships with an IARC personnel (IARC/WHO employee or ECVS): father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister (by blood or marriage) and needs to be disclosed in the application process.
WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE FELLOWS/MID-CAREER VISITING SCIENTISTS AND THEIR AGREED ACCOMPANYING DEPENDANTS?
IARC Postdoctoral Fellows: IARC provides a monthly stipend of 2,950 euros net as well as a health insurance allowance of 100 euros for the IARC Postdoctoral Fellow as well as roundtrip travel to Lyon.
Financial support for agreed accompanying dependants (spouse/partner/children below 18 years of age): a monthly dependence allowance of 150 euros will be provided to each family member (spouse/partner/children below 18 years of age) if accompanying the IARC Postdoctoral Fellow for a minimum of 50 % of the duration of the training contract (and if the dependant has no income). No health insurance allowance is provided to agreed accompanying dependants.
IARC Mid-Career Visiting Scientists: IARC provides a monthly stipend of 2,820 euros net as well as roundtrip travel to Lyon. No health insurance allowance is provided to the Awardee. No dependence allowances nor any health insurance allowances are provided for agreed accompanying dependants.
In general (for IARC Postdoctoral Fellows and IARC Mid-Career Visiting Scientist): Round-trip travel will be provided for agreed accompanying dependants if joining the awardee in Lyon for at least 50 % of the duration of the contract.
No financial support for school fees (please note that public schools are free of cost in France) will be provided by IARC.
No financial support for costs associated with relocation (cost for moving company, rental truck, installation costs, buying new furniture etc.) will be provided by IARC.
WHAT ARE THE LIVING CONDITIONS LIKE IN LYON (WHAT ABOUT ACCOMMODATION)?
IARC can assist by putting the future IARC Postdoctoral Fellows/IARC-Mid-Career Visiting Scientist Awardees in contact with its relocation assistant who can provide help in finding appropriate accommodation.
However, IARC cannot provide housing to ECVSs.
Important note: Living costs in Lyon are generally considered very expensive.
For a “single” IARC Postdoctoral Fellow/ IARC-Mid-Career Visiting Scientist Awardee with no dependants or with one accompanying dependant, the stipend and dependence allowance is sufficient to cover living costs but would be very tight for more than 1 accompanying dependant.
A studio or apartment (1 to 2 bedrooms) can cost up 1,000 Euros monthly (charges/electricity/gas not included yet). An apartment for a family with two children costs around 1,500 Euros or even more. No further financial support can be provided to families and more affordable accommodation outside of Lyon might need to be considered.
Accommodation prices can be checked here: https://business.onlylyon.com/en/discover-lyon/quality-of-life. In addition to accommodation costs, other associated costs such as estate agent fees, security deposit, utility fees (water/gas/electricity/garbage/internet), home insurance fee (mandatory in France) need to be considered.
More information about Lyon, housing, schools etc. can be found in our IARC Welcome Pack-June 2024.