CNRS | PIMS - Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences

The Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) is the French national organization for scientific research, and the largest fundamental science agency in Europe. Since 2007, PIMS has been a "International Research Laboratory (IRL)" of CNRS, and the only such IRL in western Canada.

PIMS-CNRS IRL #3069, originally signed in 2007 and renewed in 2019, has been an integral component of efforts to facilitate and encourage research collaborations between mathematical scientists at PIMS member universities in North America and researchers across France.

In 2007 PIMS became a Unité Mixte Internationale of the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). The CNRS has committed to send to PIMS several chargés de recherches or maîtres de conferences. These researchers will spend one year at a PIMS site, working with PIMS research teams. PIMS has committed to give Postdoctoral Fellowships to French applicants, as a matter of reciprocity

PIMS Europe Fellowships

PIMS-Europe (CNRS IRL #3069) is announcing the return of the PIMS-Europe Fellowships. The goal of this program is to develop and support research collaborations between mathematical scientists at PIMS member universities and researchers across France. These fellowships will champion a mutual exchange of knowledge and talent while encouraging cross-ocean research on the frontline of the Mathematical Sciences. Fellowship awardees will receive CAD $5,000 to facilitate long-term visits to France.

Fellowship Parameters:

Fellowships are eligible to ALL mathematical scientists with faculty positions at PIMS member universities.
PIMS-Europe Fellows are expected to spend at least two continuous months working on collaborative research in France. PIMS encourages longer visits.
Visits must begin in the next calendar year following your application
Application Deadline: October 1, annually

Applications Instructions

Applications must include the following information

A focused overview of the planned research activity, including locations and anticipated France-based collaborators (up to 5 pages).
A letter of support from the proposed host institution in France.
A letter from the applicant’s department head supporting the proposed visit. The letter from the department head should reference the duration of the applicant’s stay in France. For visits that include part of an academic year, the department must commit to provide a teaching release covering the duration of the proposed visit.

Applications should be sent to the PIMS Director, Dr Ozgur Yilmaz <director@pims.math.ca>.

CNRS Postes Rouges

The Institut de Mathématiques du CNRS (INSMI) will be offering a limited number of research positions in France, for the 2024 calendar year. These positions are available to foreign visitors from the “IRLs”, “LIAs” or “IRNs” and provide funding support by reimbursing research expenses related to the trip (travel, accommodation and meals). This research reimbursement will be fully managed by the French laboratory hosting the visiting researcher and they will work with the visitor to ensure the right processes are followed.

These positions are for three months (shorter visits cannot be funded under this scheme) and are available to non-French academics (assistant, associate or full professors) at any PIMS member university (French citizens with full-time positions at PIMS institutions are also eligible to apply). The support can be applied for as a part of a longer research visit if explained in the application.

Applicants are required to conduct their visits during the 2024 calendar year. A clear connection with the scientific activity of the IRL/LIA/IRN should appear in the file.

Applications Instructions

Please provide the following information

A CV (with a list of publications).
A specific scientific project for the visit.
Tentative dates of stay. The three-month visit must take place between Jan 1 and Nov 30, 2024.
The candidates (or the inviting researcher) must contact the director of the inviting French laboratory and obtain his or her agreement (email is ok).

Applicantions should be sent (by email) to the PIMS Director. Dr Ozgur Yilmaz: <director@pims.math.ca>. The application deadline is October 6, 2023 (this deadline is updated annually, typically in the summer. Please reach out to reception@pims.math.ca for enquiries about this year's deadline.). Completed proposals will forwarded to the CNRS Poste Rouge for review and appointment.

Reimbursement Process

The total level of reimbursement is EUR 9000 for the 3 months (including travel).
The Procedure for booking travel, including the incoming flight must be ordered by the French host laboratory.
The maximum level of reimbursement for accommodation varies according to your place of residence in France.
The level of reimbursement for meals is EUR 17.50 per lunch and dinner.

Both French and PIMS Researchers should discuss these conditions before applying. Once the PIMS researcher has received confirmation of funding for the Postes Rouges, they should contact the French laboratory's administration team (via the inviting researcher) to receive further instructions regarding the mission expenses.

Student Mobility Program

PIMS Globalink Program is available to senior undergraduate and graduate students, including those in France, to conduct 12-24 week research programs at a PIMS member university or at an eligible university or institution in France. It offers $6000 (CAD) to support French students travelling to a PIMS member university or students at a PIMS member university traveling to an eligible university or institution in France. Please see the PIMS Globalink page for more details and application instructions.

CNRS Visitors

Researchers and academics who are members of a CNRS lab (Unités Mixtes de Recherche) under the CNRS Mathematics banner can apply to spend a medium- or long-term period abroad at one of the International Research Laboratories (IRL) affiliated to CNRS mathematics. The present call is for dates in 2025 or covering 2025-2026.

You will find the list of destination laboratories on this page: https://www.insmi.cnrs.fr/fr/liste-des-irl.

In order to plan your period abroad as effectively as possible, it is essential to discuss your plans informally with the deputy scientific director in charge of international affairs at CNRS mathematics at a very early stage (before you submit your application). Contact: insmi.international@cnrs.fr

You should also contact the director of the IRL as soon as you start preparing the project, and ask for his or her agreement. Take the same approach with your Head of department (DU).

NB: The 10 institutes at CNRS are responsible for a series of IRLs in their areas of expertise. You may request an assignment to an IRL that falls outside the remit of CNRS Mathematics, if this makes sense with the research plan you propose. In this case, please contact the institute affiliated to the IRL in order to receive the correct procedures.

Applications

Applications and files should be sent to the CNRS INSMI generic address (insmi.international@cnrs.fr) with Cc to the director of the IRL (director@pims.math.ca), as well as to the director of your UMR.

Deadline for applications: 15 October 2024 (this deadline is updated annually, typically in the summer. Please reach out to reception@pims.math.ca for enquiries about this year's deadline)

Please include in your application:

An up-to-date curriculum vitae / resume
An up-to-date list of publications
A description of the research project you intend to develop at the IRL. Mention the intended dates.
A letter of invitation from the person wishing to work with you at the IRL
Agreement from the IRL Director (an email is sufficient)
Agreement from the UMR (an email is sufficient)

Once you have sent your application, the following calendar will be in place:

From late October to late January 2025: review and assessment of all files in consultation with IRL directors
April 2025 (or around that date): decision and communication to the applicants (the exact date will depend on when ‘délégations’ are officially published). See more explanations on this in the next paragraph.

Requesting a CNRS ‘délégation’ for a long period at an International Research Laboratory

CNRS staff interested in responding to this call must be tenured researchers. Academics can also respond but must obtain a ‘délégation’ (a specific position for lecturers and university professors to undertake research while having their teaching duties financially covered by CNRS). Note that obtaining a CRCT is not enough. The request for a delegation for the 2025-2026 campaign will have to be uploaded on the specific national online application according to your university calendar. You should indicate as Host laboratory the International Research laboratory you are interested in (they all have a number and an abbreviated name). This should be undertaken once you have discussed and obtained the green light from the IRL’s director.

Keep in mind

CNRS operates on a calendar year basis while the calendar for ‘delegations’ is based on the university calendar. In order to accommodate everyone, CNRS mathematics will consider both 2025 projects (calendar year, researchers only) and 2025-2026 projects (university year, researchers and academics).

CNRS Mathematics is open to receiving applications for this call from researchers working at a UMR in the remit of another institute (CNRS Engineering, CNRS Physics, CNRS Biology, etc.). Applicants should start by discussing this with their UMR director and with the deputy scientific director / or other person in charge of international affairs at their own institute before contacting us.

For more information, please contact insmi.international@cnrs.fr

PIMS-CNRS Postdoctoral Fellowships

Candidates must be nominated by one or more scientists or by a department (or departments) affiliated with PIMS. The fellowships are intended to supplement support provided by the sponsor, and are tenable at any of PIMS’ Canadian member universities: Simon Fraser University, the University of Alberta, the University of British Columbia, the University of Calgary, the University of Lethbridge, the University of Manitoba, the University of Regina, the University of Saskatchewan, and the University of Victoria.

This award is targeted to applicants that are French, or who have completed their PhD degree in France. All other policies governing the PIMS CNRS program are the same as those of the regular PIMS PDF program. Please see the postdoctoral page for additional instructions and deadlines.

Questions about this program should be sent to the PIMS Executive assistant: executive-assistant@pims.math.ca