Mecila

Sabbatical Senior Fellowship 2027

1 Sabbatical Fellowship for an Experienced Scholar

Mecila (Maria Sibylla Merian International Centre for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences Conviviality-Inequality in Latin America) is a joint project of the following German and Latin American research institutions: Freie Universität Berlin (coordination); Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut (Berlin); Universität zu Köln (Cologne); Universidade de São Paulo and Centro Brasileiro de Análise e Planejamento (São Paulo); Instituto de Investigaciones en Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales (Universidad Nacional de La Plata/Conicet, La Plata); and El Colegio de México (Mexico City).

Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and established in São Paulo in April 2017, Mecila cordially invites experienced scholars to apply for its Senior Fellowships. Successful applicants are expected to participate in a plural international research network that focuses on the co-constitution of conviviality and inequality from interdisciplinary perspectives. Accordingly, the Centre addresses the processes of negotiation, legitimation, transformation, and representation of existing hierarchies as they take place in everyday interactions and within institutions. The Centre encourages proposals focused on theoretical and/or empirical research using a wide range of methods and sources. A general outline of the Centre’s research programme is available on our website.

Mecila will award 1 Sabbatical Senior Fellowships to a selected candidate. Mecila will cover travel costs and pay a housing allowance to compensate for the additional expenses of living in São Paulo. The duration of each Fellowship is 6 months (to be held between 1 March to 30 November 2027). Fellows are expected to commit full-time to their proposed research activities at the Centre.

Requerimientos

  • A senior position at a university or research institution, or comparable Scholars must be internationally recognised for having a significant impact on their field of research.
  • A track record of research and publications on Mecila’s subject
  • Excellent command of the English
  • Ability to and interest in actively engaging in and creating an intellectual community in a diverse international and interdisciplinary research environment.

Responsabilidades

  • Develop an independent research project in the field of conviviality-inequality, making a contribution to the the Centre’s Research Areas and to its development of applications for third-party funding.
  • Participate actively in the Centre’s activities (including the weekly colloquia) and engage in interdisciplinary
  • Present and discuss scientific research results within and outside the
  • Contribute at least one paper to Mecila’s Working Paper
  • Contribute at least one outreach activity (interview, blog entry, video, public lecture, policy paper, etc.)

Solicitud

Applicants must send the following documents in English, Spanish or Portuguese, using the link provided on the Form, in a single pdf-attachment no later than 12 July 2026.

  • Motivation letter (max. 500 words)
  • Research outline describing current research and envisioned contribution to the Centre (max. 500 words)
  • Keywords (max. 5)
  • Work plan detailing how the proposed project will be realized during the stay at the Centre
  • Curriculum Vitae, including a list of publications

 

To access the Application Form, please use the following link or QR-code:

https://uni.koeln/ZFBB3

Criterios de selección

Applications from prospective Senior Fellows will be submitted to a peer-review process. The primary selection criterion is the applicant’s potential to yield original and excellent research results through a Mecila Senior Fellowship. The scientific merit of the project will be assessed in terms of its originality, the importance of the scientific questions addressed, and its relevance to Mecila. An appropriate methodology and a feasible timeframe will also be part of the assessment. Final decisions will be taken by Mecila’s Executive Board, in close consultation with its Advisory Board and Ethics Committee, aiming at disciplinary and gender balance as well as intersectional equity and an adequate regional representation. We strongly encourage applications from scholars with diverse backgrounds and social experiences. We aim to inform the applicants of the selection results by the end of September 2026.

 

For further inquiries regarding the Fellowship or the application process, please refer to our FAQ available at Mecila’s website. In case of further questions please contact Mecila’s Coordination Office in São Paulo via e-mail (mecila@cebrap.org.br).

 

By applying to this Fellowship you consent that we use the information you provide for the Fellowship process.