The MOPGA 2027 Visiting Fellowship Program for Early Career Researchers offers an exciting opportunity for international researchers to conduct advanced research in France while collaborating with leading French research institutions. The program is part of the Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA) initiative and is funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), in partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space (MESRE). Campus France is responsible for implementing the program. 

The fellowship supports research addressing major global environmental and climate challenges and is designed for early-career international researchers with a recent PhD. Successful fellows will undertake a 12-month research stay in France, beginning between September and December 2027. The program aims not only to support individual researchers but also to strengthen international scientific collaboration and contribute to research priorities connected to climate action and the Paris Agreement. 

MOPGA 2027 Research Areas

Applicants can propose projects within five broad research areas:

• Earth system sciences
• Climate change and sustainability sciences
• Energy transition
• Societal challenges related to environmental issues
• Human, animal and environmental health under the One Health approach

Projects incorporating innovative approaches and advanced technologies in these areas will receive particular consideration. For One Health projects, the research must genuinely address the connections between human health, animal health and ecosystems; projects focused solely on human medicine or health are not eligible. 

Who Can Apply?

The fellowship is open to researchers of foreign nationality, with all nationalities eligible except French nationality. Applicants must have defended their PhD thesis between December 2021 and December 2026, meaning the doctorate must have been obtained less than five years before the application deadline. Candidates must also be applying for international research mobility to France and must not be residing and professionally active in France when applying. Previous MOPGA fellows are not eligible to apply again. 

What Does the Fellowship Cover?

The MOPGA 2027 fellowship provides substantial financial support for the selected researchers. Each fellow receives a €2,500 monthly allowance for 12 months, along with a €500 settling-in allowance. Health coverage is also included, covering health insurance, civil liability insurance and repatriation assistance, followed by supplementary health insurance after registration with the French social security system. 

However, international travel expenses to France are not covered by the fellowship. A host laboratory may potentially provide assistance with travel costs, but this is not guaranteed by the MOPGA program. The fellowship is also not renewable and cannot be combined with a French employment contract or another individual funding award from a French government entity. 

Application Process and Deadline

Applicants must first identify a suitable French host laboratory or research institution and develop a clearly defined research project. The application requires a CV with publications, doctoral degree documentation, the host supervisor’s CV, a supervisor support letter, recommendation letters and a passport or national identity document. The research proposal can be submitted in English or French. 

The MOPGA 2027 application deadline is December 15, 2026. Results are expected to be announced in May–June 2027, with successful researchers beginning their research stays in France between September and December 2027. 

Interested researchers should carefully review the official eligibility requirements and application guide before applying.

Join us on Telegram for more opportunities!