About Université Côte d’Azur (UniCA)
Université Côte d'Azur (UniCA) is a large, public, scientific, cultural and professional institution which brings together several of the Côte d’Azur’s leading academic players around a historical university core. Its fundamental missions are the higher education of students and professionals, excellence in research, and innovation for the benefit of all.
UniCA is committed to a path of transformation and excellence, which it is achieving through the Initiative of Excellence (IdEx) awarded in 2016 that places it among the top nine French research-intensive universities and gives it a strong international visibility.
Home to 3IA Côte d’Azur, one of the four French Interdisciplinary Institutes of Artificial Intelligence inaugurated in 2019, UniCA also created the French School of AI (EFELIA Côte d'Azur) in 2022, and established Graduate Research Schools (EUR). The university aims to be a major research-intensive university with both strong roots in our region and an international and European outlook, notably through the European University "Ulysseus" of which UniCA is a founding member.
This favorable landscape is fostering the transformation of UniCA into a truly 21st century French university, based on new interactions between disciplines and driven by dynamic collaborations that connect Education, Research, and Innovation, as well as strong local, national, and international partnerships with the public and private sectors.
UniCA has several campuses, mainly in Nice, Sophia Antipolis (Europe's premier science and technology hub) and Cannes (home to the famous Cannes Film Festival) but also widely distributed between Seyne-sur-Mer and Menton. Ideally situated between the sea and the mountains, it offers a pleasant environment for staff and students. Its location in the heart of Europe combined with easy access via the Nice Côte d'Azur International Airport makes it a gateway to the academic and scientific world.
UniCA directly employs more than 3,000 staff and enrolls more than 30,000 students each year.
About the IdEx Excellence Postdoc Fellowships
As part of its commitment to excellence and international prominence, IdEx is launching the 2025 call for applications “Excellence Fellowships for Young Researchers” to encourage the recruitment of young postdoctoral researchers in its laboratories. All disciplines are eligible.
This call will enable high-level young scientists to join a laboratory of UniCA for a period of 24 months, with one of the following specific objectives:
Prepare an application for a permanent position at UniCA, in particular a permanent researcher position (CR - Chargé de Recherche) in a French national research organization with one of UniCA host laboratories selected as first choice of assignment.
and/or
- Together with the local host, submit a European grant application (ERC) within two years of recruitment.
Compensation and benefits:
The excellence fellowship program will provide the successful candidates with an attractive compensation package and excellent working conditions:
- A gross monthly salary of 3,520 euros,
- Additionally, an operating budget of 5,000 euros for the duration of the project will be provided.
- Temporary housing will be proposed to the laureates at our Faculty Club, with the first month provided free of charge,
- The successful candidates will also benefit of the personalized services offered by the IdEx Welcome Center beforehand and throughout the laureate’s stay: assistance in paperwork, schooling of children in international classes, etc.
How to apply?
Candidates should first get in touch with a research laboratory or a group from UniCA or its partner institutions (CNRS, Cote d’Azur Observatory, Inria, INRAe, Inserm, IRD, and Nice University Hospital).
We can also assist the candidates in finding a suitable supervisor by filling the form that can be found in the program page. Application deadline is March 17, 2025.
