CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP 2026-2027
SLAVERY AND ITS LEGACIES

Academic Year 2026–2027

For the 2026–2027 academic year, the Foundation for the Remembrance of Slavery and the musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac are offering a doctoral fellowship, aimed at supporting an early-career doctoral candidate in carrying out an original and innovative research project.

Since its opening in June 2006, the musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac has sought to question the meaning, use, and significance of the collections under its care.

This work is complemented by an ambitious and diverse program of scientific events addressing these issues. Numerous exhibitions, meetings, conferences, and screenings have thus enabled a better understanding of the history of slavery, colonization, racism, the struggle for equal rights, and independence movements (see here). The doctoral fellowship offered in partnership with the Foundation for the Remembrance of Slavery is part of this dynamics.

The Foundation for the Remembrance of Slavery, established in November 2019, has the following missions:

In carrying out these missions, the strategic orientations of the Foundation’s research program aim to “connect” research on topics related to slavery and its legacies with civic and social action, as well as to encourage bridges between territories in Europe and beyond, particularly overseas territories.

Within this partnership, the doctoral fellowship covers research projects in the following disciplines: history, social anthropology, art history, archaeology, sociology, and performing arts. It encourages research on topics or approaches identified as priorities by the Foundation: cultural and representational history, museology and heritage studies, study of post-slavery societies and material and immaterial social and cultural legacies, study of social dynamics of resistance, and African perspectives on slavery.

Projects particularly likely to benefit from the environment of the musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac (collections, archives, library, scientific community) will be examined with special attention.

During the year, the selected candidate will present a chapter of their thesis or an original article within the in-house seminar of the Research and Education Department of the musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac. They will also present their approach and a selection of their results as part of an online multimedia production by the Foundation for the Remembrance of Slavery. They will also take part in the Histoire à Venir Festival in Toulouse, with which the Foundation is a partner.

Applicants may submit their application in English. However, fellowship recipients must have a sufficient level of written and oral comprehension of French to participate in collective activities.

This doctoral fellowship is intended to support a candidate in the final stages of their PhD who will be enrolled at least in the third year for the 2026–2027 academic year (at a French or foreign university). This fellowship is focused on writing and excludes fieldwork and archival research.

The fellowship is awarded for a non-renewable period of 12 months, from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027. In 2026-2027 it will amount to €1,400 net per month.
After evaluating the applications, the fellowship will be awarded to one candidate by a Scientific Committee, whose composition will be decided by the two institutions. No nationality requirement is imposed.

Application Procedure

Applications for the doctoral fellowship must be completed using the online form available at: Application for the doctoral fellowship ‘Slavery and Its Legacies’ FME-MQB.

To be registered, the completed form must be submitted no later than Sunday, 15 March 2026, at 23:59.

The results will be communicated to the successful candidate and posted on the musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac website at the beginning of April 2026.
If you have any questions or experience difficulties submitting your application, please contact: bourses@quaibranly.fr.