Procedure for CNRS applications with the support of Gulliver

In France, positions in CNRS labs are offered through a national competition as described on the CNRS website : https://carrieres.cnrs.fr/en/external-competitions-for-researchers-m-f/ and in particular in the "Candidate’s guide".

In your application, you will have to mention in what lab your project could be conducted
It is recommended to demonstrate that your scientific project is in line with the environment provided by the lab of your choice. The lab of your choice can support you by writing a letter of support to the selection committees.

Gulliver has a transparent procedure for selecting the candidates it supports for CNRS applications. It is made of 4 steps:

Step 1: First contact usually takes place in September, but can last until the end of October. The applicant contacts the head of Gulliver or any PI within Gulliver and declares their motivation. You are welcome to contact any PI from the lab with whom you may share scientific interest and initiate some informal discussions.

The applicant then sends to the head of Gulliver a CV and a one page description including the type of research project they have in mind (questions / system / methods), how their project fits in Gulliver, and what CNRS section(s) is (are) targeted.

Step 2: The lab council examines the files and the applicant is informed whether Gulliver is interested. In 2025, this lab council takes place on the 13/11/2025. Your documents are thus expected by the end of October to leave enough time to analyze them.

Step 3: The applicants selected at step 2 are invited to a « one hour interview » in front of all PI’s, during which they present their past work and a tentative research project (which does not need to be definitive; it can be open to discussion). A discussion follows. A visit of the lab is organized the same day, so that private discussions can also take place with interested PIs. This typically takes place during the second half of November.

Step 4: By the end of November, the lab council decides who the lab supports for the CNRS competition. PIs from Gulliver will assist the candidate in preparing the written application and, if it takes place, the oral examination.