Summary: The REACH-UPPA Postdoctoral Programme offers 10 outstanding researchers the opportunity to conduct ambitious, high-impact projects in an interdisciplinary environment at the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour (UPPA), across physical sciences and engineering, life sciences, and social sciences and humanities. For this first call, candidates may apply with a project aligned with one of UPPA’s eight priority research areas. Five positions are available in 2026. Offer Description Coordinated by the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour (UPPA), REACH-UPPA (Research Excellence And Career Hub at UPPA) is a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie programme co-funded by the European Union. The programme will host 10 outstanding postdoctoral researchers, who will conduct research across a broad spectrum of disciplines within the domains of physical sciences and engineering, life sciences and social sciences & humanities. Context: The REACH-UPPA programme is designed to offer a world-class interdisciplinary research environment while providing a gateway for researchers to access international and/or cross-sectoral partners to help establish a high-level independent research profile. REACH-UPPA Post-Doctoral Researchers (PDRs) will benefit from being part of an outstanding academic community, combining research excellence, strong cross-disciplinary collaborations, and significant external engagement with leading international and socio-economic partners. UPPA is a leading research and teaching university, among the 9 universities awarded the label of excellence I-SITE at the national level, located in the beautiful, culturally rich, and highly diverse region of the Atlantic Pyrenees, in France. UPPA hosts over 514 permanent researchers in 18 research units and joint research units, 3 Associated International Laboratories (Berkeley University, Northwestern University, Indian Institute of Science – Bangalore) and 9 Joint laboratories with non-academic partners (majors and SMEs). UPPA researchers have been awarded with different several honors and awards as 1 election as member of the French Academy of Sciences in the Chemistry section, 1 prize of the French Academy of Sciences, 3 CNRS Crystal and Bronze Medals, 2 ERC starting grants and 1 ERC consolidator grant, or 4 IUF (Institut Universitaire de France) positions, among others. UPPA is committed to build a diverse educational and research environment in agreement with the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. REACH-UPPA will grow on UPPA’s five interdisciplinary missions, linked to the UN’s sustainable development goals.These missions are designe to transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries, encouraging cross-fertilization and interdisciplinarity between different players and sectors to better grasp the complexity of their issues. They are structured into programs based on the specific themes addressed by the different research units. They are supported by ”mission-labs”, whose aim is to organize forward-looking scientific activities (incubating ideas and detecting new themes) and to renew the research-training link, by bringing together all the partners involved (socio-economic and cultural, as well as academic, at regional, national and international level), around UPPA’s teams. A key feature of the programme is that early-career researchers can propose their own research projects, provided these align with UPPA’s 15 priority research areas, lined to the five interdisciplinary missions of the UPPA. This year for the first call, 8 priority research areas are open for applications. Each project will be supported by a scientific mentor to help researchers reach their full potential. If you are a talented early-career researcher with the ambition to advance fundamental or applied research, we encourage you to apply and collaborate with UPPA’s renowned research teams. The programme offers an outstanding research environment designed to foster innovation, international collaboration and strong societal impact. About the REACH-UPPA Programme The REACH-UPPA Postdoctoral programme offers 10 outstanding postdoctoral researchers the opportunity to pursue ambitious, high-impact research in a stimulating and interdisciplinary environment at the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour (UPPA). For this first call, candidates may submit a research project in 8 research priority areas of the UPPA. Throughout the programme, researchers will benefit from tailored mentoring by dedicated UPPA supervisors, close collaboration with a financed PhD candidate, and a 3–6-month research secondment at a pre-selected partner organisation or another relevant institution of their choice. REACH is designed to support scientific excellence, foster innovation and interdisciplinarity, and strengthen international collaboration, enabling PDRs to develop a strong and impactful research profile. The programme also provides dedicated financial support, including funding for research-related activities as well as mobility allowances for conferences and secondments. CALL#1 Details Number of Postdoctoral Fellowships: 5 in 2026 Employer : University de Pau and Pays de l’Adour (UPPA), France Salary: €3,500 gross per month. French taxes and social security contributions apply, resulting in an estimated net monthly salary of approximately €2,880 before income tax Start: October 2026 – Duration: 48 months NB: Fellows will work full time on the project and cannot benefit at the same time from another Marie Sklodowska Curie Action or individual fellowship ProfilFellowships are open to PhD holders in the fields of physical sciences and engineering, life sciences, and social sciences and humanities. We aim to attract candidates who demonstrate outstanding scientific excellence and offer them stimulating research challenges aligned with their ambitions and expectations. Eligibility criteria – Researchers must be in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the programme’s call. – Up to 3 years of research experience (full-time equivalent) after the obtention of the doctoral degree at the call deadline. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree are also eligible, provided they submit valid certification. Only the date of approval of doctoral degree will be taken into account – To have at least 1 publication as main author (either accepted or published) as a result of their doctoral work in an international – Must comply with the following MSCA mobility rule: Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary (FRANCE) for more than 12 months in the 36 months preceding the date of the call deadline. Be ready to provide proof of compliance according to your personal situation. Examples of documents are ID cards, residence
