The Centre for the Social Study of Microbes at the University of Helsinki is looking for fellows for the month of May 2026. The annual CSSM fellowship is awarded to three scholars who may be at any career stage. During their stay for one month, fellows will work on their own projects while engaging in the academic life of CSSM by participating and contributing to the organisation of activities in the Centre. The three fellows will join us simultaneously to maximise opportunities for collaboration. During their stay, the fellows will have visiting scholar affiliation and gain access to office space and other university services like libraries and online resources. The participants are expected to acknowledge the CSSM in any publication arising from their stay in Helsinki.
The fellowship offers economic support for the fellow’s stay at the CSSM in Helsinki. The stipend for one month is 1.500€ which is meant to cover accommodation and living expenses. The CSSM will also cover travel expenses up to 1.500€. We will assist you with any necessary visa and travel arrangements prior to your visit. Please note that, to make the most of collaborative opportunities, extensive travel elsewhere should be avoided during the time of the fellowship.
The CSSM is a hub for social scientists and artists conducting research on human-microbial relations. We aim to develop theory and methods to better make sense of the complex relations between humans, nonhumans, microbes, and their environments. The facilitation of the creation of innovative knowledge requires radical new ways of knowing – both in relation to microbes as well as scholars. The CSSM seeks to establish an exploratory research culture, in which new decentralised collaborative practices are developed.
Please submit your application as a single PDF to cssm@helsinki.fi by 8th of January 2026.
Your application should include:
- Max 1.000 words statement with the following subheadings: your research interests, your planned work at CSSM, and its alignment with the What and the How of the CSSM.
- CV (2 pages with key publications).
Please note that the one-month period is fixed in May and cannot be moved to another month.
We seek to create a diverse team. In line with this policy, eligible applicants can be of any nationality and gender. The CSSM particularly invites applicants from the Global South.
We are looking forward to your applications and aim to get back to you with our decision latest by the end of January 2026.