Call of chairs – CNRS AI Rising Talents 2026

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As part of the French Strategy in Artificial Intelligence (AI), the CNRS AI Rising Talents program offers exceptionally talented early-career AI researchers with the opportunity to establish and lead a research program and team for a duration of 4 years, enhancing their potential to become leading scientists. This program is open to current postdocs as well as junior professors or researchers, with the primary criterion having an outstanding research track record. Applications are welcome from those who earned their PhD either in France or abroad, as soon as they demonstrate substantial international research experience, including mentoring students and managing scientific projects.

This fifth edition of the Choose France program is open to filling two positions. The candidates must demonstrate outstanding track records in machine learning (ML) and related fields, such as computer vision, natural language processing, robotics, etc. Candidates working at the interface of AI and other sciences – neurosciences, biology, physics, chemistry, humanities and social sciences – who have shown how ML approaches have helped to conduct cutting-edge research in their domains are also encouraged to apply. To attract the best talents, the program will provide customizable integration options tailored to candidates’ varying degrees of seniority and experience, including fixed-term or permanent contracts.

The program offers competitive salaries as well as an environment for research in the form of a package going fron 750k€ to 1 M€, depending on experience, for the period (including gross employer costs for the awarded candidate and other expenses for hiring students and postdocs).

The selected candidates will be recruited by CNRS in one of its research units in France. Candidates must propose at least two laboratories to host their research project. They must contact the directors of these laboratories and explain in their research proposal how their project aligns with the chosen laboratories. The final appointment decision will be made by the CNRS after candidates are selected and interviewed by an international hearing committee. Candidates are expected to contribute to the French AI Strategy, and applications that align with initiatives like ClusterAI institutes or related local projects are encouraged.

The CNRS has been actively engaged in core AI and interdisciplinary research initiatives to understand the implications of AI-driven transformations in scientific practices and social dynamics. To support these efforts, the CNRS has established a rich AI-powered research environment, including the AI for Science and Science for AI (AISSAI) center, which facilitates scientific research at the interface of AI and all other scientific fields. Furthermore, CNRS is also developing open-access platforms and tools to democratize access to AI resources and foster collaboration within research communities. Additionally, the CNRS operates the Jean Zay supercomputer, one of Europe’s leading AI computing facilities, boasting with a peak power of 126 petaFlops. By continuously investing in cutting-edge hardware and software infrastructures and regularly updating these facilities, the CNRS ensures that the computing and research capabilities in AI remain at the forefront worldwide.

The call for applications is open from February 16, 2026, to April 6, 2026.

The pre-selection day is scheduled for late April 2026, and the audition day is scheduled for June 2026.

Link to the call for proposals on the CNRS website : Call of chairs – CNRS AI Rising Talents | CNRS Sciences informatiques