Call of chairs – INRIA

Aperçu

In a context of growing international competition in artificial intelligence, Inria is launching a call for applications aimed at high-potential early-career researchers.

The objective is to provide them with the means to structure their own research program and establish themselves as future leaders in the field. Led by the Priority Research Program in Artificial Intelligence (PEPR IA), this initiative complements the program’s attractiveness chairs call by more specifically targeting the strategic challenges at the core of Inria’s scientific roadmap.

An opportunity to build a team and develop a scientific vision

This scheme is aimed at early-career researchers holding a PhD, with proven international experience and the ability to supervise research activities. Open to candidates from both academia and industry, it seeks to attract talent to France capable of leading ambitious research projects.

Selected candidates will benefit from a four-year research position within one of Inria’s research centres, in close collaboration with leading French universities. They will have the opportunity to build and lead their own team by recruiting PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and engineers.

With funding of up to €1 million, the chair provides a highly supportive environment for developing high-level research projects.

Research themes at the heart of current AI challenges

Proposed projects must align with national scientific priorities in artificial intelligence as well as Inria’s strategic ambitions. In particular, they should reflect the key themes of the PEPR IA program (frugal and embedded AI, trustworthy AI, distributed AI, and the mathematical foundations of AI), as well as the priorities of INESIA (performance and reliability of AI systems, systemic risks, support for regulation) which focus on the performance and reliability of AI systems, the analysis of systemic risks, and support for regulation.

These priorities are fully embedded in the broader AI program led by Inria and its Digital Program Agency in close connection with its project teams, all actively contributing to the deployment and advancement of artificial intelligence.

Research environment and benefits

The chair is supported by a four-year funding package of up to €1 million, enabling the recruitment of several PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and engineers.

Inria researchers are not required to undertake teaching duties, but may choose to do so. As most Inria teams are affiliated with leading French universities, candidates may also apply for a part-time position within a partner institution.

Applications must be submitted between May 15 and 1st July, 2026. Interviews will take place between June and July, with recruitment expected before the end of the year.

Contact: chair-ia-application@inria.fr

Link to the call for proposals on the Inria website: Call – INRIA PEPR IA