Interdisciplinary Center on Mountain Research (CIRM), University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

To support research in the humanities and social sciences focused on the Valais Alps, the Interdisciplinary Center on Mountain Research (CIRM) at the University of Lausanne, in collaboration with the Culture Department of the Canton of Valais, is announcing a competition for a research grant dedicated to mountain studies.

In 2026, projects must focus on natural hazards in the mountains from a diachronic perspective, drawing on the collections and archives of cultural institutions in Valais. They may address, among other topics, recent disasters, risk management and anticipation, regional impacts, and social and cultural representations.

The grant is worth CHF 20,000.

Application deadline is 20 January 2026.

Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research, Asia-Pacific Region.

This year, APN is inviting proposals under two separate programmes supporting APN’s core activities through its Collaborative Regional Research Programme (CRRP) and Scientific Capacity Development Programme (CAPaBLE), for funding from October 2026. A limited amount of funding is available to support CRRP and CAPaBLE activities relevant to APN’s thematic areas that specifically target one (or more) themes under its sub-regional priority topics for funding.

Deadline for summary proposals is 30 November 2025.

The Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

This postdoctoral scholar program will help create the next generation of leaders in climate science and policy. It endeavors to attract spectacular recent PhDs in sciences that address studies with relevance to the Wilkes Center climate research and climate policy goals.

Postdoctoral scholars will perform cutting-edge and impactful research in climate science and/or policy, with particular priority areas on data informed climate forecasting, wildfire and climate extremes such as heat waves, droughts, and floods, climate impacts on local communities, economies, ecosystems, and human health, and the development of tools to mitigate, adapt, and manage climate impacts. These can include analysis of past, current, or possible future climate variability and change as well as the study of the underlying social, physical, chemical, and biological processes.

Deadline for submissions 31 January 2026.

International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria.

Every summer since 1977, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) has hosted up to 50 doctoral students from around the world in its three-month long Young Scientist Summer Programme (YSSP).

The YSSP is designed for advanced PhD students – ideally about two years prior to completing their PhD – working on a topic that is compatible with ongoing research at IIASA and who wish to explore the policy implications of their work. Participants work under the direct mentorship of experienced IIASA scientists in a unique interdisciplinary and international research environment. As part of their participation, YSSP fellows produce a paper serving as the first step towards a publishable journal article, and have the opportunity to build up contacts for future collaboration within the institute’s worldwide network.

The 2026 YSSP will run on-site from 1 June to 28 August 2026, and participants will have the opportunity to finalize their research papers in September 2026.

The deadline to apply is 12 January 2026.

The Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia and the Swiss Polar Institute (SPI) have launched the next call for PolARTS, a joint initiative that supports collaboration between artists and polar scientists. The program aims to create space for dialogue, exploration, and shared research across disciplines—without the pressure of producing specific outputs.

Up to three tandems—each consisting of a Switzerland-based artist and a polar scientist—will be supported for a collaborative process lasting 12 to 18 months. The focus is on mutual learning, with regular exchanges in both artistic and scientific contexts. Applicants are invited to propose projects that engage with the polar regions (Arctic or Antarctic) or remote high-altitude environments (e.g., Andes, Himalayas).

Eligible artists and scientists must be based in or affiliated with Swiss institutions and must not have received previous PolARTS funding. A field trip to a polar or high-altitude region may be supported as an optional component of the collaboration.

Funding includes:

• Up to CHF 7,000 for artists’ living expenses (plus childcare support if applicable)
• Up to CHF 5,500 for tandem operational costs
• Up to CHF 10,000 for field trip expenses (artist only, separate application)

The application deadline is 31 January 2026 at 17:00 CET. All applications must be submitted in English via the online platform.

For full details and application instructions, please visit the official PolARTS website or click the “read more” button below.

The Mount Everest Foundation aims to promote and support exploration and research expeditions in the world’s mountain regions by providing grants to suitable expeditions.

All applications are first reviewed by an independent Screening Committee, which seeks expert advice when necessary. The committee’s recommendations are then passed on to the Management Committee of Trustees for final consideration.

Info for Applicants

We encourage applicants who are organizing a mountaineering or scientific expedition scheduled between December 2025 and mid-April 2026 to be sure to submit your funding application by 30 September 2025.

For expeditions taking place after mid-April 2026, applicants may choose to apply during this current funding round or wait for the first round of 2026, which has a deadline of 31 January 2026.

Before applying, please review our Information Page to check if your expedition is eligible and to learn about any additional funding you might qualify for. Then, follow the steps outlined on our Applications Page.

If you have any questions about the funding guidelines or the application process, feel free to contact us at secretary@mef.org.uk