The Faculty of History, Geography and Political Science of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile invites national and international researchers who have recently obtained a PhD to express their interest in applying—together with a sponsoring researcher from our faculty—to the 2027 FONDECYT Postdoctoral Competition. The official call from the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID) is expected in July 2026.
The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile is one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in Latin America and is recognized for its academic excellence, commitment to cutting-edge research, and contribution to knowledge and public policy development. In this context, each of the three institutes of the Faculty provides a space for innovative and internationally oriented research projects.
The call is aimed at researchers trained in History, Geography, Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy, Territorial Studies, Humanities, Social Sciences, and related disciplines who are interested in conducting original research in collaboration with faculty members.
The FONDECYT Postdoctoral Program is one of the main funding instruments for researchers in the early stages of their academic careers in Chile. Its objective is to promote scientific productivity, strengthen collaboration networks, and facilitate the integration of outstanding researchers into research centers and universities.
Selected candidates will work with a faculty member who will act as the sponsor of the proposal and support the design and development of the research project to be submitted to the 2027 FONDECYT Postdoctoral Competition.
- Project duration: 2–3 years.
- Estimated start date: April 1, 2027.
- Approximate annual salary: CLP $27,784,000.
- Research and operating funds: approximately CLP $4,500,000 per year.
- One-time relocation allowance for researchers coming from abroad: CLP $3,000,000.
The amounts listed correspond to the previous call and may be modified in the 2027 competition.
Applicants must:
- Have obtained a PhD from 2023 onward, or meet the eligibility requirements established by the 2027 FONDECYT Postdoctoral Call.
- Demonstrate academic and research achievements showing potential for independent, high-quality research.-
- Be interested in collaborating in interdisciplinary and international environments.
- Submit a proposal aligned with the research areas cultivated by the institutes of the Faculty.
Interested candidates should review the list of professors and their research areas in the original document. Potential applicants whose research interests align with those of the listed faculty members should contact them directly to request sponsorship. Early contact is recommended in order to receive feedback, confirmation of interest, and suggestions regarding both the application and potential collaborations.
Instituto de Historia
| Nombre Académico/a | Tema de investigación |
|---|---|
| Catalina Balmaceda | Greco-Roman historiography; Roman political thought; History of Rome; Intellectual history of Greece and Rome; Greco-Roman politics and literature. |
| Sylvia Dummer | History of cultural diplomacy / public diplomacy / soft power in Latin America; Propaganda; Construction of national imaginaries; Cultural internationalism; Transnational cultural actors. |
| Manuel Gárate | Solidarity; Transnational history; Networks; Anti-Francoism. |
| Rafael Gaune | Global history; The Society of Jesus (Jesuits); Knowledge production in the Early Modern period; Translations between Europe and the Americas; Twentieth-century historiography. |
| Susana Gazmuri | Conceptual History; Intellectual History; Translation History; Classical Reception; Ibero-American Enlightenment. |
| José Ragas | Global History of Science, Technology, and Health; Transnational History; Social Studies of Science and Technology (STS); History of Information Systems; History of Artificial Intelligence. |
| Stephan Ruderer | History of the Catholic Church; Church–State relations; the Chilean dictatorship and the transition to democracy; Political corruption. |
| Rafael Sagredo | History of the Americas; History of Science; Social and Cultural History; History of Historiography; History of Chile. |
| Bárbara Silva | History of Science and Technology; Science Diplomacy from a Historical Perspective; Science Policy. |
| Jaime Valenzuela | Ibero-America; 16th–17th centuries; Mobility and connections; Merchants and government officials; Indigenous history. |
Instituto de Geografía
| Nombre Académico/a | Tema de investigación |
|---|---|
| Camilo del Río | Coastal fog microphysics; Fog–ecosystem interactions; Atacama Desert ecosystems as carbon sinks; Climate variability and fog water harvesting; Fog dynamics in Fray Jorge National Park. |
| Juan Luis García | Rock glaciers; Glacial–periglacial transition; Deglacial land systems; Paleodunes. |
| Fabrice Lambert | CESM; ICON; Future Climate Change; Paleoclimate; South America |
| Abraham Paulsen | Geographical and environmental ethics; Geopoetics; Spatial and environmental justice; Theory and ethics of the Anthropocene; Geographies of religion and religiosity |
| Esteban Sagredo | Glaciology; Calving glaciers; Glacier modelling and Remote sensing |
| Alejandro Salazar | Human geography; Urban–rural relations; Environmental geography; Patagonia; Human–environment interactions. |
| Tania Villaseñor | Institute of Geography and the Faculty of Agronomy and Natural Systems. |
Instituto de Ciencia Política
| Nombre Académico/a | Tema de investigación |
|---|---|
| Nicole Jenne | International security; Security cooperation; Civil–military relations; South America; Southeast Asia. |
| Valeria Palanza | Political institutions; Legislatures and the legislative process; Democracy and checks and balances. |
| Catherine Reyes-Housholder | Gender; Presidential elections; Electoral behavior; Feminism; Anti-feminism. |
| Cristóbal Rovira | Populism; Far-right politics; Democracy; Electoral behavior. |
| Julieta Suárez-Cao | Local politics; Political representation; Subnational political crises. |