Recommendations for the written file

Section 31 recommends following the detailed format below in order to simplify the evaluation process: CR Competition Recommendations

It should be noted that applications may be written in either French or English and will be evaluated equally, regardless of the language used.

A CR 31/02 competition, with positions allocated in laboratories under CNRS supervision (without targeting a specific institute), is open every year. For this competition, the section advises you to identify at least one lab with CNRS Ecology and Environment as the main supervisory body (see recommendation file).

Depending on the year, the section may also evaluate other additional competitions (CR 31/03, etc.). These other competitions have additional constraints (e.g., positions in specific laboratories or projects on a specific topic).

These competitions are independent. If several competitions are open and your project can meet the additional constraints, the section therefore advises you to apply for both (CR 31/02 & CR 31/03).

Oral presentation for the selected candidates

Oral presentation: PDF format required, maximum duration 10 minutes (presentation will be systematically interrupted at 10 minutes to ensure fairness). We will signal you at 9 minutes.

New articles: Before the oral presentation, it is possible to present proof of publication of new articles published since the submission of the application file (i.e., since 12 January 2026).

Question session: 20 minutes.

Visual support: The PDF cannot be used during the question-and-answer session.

Calendar 2026

The admission panels for the CR competitions (CR 31/02 & CR 31/03) were held at the end of February 2026. Candidates will be informed of the results by postal mail from the CNRS. However, to facilitate preparation for the interviews, the list of shortlisted candidates can be found here: https://sncs.fr/2025/12/11/concours-cnrs-2026/#S31

The interviews for the CRCN 31/02 competition will take place in the ‘seminar lunch’ room on the 5th floor of the D building of the collège de France (11 place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris) from March 30 to April 1, 2026.

The interviews for the CRCN 31/03 competition will take place in the ‘salle du conseil’ of the MNHN (located in the Pavillon de la Baleine, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris), on April 16, 2026.

The final admission jury will be held on the 29^th of June 2026.