CAPRIS UKIM invites young postdoctoral researchers, junior fellows, PhD students, and professionals in the fields of Architecture, Urban Planning, Engineering, Urban Mobility, Visual and Performative Arts, IT, Data Science, Environmental and Social Sciences, Philosophy, and related disciplines to conduct research in a highly collaborative and experimental setting. This environment fosters independent study alongside exchange with leading scientists, designers, and scholars from Europe and beyond.

The fellowship program focuses on cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary research and innovation, exploring new social and urban models for a more socially and culturally sustainable global future. The program is led by a distinguished international faculty of visiting researchers and scholars, alongside select faculty from UKIM and partner universities.

Fellows are expected to focus on new forms of spatial thinking, data- and evidence-driven project development, and innovative approaches to practice as social and technical innovators. Projects should integrate urban planning and design knowledge, considering architecture and the urban environment as complex systems shaped by technical, cultural, social, and economic factors, as well as strategic, organizational, and spatial dynamics.

The objective is to produce scientifically innovative and socially relevant research, culminating in a scientific paper that provides knowledge and data to shape the public debate on sustainable urban development, green transformation, and digital transition. The outcomes should support institutional and civic capacity for transformation, institutional reform, and the creation of a more just society.

ELIGIBILITY

• Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent degree, obtained no more than eight years prior to the call deadline.
• PhD candidates may be exceptionally considered if their research proposal demonstrates significant relevance to the program objectives.
• Fluency in English is required, as it is the working language of the program.
• The program is open to all disciplines within engineering, humanities, social sciences, and the arts.
• Researchers from all countries are eligible to apply.

TYPES OF FELLOWSHIPS

1. Full Fellowship
   • Six-month residency in Skopje
   • €1,000/month stipend
   • Additional €1,500 fund for publications, conference participation, or research mobility
2. Adjunct Fellowship
   • One to three-month residency in Skopje
   • €1,000/month stipend
   • Additional €1,500 fund for publications, conference participation, or research mobility
3. Associate Fellowship
   • No residency required
   • €2,000 fund for publications, conference participation, or research mobility.

FELLOWSHIP OBLIGATIONS

Selected fellows must:

• Conduct a research residency at CAPRIS UKIM (1–6 months) as a Full or Adjunct Fellow, or complete a 6-month Associate Fellowship remotely.
• Attend at least one scientific conference with peer-reviewed proceedings and an international editorial board (with members from at least 5 EU or OECD countries).
• Publish at least one scientific article in a journal indexed in EBSCO, SCOPUS, or similar databases, affiliated with “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” University in Skopje, CAPRIS UKIM, within 24 months of the fellowship start.
• Follow the procedures and protocols for research work and reimbursement.
• Submit:
  • Interim Report (after 3 months)
  • Final Report (upon completion of fellowship)

Failure to fulfill these obligations will result in the requirement to refund all received funds after the 24-month period.

RESEARCH DOMAINS

• Urban Planning (Strategic, Integrated, Data-Driven, Evidence-Based)
• Urban Mobility (Sustainable Mobility, Smart Transport)
• Urban Policies (Innovation, City Management, Smart Institutions)
• Urban Resilience (Climate Change, Risk, Disaster Management)
• Urban Informatics (Big Data, AI, Machine Learning, Smart Cities/Citizens)
• Urban Environment (Energy Efficiency, Renewables, Green Transition)
• Urban Legacy (Digital History, Heritage Preservation, Urban Identity)
• Urban Culture (Urban & Performative Arts, Urban Narratives)

FACILITIES & NETWORKS

CAPRIS UKIM will provide:

• Dedicated workspace and equipment
• Administrative and logistical support
• Access to research databases and regional facilities

Fellows may conduct research visits of up to four weeks at partner institutions within the RECAS Network, including universities in Rijeka, Belgrade, Sarajevo, Ljubljana, Tirana, Podgorica, and Pristina.

All research mobility, conference participation, and publishing activities are subject to preapproval by CAPRIS UKIM.