Application Deadline: 1 September, 2026, at 17:00 Swiss local time
LOCATION: Switzerland
The ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship programme (ETH Fellows) supports incoming postdoctoral researchers at ETH Zurich. The programme is intended to foster young researchers who have already demonstrated scientific excellence in the early stages of their careers. This prestigious early career programme is geared towards high potential academics with 40-50% of the fellows securing a professorship within a few years after the fellowship.
ELIGIBILITY:
At the time of the submission deadline, applicants must hold a doctorate (PhD) or will complete their doctorate within the next six months. Applicants with the doctorate (PhD) must have obtained it a maximum of two years prior to the submission deadline. The decisive date is the date of the examination or defense/viva voce.
Applicants who have not yet completed their doctorate must submit a certification of the planned date of their defense signed by the advisor or department chair. The examination or defense/viva voce must have been completed by the time the fellowship is started (and no later than six months after the deadline).
Applicants who earned their PhD from ETH Zurich or the University of Zurich will not be considered.
Applicants may not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Switzerland for more than twelve months in the three years immediately before the submission deadline.
Applicants may not have carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) at either ETH Zurich, EPF Lausanne, a research institute of the ETH domain (PSI, WSL, Empa and Eawag), or the University of Zurich for more than six months in the three years immediately before the submission deadline.
Applicants need to have at least one scientific publication in a peer-reviewed journal or have been awarded a prize for their doctoral thesis.
Applications not complying with the eligibility criteria will be rejected on formal grounds.
BENEFIT:
The fellowship covers the fellow’s salary (100%, based on ETH standards). ETH Fellows are also entitled to CHF 12,000 per year for research expenses, including travel/mobility allowances and research cost contributions. The budget allocated for travel and research costs may not be used to cover salary costs, and vice versa.
The following salary rates apply for 2026 (100%, based on ETH standards)
| Year | Gross salary | Total rates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHF 92,500 | CHF 106,400 |
| 2 | CHF 97’200 | CHF 111,800 |
| Total | CHF 189,700 | CHF 218,200 |
The total rates must be used for budgeting. They include 15.0% social security contributions to be paid by ETH Zurich.
The duration of an ETH fellowship is two years and cannot be prolonged.
