ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027 in Switzerland

ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027 in Switzerland

The ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027 in Switzerland is a fully funded research opportunity for outstanding early-career researchers from around the world. The fellowship allows talented postdoctoral researchers to conduct independent research at ETH Zurich, one of Europe's leading universities for science, technology, engineering, and innovation.

The programme is designed to attract researchers with strong academic records and promising research ideas. Successful fellows become part of an ETH Zurich department or research group, where they can work with experienced professors, researchers, and international colleagues while accessing a world-class research environment.

The fellowship has a two-year duration and provides financial support based on ETH Zurich salary standards, along with funding for research-related expenses.

ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027 Overview

What Is the ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship?

The ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship supports young researchers who have demonstrated strong potential during the early stages of their academic careers. Fellows conduct research within an ETH Zurich department or research group and benefit from the university's advanced research infrastructure and international academic environment.

An important feature of the programme is that applicants develop their own research ideas and apply together with a potential ETH Zurich host professor. The proposed project should have a strong connection with the host professor's research expertise.

Each professor can endorse only one candidate per evaluation period, making early communication with a potential host particularly important.

Fellowship Benefits

The ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship provides significant financial support to successful researchers. Fellows receive a 100% salary based on ETH Zurich standards for the duration of the fellowship.

In addition, ETH Zurich provides CHF 12,000 per year for research expenses. This research budget can support eligible costs such as travel, mobility, and research-related contributions. The research and travel budget cannot be transferred to cover salary expenses.

The fellowship also gives researchers the opportunity to work in an internationally recognised scientific environment and collaborate with professors and researchers from different disciplines.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements to be considered for the ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Candidates must hold a doctoral degree (PhD) or be able to complete their doctorate within the required period. For the 2027 call, the official ETH AI Center information similarly states that postdoctoral candidates must hold a doctorate by the relevant deadline or complete it at least three months before the fellowship begins.

For the ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship described by the current call, applicants who obtained their PhD from ETH Zurich or the University of Zurich are not eligible. Applicants must also have completed their PhD at another university within the specified period before the application deadline.

Candidates must also satisfy Switzerland-related mobility requirements. They should not have resided or carried out their main activity in Switzerland for more than 12 months during the three years immediately preceding the deadline. Additional restrictions apply to previous activity at ETH Zurich, EPFL, other ETH Domain research institutions, and the University of Zurich.

Applicants are also required to have at least one peer-reviewed scientific publication or a prize for their doctoral thesis.

Research Areas

ETH Zurich is internationally recognised for research across science, engineering, technology, and related disciplines. The university has numerous departments and research groups covering areas ranging from engineering and computer science to natural sciences, architecture, environmental research, and other interdisciplinary fields.

Applicants should identify an ETH Zurich professor whose research interests closely match their proposed project. A strong academic fit between the applicant, research proposal, and host professor is an important part of the fellowship application.

Required Documents

Applicants need to prepare a complete research-focused application. The required documents include a description of the research project, CV, career goals, cover letter, invitation letter from the host professor, short CV of the host professor, and two reference letters.

The research proposal should clearly explain the project's objectives, methodology, expected contribution, and relevance to the applicant's academic career. It should also demonstrate why ETH Zurich and the selected host professor provide an appropriate environment for the proposed research.

Reference letters are an important part of the application and should come from established researchers who can provide meaningful information about the candidate's academic and research abilities.

How to Apply

The application process is conducted online through the ETH Zurich grant application system. Applicants should first identify a suitable ETH Zurich professor who is willing to act as their host and mentor.

After developing the research proposal with the appropriate academic alignment, candidates should prepare the required documents and submit the application through the official system.

The reference letters must also be submitted according to the fellowship instructions. The current ETH Grants Office information states that external reference letters must reach the Grants Office at least 10 days before the submission deadline.

Applicants should therefore start the process early rather than waiting until the final deadline.

Application Deadline

The deadline for the ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027 listed in the current opportunity is September 1, 2026, at 17:00 Swiss local time.

Applicants should make sure that their complete application and required reference letters are submitted before the deadline. ETH Zurich evaluates applications through its research evaluation process, and shortlisted candidates may subsequently be invited for an interview.

Selection Process

The fellowship is highly competitive, and only a limited number of candidates are selected. ETH Zurich's Research Commission is responsible for evaluating applications for the fellowship described in the current call.

A competitive application should demonstrate excellent academic achievements, meaningful research experience, a strong publication record, an original research proposal, and a clear fit with the proposed ETH Zurich host professor.

Applicants should also explain how the fellowship will contribute to their long-term academic and research career.

Why Apply for the ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship?

The fellowship offers more than financial support. Researchers gain the opportunity to become part of a world-class research institution and work alongside leading academics and international researchers.

The combination of a fully supported salary, annual research funding, advanced research facilities, and international collaboration makes the fellowship particularly attractive for researchers planning to develop an independent academic career.

Working at ETH Zurich can also provide valuable opportunities to build international research networks and develop collaborations that may continue beyond the two-year fellowship.

Final Thoughts

The ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027 in Switzerland is a valuable opportunity for talented early-career researchers seeking fully funded postdoctoral research experience in Europe. The programme provides a salary based on ETH standards and CHF 12,000 annually for research expenses, while giving fellows access to ETH Zurich's international research environment.

Researchers interested in applying should focus on developing an original research proposal and identifying a suitable ETH Zurich host professor as early as possible. Since the application deadline is September 1, 2026, candidates should begin preparing their documents and references well in advance. Apply Now