The ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship (ETH Fellows) is built around a genuinely different idea than most postdoctoral positions — instead of joining a lab to help execute someone else’s grant, you propose your own original research and bring it to one of Europe’s leading science and technology institutions, with a professor there simply mentoring your independence rather than directing your work.
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This fellowship exists specifically to give scientifically strong early-career researchers a real, structured step toward becoming principal investigators in their own right. This programme runs twice a year, not once — with deadlines on 1 March and 1 September, both at 17:00 Swiss local time — and the next upcoming deadline is 1 September 2026, giving you a real, near-term opportunity if you’re eligible and ready.
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ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship Summary
| Fellowship Name ⇒ | ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship (ETH Fellows) |
| Host Country ⇒ | Switzerland |
| Host Institution ⇒ | ETH Zurich |
| Study Level ⇒ | Fellowships |
| Duration ⇒ | 2 years |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All countries |
| Reward ⇒ | Full postdoctoral salary, up to CHF 9,000/year research funds, travel funding |
| Application Deadlines ⇒ | Twice yearly — 1 March and 1 September, 17:00 Swiss local time |
About the ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship
The programme is built to give scientifically strong early-career researchers a genuine, early step toward academic independence — priority explicitly goes to applicants proposing their own original research ideas, not projects extending a host professor’s existing work. Applications must be submitted jointly by the candidate and a willing ETH Zurich host professor, who acts as mentor, and each professor may only support one candidate per evaluation round.
What the ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship Covers
- A full salary based on ETH Zurich’s postdoctoral pay scale, including a 15% social security contribution paid by ETH Zurich
- Up to CHF 9,000 per year for research expenses — note that research funds and salary funds are strictly separate and cannot be redirected between the two
- Mobility and conference travel funding
- Full access to ETH Zurich’s research facilities and academic resources
- Direct mentorship from a leading professor in your field
- Genuine collaboration opportunities with top researchers, including attending international events
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Eligibility Requirements
- Hold a doctoral degree at the time of the deadline, or complete it within six months — the examination or defence itself must be completed no later than six months after the submission deadline
- Your PhD must have been obtained no more than two years before the submission deadline, based on the date of your examination or defence
- Not have earned your PhD from ETH Zurich or the University of Zurich
- Not have spent more than six months in the last three years carrying out your main activity at ETH Zurich, EPF Lausanne, or any ETH domain research institute (PSI, WSL, Empa, or Eawag), or the University of Zurich
- Not have resided or worked primarily in Switzerland for more than twelve months within the three years before the deadline
- Have at least one peer-reviewed publication, or a genuine award for your doctoral thesis
- Your host professor must hold a guaranteed ETH position with at least 50% employment for the entire proposed fellowship duration — assistant professors specifically must contact the Grants Office before submission to confirm their own eligibility as a host
- Your research project must be genuinely your own idea, and you and your host should not have closely collaborated before the fellowship
Required Documents
- A detailed academic CV covering your research background, education, publications, and relevant experience
- A well-structured, original research proposal (up to 4 pages), outlining objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes
- A one-page cover letter or motivation statement, including a brief outline of your own career goals and how the fellowship supports your path toward academic independence
- Two reference letters, emailed directly by your referees to the ETH Zurich Grants Office at least 10 days before the submission deadline
- Official academic transcripts from your undergraduate and postgraduate studies
How to Apply
- Identify and contact an ETH Zurich professor whose research genuinely aligns with your proposed project, well ahead of the deadline — each professor can only support one candidate per round
- Prepare your CV, research proposal, cover letter, and transcripts, following ETH’s own official templates
- Register on the ETH Zurich eResearch platform and start a new application under “My Applications,” selecting the ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship call
- Upload all documents as a single PDF file through the portal
- Ensure your two referees send their letters directly to the Grants Office at least 10 days before your chosen deadline — either 1 March or 1 September
- If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to a brief online interview within roughly two months of the deadline
- Final funding decisions are typically communicated about four months after the submission deadline
- If successful, plan to start your fellowship within eight months of the deadline, or request formal approval from the Grants Office for a later start
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times a year can I apply for the ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship?
Twice. Deadlines fall on 1 March and 1 September each year, at 17:00 Swiss local time.
How recent does my PhD need to be to qualify?
It must have been obtained no more than two years before the submission deadline, based on your examination or defence date.
Am I ineligible if I studied somewhere other than ETH Zurich but within the wider ETH network?
Possibly, yes. The exclusion covers ETH Zurich, EPF Lausanne, the University of Zurich, and any ETH domain research institute (PSI, WSL, Empa, Eawag) if you spent more than six months there in the past three years.
Can I use my research funding to cover part of my salary?
No. Research funds and salary funds are kept strictly separate under this fellowship and cannot be redirected between the two.
How long after applying will I know if I’ve been selected?
Interview invitations, for shortlisted candidates, go out within about two months of the deadline. Final funding decisions typically follow around four months after the submission deadline.
Disclaimer: All fellowship details, including the biannual deadline structure and eligibility criteria, were verified directly against ETH Zurich’s official Grants Office pages as of August 2026. Given the approaching 1 September 2026 deadline, confirm all current details directly at grantsoffice.ethz.ch before applying.
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