ETH Postdoctoral Fellowships (ETH Fellows) in Switzerland

The ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship, widely known as ETH Fellows, is a prestigious early career programme offered by ETH Zurich for outstanding incoming postdoctoral researchers. The programme is designed to support young scientists who have already shown clear signs of excellence in the early stages of their academic journey. What makes this opportunity particularly attractive is its track record: between 40 and 50 percent of ETH Fellows go on to secure a professorship within just a few years of completing the fellowship.

For any researcher who has recently finished a doctorate and is hoping to build an independent academic career, this fellowship offers funding, mentorship, and the kind of institutional backing that can genuinely accelerate a career trajectory. For more BS, MS,Phd, Postdoc Positions visit here.

Key Features:

• Applications must be supported by an ETH Zurich professor who acts as the mentor.
• A professor may support only one candidate per evaluation round.
• Strong synergies between the host group and the fellow are required.
• Priority is given to applicants who propose their own independent projects.
• Applicants and mentors should not have closely collaborated before the fellowship.
• The programme is highly competitive (success rate approximately 15-20%).
• Applications from candidates of all genders and backgrounds are strongly encouraged.

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Eligibility Criteria:

Candidate Eligibility

• At the time of the submission deadline, applicants must hold a doctoral degree (PhD or Doctor of Sciences) or obtain it within the next six months.
• The PhD must have been obtained a maximum of two years prior to the submission deadline (date of examination or defense counts).
• Applicants must have at least one scientific publication in a peer-reviewed journal or have received a prize for their doctoral thesis.
• Applicants who resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Switzerland for more than twelve months in the three years immediately before the deadline are ineligible.
• Applicants who carried out their main activity at ETH Zurich, EPFL, a research institute of the ETH domain (PSI, WSL, Empa, Eawag), or the University of Zurich for more than six months in the three years before the deadline are ineligible.

Host Professor Eligibility

• The host professor must hold a guaranteed ETH Zurich position (minimum 50% employment) for the entire duration of the fellowship.
• Assistant professors must contact the Grants Office before submitting to confirm eligibility.
• ETH professors may host no more than one ETH Fellow per evaluation round.
• Hosts may be asked to review applications for the programme as a service requirement.

Note: Full details are available in the official guidelines. Applications that do not meet eligibility criteria will be rejected.

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Special Submission Requirements:

• Applications require support from an ETH Zurich professor willing to act as mentor.
• You must contact the potential host professor well in advance.
• The host professor must provide an invitation letter to be uploaded with the application.
• Each candidate needs two external reference letters. Referees must email them directly to the Grants Office at least 10 days before the deadline. Letters must include letterhead and signature.

Project Duration, Funding and Budgeting:

The fellowship lasts two years and cannot be extended.

It covers:

• Fellow’s salary (100%, according to ETH standards)
• CHF 12,000 per year for research expenses (travel, mobility, and research costs)

Salary and research budgets cannot be interchanged.

Salary Rates for 2026 (100% employment)

The total rates include 15% social security contributions paid by ETH Zurich.

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Deadlines and Evaluation Timeline:

Submission deadlines are 1 March and 1 September at 17:00 Swiss local time each year. If the deadline falls on a weekend, it moves to the following Monday.

2026 Interview Dates

• Candidates are informed about interview invitations within two months after the deadline.
• Final decisions are communicated about four months after submission.
• Fellows must start at the latest eight months after the submission deadline (starts on the first day of a month).

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Application Procedure:

Applications are submitted electronically via the ETH Zurich eResearch system in PDF format. The call opens approximately one month before each deadline.

You must use the official templates:

• Project Details (DOCX)
• Accompanying Information (DOCX)

The ETH Zurich Research Commission evaluates applications. The process includes written evaluation followed by an online interview (approx. 15 minutes).

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How to Submit an Application:

1. Download the required Project Description templates (Project Details and Accompanying Information).
2. Fill in the templates and prepare all other required documents. Convert everything to PDF (no password protection).
3. Register on eResearch and set a password (first-time users).
4. Go to “My Applications” → “New Application” and select the ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship call.
5. Fill in all mandatory fields and upload required attachments.
6. Add the host professor on the “Participants” page (they will receive an automatic email to upload documents).
7. Add the two reference providers on the “References” page.
8. Use the “Validation Summary” to check for missing items.
9. Once validated, click “Save And Close”.
10. Submit the application before the deadline.
11. Download a PDF copy of your submitted application for your records.

Tip: You can save your progress and return to the application anytime before the deadline.

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Tips to Strengthen Your Application:

A few practical habits can make a meaningful difference in how competitive an application turns out to be.

• Reach out to a potential host professor several weeks or months in advance, since building a strong mutual understanding of the proposed project takes time
• Choose a project that reflects genuinely independent thinking rather than a continuation of work already led by the mentor
• Contact reference providers early so their letters arrive well before the ten day deadline
• Read the official guidelines document carefully, since formal noncompliance leads to automatic rejection regardless of research quality
• Treat the interview stage seriously, since it is a required part of evaluation for shortlisted candidates and lasts around fifteen minutes online

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Important documents and templates:

• DownloadGuidelines  (PDF, 204 KB)
• DownloadCV instructions  (PDF, 123 KB)
• DownloadFAQ  (PDF, 315 KB)
• DownloadTemplate project description (part 1, project details)  (DOCX, 22 KB)
• DownloadTemplate project description (part 2, accompanying information)  (DOCX, 21 KB)

Frequently Asked Questions:

How long does the ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship last?

The fellowship lasts for two years and cannot be extended beyond this fixed duration.

Who is not eligible for ETH Fellows?

Researchers who completed their doctorate more than two years before the deadline, who lived or worked in Switzerland for more than twelve months in the past three years, or who had their main activity at ETH Zurich, EPF Lausanne, or a related ETH domain institute for more than six months in the past three years, are not eligible.

Does the fellowship cover a full salary?

Yes, the fellowship covers a full salary based on ETH standards, plus an additional CHF 12,000 per year for research and travel expenses.

How many reference letters are required?

Two external reference letters are required, and referees must send them directly to the Grants Office at least ten days before the submission deadline.

When are the application deadlines?

The deadlines fall on 1 March and 1 September each year, moving to the following Monday if either date lands on a weekend.

Can an ETH professor host more than one fellow at a time?

No, a single ETH professor may only submit with one candidate per evaluation round.

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