The ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme (ETH Fellows) at ETH Zurich is one of Europe’s most prestigious early-career research opportunities designed to support outstanding postdoctoral researchers from around the world. The fellowship enables talented scholars to conduct independent research while working with leading experts at ETH Zurich, one of the world’s top-ranked universities.
This highly competitive programme is specifically designed to foster academic independence and support researchers who have demonstrated exceptional scientific achievements early in their careers. Many past ETH Fellows have gone on to secure professorships and influential academic positions globally, with approximately 40–50% of fellows becoming professors within a few years of completing the fellowship.
The ETH Fellows programme provides full salary funding, research support, and access to world-class research infrastructure in Switzerland. Through mentorship from ETH Zurich faculty members, fellows gain the resources and collaborative environment necessary to develop cutting-edge research projects and accelerate their academic careers.
About ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich) is internationally recognized for excellence in science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. The institution consistently ranks among the top universities globally and has produced numerous Nobel laureates, pioneering researchers, and influential innovators.
The ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship programme contributes to ETH Zurich’s mission of advancing scientific discovery by attracting exceptional researchers from diverse backgrounds worldwide.
Key Objectives of the ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme
The programme aims to:
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Support outstanding early-career researchers with strong scientific track records.
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Encourage innovative and independent research projects.
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Foster collaboration between international researchers and ETH Zurich faculty.
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Promote academic leadership and prepare fellows for future professorships.
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Strengthen global research networks across disciplines.
Fellowship Duration
The ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship has a fixed duration of two years.
Important notes:
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The fellowship cannot be extended beyond two years.
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Fellows must start their fellowship within eight months after the submission deadline.
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The fellowship start date must be the first day of a month.
A later start is only permitted in exceptional cases and requires approval from the ETH Zurich Grants Office.
Funding and Financial Support
ETH Fellows receive a comprehensive funding package that includes salary and research support.
Salary
The fellowship covers 100% of the fellow’s salary based on ETH Zurich standards.
Salary structure for 2026:
Year 1
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Gross salary: CHF 92,500
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Total employment cost: CHF 106,400
Year 2
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Gross salary: CHF 97,200
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Total employment cost: CHF 111,800
Total funding over two years:
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Gross salary: CHF 189,700
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Total employment cost: CHF 218,200
The total employment cost includes 15% social security contributions paid by ETH Zurich.
Research Funding
In addition to the salary, fellows receive:
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CHF 12,000 per year for research expenses
This funding can be used for:
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Research materials
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Travel and mobility expenses
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Conference participation
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Scientific collaboration activities
Note: Research funds cannot be used for salary costs, and salary funds cannot be redirected toward research expenses.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet several strict eligibility criteria at the time of the submission deadline.
Doctoral Degree Requirement
Applicants must:
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Hold a PhD degree, OR
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Complete their PhD within six months after the submission deadline.
For applicants who have not yet completed their PhD:
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A certification confirming the planned defense date must be submitted.
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The document must be signed by the doctoral advisor or department chair.
PhD Time Limit
Applicants who already hold a PhD must have received the degree no more than two years before the submission deadline.
The decisive date is the official examination or defense date (viva voce).
Publication Requirement
Applicants must have:
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At least one scientific publication in a peer-reviewed journal, OR
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Received a prize for their doctoral thesis.
Mobility Requirements
The fellowship follows strict international mobility rules.
Applicants are not eligible if they:
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Have resided or worked in Switzerland for more than 12 months in the three years before the deadline.
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Have worked or studied for more than six months in the past three years at any of the following institutions:
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ETH Zurich
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EPF Lausanne
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ETH Domain Research Institutes (PSI, WSL, Empa, Eawag)
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University of Zurich
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Additionally:
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Applicants who received their PhD from ETH Zurich or the University of Zurich are not eligible.
Mentor Requirement
Each applicant must have a host professor at ETH Zurich who agrees to act as a mentor.
Important conditions:
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A professor may support only one candidate per evaluation round.
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The mentor must provide an official invitation letter.
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The host professor must upload required documents in the application system.
Applicants are strongly advised to contact potential mentors well before the application deadline.
Project Proposal Expectations
Applicants are expected to propose their own original research project.
The programme prioritizes:
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Independent research ideas
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Innovative and impactful proposals
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Projects demonstrating clear synergy with the host research group
Applicants and mentors should not have closely collaborated before the fellowship.
Reference Letters
Applicants must submit two external reference letters.
Requirements include:
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Letters must be sent directly to the ETH Zurich Grants Office.
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Submission must occur at least 10 days before the deadline.
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Letters must include:
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Institutional letterhead
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Signature of the referee.
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Application Deadlines
The ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship programme has two submission deadlines each year.
2026 deadlines:
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2 March 2026, 17:00 Swiss local time
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1 September 2026, 17:00 Swiss local time
If a deadline falls on a weekend, it will be moved to the following Monday at the same time.
Interview Process
The selection process includes two stages:
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Written evaluation of the submitted proposal
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Interview for shortlisted candidates
The interviews are conducted online via video call.
For the 2026 calls:
March 2026 deadline interviews:
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19 May 2026
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20 May 2026
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21 May 2026
September 2026 deadline interviews:
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10 November 2026
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11 November 2026
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12 November 2026
Applicants are informed within two months after the deadline whether they have been invited for an interview.
Final decisions are announced approximately four months after the submission deadline.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted electronically through the ETH Zurich eResearch grant application system.
Steps to apply:
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Download the Official project description templates.
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Prepare the required documents and convert them into PDF format.
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Register an account on the eResearch platform.
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Start a new application under “My Applications”.
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Select the ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship call.
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Complete all mandatory fields in the application form.
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Upload required documents.
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Add the host professor under the Participants section.
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Add two reference providers under the References section.
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Validate the application to ensure all required sections are complete.
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Submit the application before the deadline.
Once submitted, changes are no longer allowed.
Applicants are advised to download a PDF copy of the application for personal records.
Evaluation and Selection
Applications are evaluated by the ETH Zurich Research Commission.
Evaluation criteria include:
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Scientific excellence
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Research originality
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Feasibility of the research proposal
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Candidate’s academic track record
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Alignment with the host research group
Due to the programme’s prestige and limited fellowships, the competition is intense.
Recent success rates have been approximately 25%.
Why Apply for the ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship
This fellowship provides a unique opportunity for early-career researchers to:
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Conduct independent research at a world-leading university
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Collaborate with internationally recognized scholars
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Gain access to cutting-edge research facilities
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Build strong academic networks
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Enhance career prospects in academia
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Secure funding for innovative research projects
Many fellows successfully transition into tenure-track and professorship positions globally, making the programme a powerful launchpad for academic careers.
Click HERE to learn more about the ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme.
Discover more global fellowship opportunities HERE.
