Design++ Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027: Apply by 1 Nov 2026

What the fellowship offers

ETH Zurich’s Design++ programme, supported through its partnership with Halter Group AG, advertises two full-time, fixed-term postdoctoral positions. Each carries a two-year ETH contract and standard ETH postdoctoral salary; no fixed salary figure is stated in the call.

Fellows develop their proposed research with two ETH professors. The programme includes industry exchange, quarterly updates and mid-term/final reporting. Teaching or other co-host duties may occupy up to approximately 25% of working time.

Offer-review advice: Discuss project resources, expected duties, reporting and access to collaborators with the proposed hosts. Ask for the salary basis and employment conditions when assessing an offer.

Eligibility and research fit

A relevant PhD must be completed, or completed within ten months of the deadline, for a start no later than September 2027. Relevant fields include architecture, civil engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering and materials science.

The proposal must fit Design++ objectives. Publications or awards, industry collaboration and relevant computational experience strengthen the profile but are described as desirable.

Research can address AI-assisted design, XR-supported work, digital information processes or collaborative project delivery. Suitable methods may include AI/ML, robotics, simulation and optimisation.

CareerAidHub advice: define the problem before the method

Choose one clear challenge and explain why it warrants research. Identify the proposed method, the evidence you will collect and how you will judge the result. A focused plan is easier to assess than a list of technologies without a research question.

Distinguish your prior contribution from collaborative work. Use publications, prototypes, datasets or other documented outcomes to show readiness for the proposed project.

Co-hosting requirements

The two co-hosts must come from different ETH departments, with at least one in the Design++ Faculty Network. Contact them with a proposal abstract before the deadline. The support letter is optional; Design++ can help facilitate arrangements for shortlisted applicants without two confirmed hosts.

Outreach advice: Explain why each professor’s expertise is relevant and what the collaboration would add. Send a concise abstract and a focused CV. Keep a record of responses and avoid implying that an enquiry constitutes host approval.

Required application documents

Make each document serve a purpose

Editorial guidance: Use the CV to show relevant evidence, the motivation to explain your interest and contribution, and the research statement to establish the project’s question and feasibility. Avoid repeating the same paragraphs across all three.

Give referees the call and a draft proposal early. Before submission, check page counts, legibility, names, dates and the portal’s upload fields.

Timeline and application process

The call opened on 1 September and closes on 1 November 2026. The published schedule anticipates interviews in December, decisions in January 2027 and starts between February and September 2027.

Apply exclusively through the ETH Job Portal using the Apply Now link on the official programme page. Email, telephone and postal applications are not accepted. Questions may be directed to griegod@ethz.ch.

1. Read the current call. Confirm that the research direction and PhD timeline fit.
2. Approach suitable hosts. Share a focused abstract and accurately describe the status of discussions.
3. Complete the package. Follow the document limits and arrange the reference letters.
4. Review and submit. Check all attachments and retain the submission confirmation.

Planning advice: Do not assume a midnight deadline when no hour is stated. Submit ahead of the final day and check the current portal for updates.

Career Accelerator Program support

CareerAidHub’s Career Accelerator Program offers profile review, opportunity mapping, tailored academic CV feedback, motivation-letter and research-statement review, outreach planning and one-to-one mentorship.

Support can help applicants organise evidence, clarify research fit and prepare a focused host enquiry.

CareerAidHub is independent of ETH Zurich and Design++. Services do not guarantee host support, eligibility or selection.