ETH Fellows Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027: March & September

The ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship programme (ETH Fellows) gives early-career researchers a route to conduct independent research at ETH Zurich in Switzerland. For applicants seeking a fully funded postdoctoral fellowship at ETH Zurich, the programme combines a two-year appointment, salary support and a dedicated research budget. 

Competition is strong. ETH Zurich reports recent success rates of about 15–20%, with approximately 25 fellows selected each year. Applicants therefore need an original project, an eligible ETH Zurich host and clear scientific synergy. This guide covers eligibility, funding, deadlines and selection.

What Is the ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme?

ETH Fellows supports incoming postdoctoral researchers across all disciplines represented at ETH Zurich. Each fellow works with an ETH professor who serves as host and mentor.

Research independence is central. Applicants should bring their own project idea rather than simply join an existing host project. However, the proposal must also explain why the selected ETH group provides the right environment. ETH Zurich states that the applicant and the host should not have collaborated closely prior to the fellowship. 

The fellowship lasts exactly two years and cannot be extended. 

Key Benefits of the ETH Fellows Programme

The programme is designed as an early-career step toward independent academic research. ETH Zurich reports that around 40–50% of former fellows secure a professorship within a few years after the fellowship. 

Moreover, the award combines salary funding with research and mobility support.

ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship Eligibility Requirements

PhD, publication and mobility rules

At the deadline, applicants must hold a doctoral degree or expect to obtain it within six months. Candidates who already hold a doctorate must have completed their PhD examination or viva no more than two years earlier.

Applicants also need at least one peer-reviewed journal publication or a prize for their doctoral thesis.

The programme targets incoming researchers. Applicants who earned their doctorate at ETH Zurich or the University of Zurich are ineligible. In addition, candidates cannot have lived or conducted their main activity in Switzerland for more than 12 months during the previous three years.

A separate six-month limit applies to activity at ETH Zurich, EPFL, PSI, WSL, Empa, Eawag or the University of Zurich during that period.

Funding and Salary for ETH Fellows

The fellowship provides a 100% ETH-standard postdoctoral salary for two years. Under the 2026 rates, ETH Zurich lists a gross salary of CHF 92,500 in year one and CHF 97,200 in year two. 

In addition, fellows receive up to CHF 12,000 per year for research-related expenses. Current guidelines allocate up to CHF 9,000 annually for research costs and up to CHF 3,000 for travel or mobility. Thus, the two-year non-salary allowance can reach CHF 24,000.

Salary and research budgets remain separate. 

ETH Fellows Deadline and Application Timeline

ETH Zurich runs two calls each year. The regular deadlines are 1 March and 1 September at 17:00 Swiss local time. Therefore, the next scheduled deadline is 1 September 2026 at 17:00 Swiss local time. 

Applicants normally learn within about two months whether they will proceed to interview. Final decisions usually arrive around four months after submission. Successful applicants should start within eight months of the deadline. 

Documents Required for the ETH Fellows Application

Applicants apply jointly with a prospective ETH Zurich host professor. The main documents include:

• • A research project description explaining the candidate’s contribution.

  • A candidate CV and publication record, with a four-page maximum.

  • A career-goals statement of up to one page.

  • Proof of the planned PhD defence date, when applicable.

  • An invitation and support letter from the host professor.

  • The host professor’s short CV, limited to two pages.

  • Two confidential external reference letters.

Referees must send their letters directly to the ETH Zurich Grants Office no later than 10 days before the submission deadline. A separate cover letter is not required.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for ETH Fellows

First, confirm your eligibility, especially the PhD date and mobility rules.

Second, identify an ETH Zurich professor whose research complements your proposed work. Contact the professor early and explain your research question, contribution and reasons for choosing the group. The ETH Zurich Grants Office does not identify hosts for candidates.

Third, develop the project with clear intellectual ownership. The proposal should show strong fit without merely extending the host’s current programme. Next, prepare the CV, career outline and supporting documents using ETH Zurich’s current templates. 

Finally, submit through the ETH Zurich eResearch system. The host must also complete the required sections. Validate the application carefully because changes are not permitted after submission. 

Selection Criteria and Interview Process

ETH Zurich uses a two-stage evaluation. The Research Commission first assesses written applications. Shortlisted candidates then attend a mandatory online interview lasting about 15 minutes.

Reviewers consider research performance, career stage, skills and future potential. They also examine scientific quality, innovation, methods, anticipated challenges and contingency planning. In addition, they assess the added value between the applicant and host laboratory.

The interview does not require a research presentation. Candidates should prepare to discuss the project, host choice, skills, collaboration plan and career goals.

Expert Tips and Common Mistakes

A useful strategy is to frame the proposal around “independence plus fit.” The project should be clearly yours, yet it should benefit from specific ETH expertise or infrastructure. This approach directly reflects the programme’s emphasis on applicant ownership and host-group synergy.

For example, an Indian materials-science researcher could bring electrocatalyst expertise while proposing a mechanistic study using specialised ETH facilities. The proposal should explain this complementarity clearly.

Choose referees early because their letters arrive before the main deadline. Keep dates consistent across the CV and application. ETH Zurich’s CV instructions specifically require consistency between dates and information provided elsewhere in the application.

ETH Zurich permits generative AI tools in principle for proposal preparation, but applicants must disclose their use. Applicants remain responsible for accuracy, citations, intellectual property and research integrity.

Conclusion

The ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship programme in Switzerland is a competitive option for researchers seeking funded postdoctoral training with a focus on academic independence. The two-year award combines salary support, research funding and mentorship at ETH Zurich. However, applicants must satisfy strict PhD and mobility rules. They should identify a suitable host early and build a project showing originality and scientific fit. Review the latest official sources before submitting.

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