The ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026 is now open for applications. This is a great chance for young researchers to work on their own projects at one of the top universities in Switzerland. This ETH Zurich Fellowship program supports young researchers aiming to become independent academics, with many fellows getting professorships a few years after the fellowship. You need a professor at ETH Zurich to support your application and be your mentor. The professor can only submit one candidate each round. There should be a strong match between the host group and the ETH Fellow. Fellowships help early academic independence, so applicants should come up with their own project ideas. The fellow and mentor should not have worked closely together before.
Key Points:
- Helps new postdoctoral researchers
- Focus on academic independence
- Mentorship by ETH Zurich professors
- Encourages diverse applications
- Competitive with a 25% success rate
ETH Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 Summary
| Fellowship In | Switzerland |
| Available For | International Postdoctorals |
| Fellowship Type | Funded |
| Last Apply Date | 1st September 2025 |
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ETH Fellowship Benefits
- Competitive salary coverage at 100% ETH standards
- Annual research grant of CHF 10,000 for:
- Travel allowances
- Mobility allowances
- Research cost contributions
- Note: Funds allocated for travel and research costs cannot be used for salary, and vice versa
Eligibility Criteria
- Hold a PhD or complete it within six months of the deadline.
- PhD no older than two years by the submission deadline.
- Certification of planned defense date if PhD is not yet completed.
- Defense completed by the start of the fellowship, no later than six months after the deadline.
- PhD not from ETH Zurich or University of Zurich.
- Not lived or worked in Switzerland for more than twelve months in the past three years.
- Not worked at ETH Zurich, EPF Lausanne, other ETH domain research institutes, or University of Zurich for more than six months in the past three years.
- At least one publication in a peer-reviewed journal or a prize for doctoral thesis.
- Applications not meeting criteria will be rejected.
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Required Documents
- Candidate’s CV: A detailed CV that includes your publications, and education and employment dates.
- Host Professor’s CV: A short CV of the host professor (2 pages max).
- Research Project Description: A brief overview of your role and how it fits within the host group.
- Career Goals Outline: A short description of your career aspirations (1 page max).
- Certification: If applicable, a document showing your planned defense date, signed by your advisor or department chair.
- Invitation Letter: A letter from your host professor endorsing your excellence.
- External Reference Letters: Two letters emailed directly to the Grants Office.
How to Apply? ETH Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026
- Submit online as PDF via ETH Zurich’s eResearch portal.
- Portal opens 1 month before deadline.
- You must use the official templates for:
- Your project description
- Any extra required details
Selection Process
- You must be available for interview dates as assigned—no changes or preferences allowed.
- The ETH Zurich Research Commission reviews all applications.
- First they check your written proposal.
- If shortlisted, a 15-minute online interview.
Apply Now For The ETH Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026