Branco Weiss Fellowship – 2027 intake

The Branco Weiss Fellowship, run and administered by ETH Zurich, is a worldwide postdoctoral programme for researchers in any discipline, including the natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities, who pursue unconventional projects outside the mainstream of their field and are willing to engage in dialogue on social, cultural, political or economic issues beyond their discipline. Up to ten fellowships are awarded each year. A fellowship provides up to CHF 600,000 for up to five years, covering all legitimate research costs such as salary, equipment, travel, consumables and personnel, in a two-and-a-half-year pioneer phase followed, after review, by a two-and-a-half-year exploitation phase; fellows may take up a faculty position after the first year. Applications for the 2027 intake close on 15 January 2027 at 17:00 CET; shortlisted candidates are interviewed on 7-9 June 2027 and fellows start between 1 October and 31 December 2027.

PhD held by 15 January 2027 and obtained no more than five years before that date (extensions only for parental leave or illness/accident, max. one year); no current or previous faculty-equivalent or independent faculty-level position; a project departing from the mainstream of the discipline; an outstanding record of achievement; willingness to travel to the Greater Zurich Area for the annual symposium; the chosen mentor supports only one candidate per round.