2025 Funded Postdoctoral Positions at ETH Zurich – Switzerland-Based Research Opportunities with Salary Support

The ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to early-career researchers beginning their postdoctoral journey at ETH Zurich in Switzerland. This program ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowships aims to support promising young scientists who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement in the initial stages of their careers.

Host Country	Switzerland
Host Institute	ETH Zurich
Fellowship Level	Postdoc
Duration	2 Years
Coverage	Salary + Allowances
Closing Dates	1 March and 1 September each year

Applications must be submitted collaboratively by the candidate and a prospective host, who must be a professor at ETH Zurich and willing to act as the fellow’s mentor. Each professor may sponsor only one applicant per evaluation round. The host research group and the ETH Fellow are expected to collaborate in a compelling and effective manner. Since these fellowships are designed to foster early academic independence, preference will be given to candidates who propose self-initiated research projects.

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Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

ETH Zurich (German: Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich), also known as the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, is a leading science and technology university located in Zurich, Switzerland. Founded in 1854 by the Swiss federal government, it was modeled after the École Polytechnique in Paris with a mission to educate future engineers and scientists.

The university comprises 16 departments, offering a broad spectrum of disciplines, with a strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Renowned globally for academic excellence and innovation, ETH Zurich enjoys a prestigious reputation in both academia and industry. It consistently ranks among the top 15 to 20 universities worldwide and within the top three to five in Europe. In the 2022 QS World University Rankings, it was ranked 8th globally and 4th in Europe for academic excellence. It also earned top subject rankings, including 1st globally for Earth and Marine Sciences and 2nd for Engineering and Technology in the 2021 edition. Additionally, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2022–2023 placed ETH Zurich 11th worldwide.

ETH Zurich Funded Postdoctoral Fellowships in Switzerland

The ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowships Program (ETH Fellows) supports outstanding early-career researchers who have already demonstrated scientific excellence. This prestigious initiative aims to foster the development of promising scholars at the beginning of their academic careers. Notably, around 40–50% of fellows go on to secure professorships within a few years of completing the program.

With only a limited number of fellowships awarded each year, the program is highly competitive, boasting a final-round success rate of approximately 25%. ETH Zurich strongly encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds and genders, actively monitoring selection outcomes to ensure fairness and prevent bias.

Comprehensive Support and Salary Benefits of Postdoctoral Positions at ETH Zurich

Salary payments are made at 100% of the standard ETH Zurich scale. In accordance with ETH Zurich regulations, the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program fully covers the fellow’s salary. The following rates apply as of 2025:

Year	Gross Salary	Total Rates
1	CHF 92,500	CHF 106,400
2	CHF 97’200	CHF 111,800
Total	CHF 189,700	CHF 218,200

Budgets must be calculated using the full salary rates and should include a 15.0% allocation for social security contributions, which will be covered by ETH Zurich.

ETH Fellows for the ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowships also receive an annual allowance of up to CHF 10,000, which is divided into two parts: one-fifth for personal travel or mobility purposes and four-fifths to support research-related expenses. This funding is strictly designated for these categories—research and travel costs cannot be used to cover salary expenses, and vice versa. Fellows are required to be employed at ETH Zurich under a valid employment contract throughout the duration of the fellowship.

In addition to financial support, ETH Fellows benefit from a vibrant academic environment. They are invited to attend biannual social gatherings and have access to a range of professional development workshops organized by ETH Zurich. In certain cases, fellows may also be involved in teaching activities within their host department. If teaching is planned, the application must outline the proposed teaching duties along with an estimate of the expected workload.

Eligibility Requirements for Postdoctoral Positions at ETH Zurich

Newly appointed postdoctoral researchers at ETH Zurich are supported through the ETH Fellows Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. This initiative is designed to assist promising early-career scientists who have already demonstrated outstanding research achievements.

All applicants—regardless of gender, nationality, or background—are strongly encouraged to apply.
To be eligible, candidates must either hold a doctoral degree (PhD) or be on track to complete it within six months of the application deadline. The degree must have been awarded no more than two years before the submission date, with the official examination or defense (viva voce) date serving as the reference point.
Applicants who have not yet completed their PhD must provide written confirmation from their advisor or department chair indicating the expected defense date. The defense must be successfully completed before the start of the fellowship.
Candidates who earned their PhD from ETH Zurich or the University of Zurich are not eligible to apply.
Applicants must not have resided in Switzerland or conducted their main activity (such as work or study) in the country for more than one year prior to the application deadline. Additionally, within the three years leading up to the deadline, they must not have carried out their main academic or professional activities at ETH Zurich, EPF Lausanne, the University of Zurich, or any institution within the ETH Domain (including PSI, WSL, Empa, and Eawag).
Eligible applicants must have either received a distinction for their doctoral thesis or have at least one peer-reviewed publication.
Applications that do not meet these eligibility conditions will be automatically rejected.

Host Professors for ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowships

The prospective host must be a professor at ETH Zurich and willing to take on the role of academic mentor for the fellow. Applications must be submitted collaboratively by the candidate and their proposed host. Each professor is permitted to support only one candidate per evaluation round.

There should be a clear and credible alignment between the host institution and the proposed research project. As the fellowship is intended to promote early academic independence, preference will be given to applicants who develop and propose their own research ideas.

Fellowship Duration

The ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship has a fixed duration of two years and cannot be extended. As a highly competitive program with a limited number of awards granted annually, securing a fellowship is a notable achievement.

Required Documents for Application Submission

To apply for the ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowships with salary support in Switzerland, applicants must submit the following documents:

Comprehensive Curriculum Vitae: A detailed CV of the applicant, including a full list of publications and a photograph. All dates must clearly indicate both the month and year.
Research Project Description: A thorough outline of the proposed research, detailing the candidate’s specific contributions and explaining how the project aligns with the host group’s ongoing research.
Host Professor’s CV: A brief curriculum vitae (maximum of two pages) for the host professor.
Statement of Career Goals: A one-page summary outlining the candidate’s professional objectives.
Defense Confirmation Letter (if applicable): For candidates who have not yet completed their PhD, a signed confirmation from their advisor or department chair stating the expected defense date and confirming the candidate’s excellence.
Letter of Support from Host Professor: A formal invitation letter from the proposed host professor, highlighting the candidate’s qualifications and potential.

Step-by-Step Application Process for Postdoctoral Positions at ETH Zurich

Applications for the ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship must be submitted jointly by the candidate and a prospective host professor at ETH Zurich, who must also agree to serve as the fellow’s academic mentor. Each professor is allowed to support only one applicant per evaluation round. There must be a clear and compelling synergy between the fellow’s proposed research and the host group’s expertise.

Because the fellowship is intended to foster early academic independence, priority is given to candidates who propose original research projects. It is essential that applicants develop their project ideas and prepare their applications independently, as the fellowship favors candidates who have not previously worked closely with their proposed mentor.

Applications must be submitted online in PDF format via ETH Zurich’s grant application portal, eResearch. A project description template is available for download under the “Documents” section on the official fellowship page.

The ETH Zurich Research Commission oversees the evaluation process. In the first stage, applications are reviewed, and a selected group of candidates is invited for an online interview.

These interviews typically last around 15 minutes. Since individual scheduling preferences cannot be accommodated, applicants are advised to reserve all listed interview dates corresponding to their submission deadline unless otherwise informed.

Apply Now or Consult the Application Instructions

Timeline for ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowships

Applications must be submitted by 1 March or 1 September each year, no later than 17:00 Swiss local time.

Reference letters must be sent directly to ethfellows@sl.ethz.ch at least 10 days prior to the submission deadline.

Video interviews are scheduled around the dates associated with each deadline. Applicants will be notified about interview invitations within two months of the submission deadline.

Final funding decisions are announced approximately four months after the submission date.

Selected fellows are expected to begin their fellowship no later than eight months after the application deadline. If a later start is necessary, prior approval must be obtained from the Grants Office.

For additional details, please visit the official website.