Job Description

Share your passion for life sciences. If you are talented and highly motivated, want to broaden your horizons and are interested in a wide range of research topics, apply for one of the sought after Biozentrum PhD Fellowships. It offers you the unique opportunity of a rotation-based choice of research group as well as other incentives.

The Biozentrum encourages talented, ambitious and highly motivated young scientists from all over the world to apply for the prestigious and sought after fellowships offered by the Biozentrum International PhD Program. In contrast to many other PhD student programs that aim at a broad recruitment of many candidates, the Biozentrum PhD Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis to a maximum of 10 successful candidates per year. 

Unique rotation-based choice of lab
The special feature of the fellowships is that they are independent and neither tied to a research group nor to a project. As a fellow you have the unique opportunity to conduct research in at least two different labs at the Biozentrum (rotations), before you decide on the research group in which you want to do your PhD thesis (pending approval of the respective group leader). The duration of these rotations are at least two months each.

For your PhD these the Biozentrum offers a wide range of different research fields. Find our more here.

Perks 
You are also offered a number of incentives to support your scientific excellence, your personal growth and your carrier opportunities. Currently, the following benefits are provided (annual changes may apply): 

• a personal, annual allowance to attend meetings, acquire books or a computer 
• an annual study trip to a city with ties to Siemens (see below)
• scientific meetings and networking opportunities with current students and alumni of the Biozentrum PhD Fellowships Program
• support for the preparation of a personal CV and postdoctoral application by Biozentrum faculty members in the Program Committee
• financial support for travel to postdoctoral interviews at the end of the PhD thesis 

Application is open until October 12, 2025. 
Further information on application and selection procedure. 

The PhD thesis underlies the general rules and guidelines of the University of Basel and fellows are automatically part of the Biozentrum International PhD Program. The fellowship provides full funding for the entire PhD.

If you have any questions, please contact the PhD Student Office

The Biozentrum PhD Fellowships program was established in 2007 by the Biozentrum professors Joachim Seelig and Jeff Schatz with the generous support of the Werner Siemens Foundation who recognized the value of an international excellence program. After the initial financial support by the Werner Siemens Foundation, the University of Basel took over funding the salaries of new fellows in 2010, to assure the continuation of the program, since it has proven to be both a great opportunity for the graduates and an enrichment for the international community of the Biozentrum.

Fellowship Application and selection procedure

The prestigious Biozentrum PhD Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis. Shortlisted candidates are invited to the Biozentrum for a week of interviews with group leaders and other opportunities to interact and get to know the Biozentrum. 

To find out first hand from a student about the Biozentrum PhD Fellowships, the selection procedure and the rotations, read this interview with PhD Fellow Alexander Kuznetsov.

“Since I consider things carefully before making very conscious decisions, for me the greatest thing about my Biozentrum PhD Fellowship is that I can try out different labs before I decide where to do my PhD,” says PhD Fellow Alexander Kuznetsov.

> to the interview

Conditions 
You must hold or expect to soon receive a university degree that qualifies you for a PhD program at the University of Basel (MSc or equivalent). In exceptional cases, outstanding students with a 4 year Bachelor’s degree, typically from outside the Bologna System, are also eligible to apply. These will be able to complete a Master’s program on a fast-track at the University of Basel as part of their fellowship.

In order to be eligible to receive a PhD fellowship, candidates can neither be enrolled as a PhD student at the University of Basel nor have signed a PhD working contract at the University of Basel at the decision date of the respective fellowships call.

The PhD Fellowships Summer Call 2025 is now closed; the Winter Call will open in August 2025.

Selection procedure
After the closing date for the open call, applications will be evaluated by the group leaders of the Biozentrum. Based on the feedback from their peers, the Program Committee will shortlist 20-30 candidates who will be invited to the Biozentrum for an interview week (travel and accommodation provided by the Fellowship Program). 

To organize your individual interviews and lab visits during the interview week, you will be asked to indicate 8 to 10 group leaders. You will also present your research in a 10-minute presentation and 20-minute question and answer seminar to the Program Committee and other interested group leaders. A chaperone – a PhD from the Fellowships Program − will be your personal guide during these days, tell you about being a PhD at the Biozentrum and be happy to answer your questions. Two dinners with group leaders and the chaperones, an informal meeting with the PhD Club and a cultural visit to Basel will provid you with a good insight into Basel, the Biozentrum and its community. 

After the interview week, you will be informed about whether or not you will be offered a fellowship. If successful, you can then start your PhD within the following six months.