Job Description

The fellowship is designed for postdocs in all areas of sciences and engineering who are not only rising stars in their respective fields, but in addition have a vision for realizing their own dreams of reshaping the future of their fields of science, and above all are willing to engage in a dialogue with society on relevant social, cultural, political or economic issues across the frontiers of their particular discipline.

The fellowship was founded in 2002 by the late Swiss entrepreneur Dr. Branco Weiss. In 2010, he established the fellowship program at ETH Zurich, his alma mater. Candidates can apply for a project to be hosted by any academic institution worldwide, provided that it is exceedingly well suited for the task.

Who Should Apply

Candidates who excel beyond boundaries

The ideal applicant for a Branco Weiss Fellowship leverages the freedom offered by the fellowship to design a surprisingly novel and scientifically rigorous research project. The fellowship addresses junior researchers with a record of outstanding scientific achievement and a passion for venturing into new territory (see: Mission).

To give you an impression of what kind of qualifications a typical Branco Weiss Fellow should have, please check the current fellow profiles, as well as selected alumni portraits.

Before applying or contacting us, please read the information on this website carefully.

The registration portal for the 2026 fellowship intake is now open. It will close on January 15, 2026, 5 p.m. CET.

To avoid server-overload, please submit your application at least 1 to 2 days before the deadline.

Timelines

The proposals are evaluated by the directorate, selected faculty members of ETH Zurich, and external reviewers. Short-listed candidates are invited for personal interviews, to be held in Zurich, Switzerland.

The following timeline applies for the 2026 fellowship intake:

• January 15, 2026, 5 p.m. CET: final deadline for applications via the online form
• May 2026: notification and invitation for a personal interview sent to final selection of candidates; notification sent to candidates whose application has been rejected
• June 2026: candidates interviewed by a panel in Zurich, Switzerland; final selection of fellows
• October 1 to December 31, 2026: fellows commence research projects