Branco Weiss Fellowship 2027CHF 600,000 for Postdoctoral Research
Up to CHF 600,000 over five years for postdoctoral researchers to pursue unconventional, discipline-crossing research — no nationality restriction, all fields.
Have you completed your PhD and developed a research idea that challenges conventional thinking?
- Host
- Branco Weiss Fellowship
- Age limit
- No biological age restriction stated
- Degree
- PhD or doctorate, officially completed by 15 January 2027
- Experience
- No separate minimum professional experience requirement stated
Can you apply?
The Branco Weiss Fellowship is highly selective and is intended for researchers with outstanding academic achievements and a distinctive research vision.
1. PhD qualification
You must officially hold a PhD by 15 January 2027. Successfully passing your doctoral defence before the deadline can satisfy this requirement, even if the formal certificate is issued later.
2. PhD completion date
Your PhD must have been obtained no more than five years before 15 January 2027. Specific provisions exist for qualifying full-time parental leave and interruptions caused by illness or accident; supporting documentation must be provided as instructed.
3. Career stage
Applicants must be early-career researchers who have not held a faculty-equivalent position, such as an assistant professor or lecturer. The fellowship is designed for researchers before their first faculty appointment.
4. Research originality
Your proposed project must depart significantly from mainstream research and offer a compelling, scientifically rigorous new direction. Conventional projects that could readily receive funding from other research organisations are generally not the programme’s focus.
5. Academic achievement
Applicants must demonstrate outstanding scientific achievements and the ability to develop an ambitious research project independently.
6. Engagement with society
Your proposal should demonstrate a willingness to engage in dialogue about relevant social, cultural, political or economic issues beyond the boundaries of your research discipline.
7. Host institution and mentor
You must identify a suitable academic host institution and prospective mentor. Your application needs an invitation letter from the prospective host. The mentor must also meet the programme’s requirement not to support another candidate during the same application round.
Meeting these criteria does not guarantee selection. The fellowship aims to support exceptional researchers whose proposals fit its distinctive mission.
What you get
The fellowship provides financial support for an independent research project over a period of up to five years.
- Research funding: Up to CHF 600,000 for the approved project.
- Salary support: The grant may cover some or all of the fellow’s salary, subject to the host institution’s employment terms.
- Research expenses: Eligible costs may include equipment, travel, consumables and research personnel.
- International research opportunities: The project may be conducted at a suitable academic institution anywhere in the world.
- Research independence: Fellows receive the opportunity to pursue a personal research vision beyond conventional disciplinary boundaries.
The grant is administered through the fellow’s main host institution under an agreement involving the fellow, the institution and ETH Zurich. The host institution may retain a management fee within the programme’s permitted limit.
The fellowship is divided into two phases:
- Pioneer phase: The first two and a half years, during which the project establishes its direction and demonstrates progress.
- Exploitation phase: The remaining two and a half years, subject to a satisfactory review of the project’s originality and productivity.
The continuation into the second phase depends on the programme’s review process.
Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application deadline | 15 January 2027 |
| Deadline time | 5:00 p.m. CET |
| Shortlist and interview invitations | May 2027 |
| Interviews in Zurich | June 2027 |
| Expected project start | 1 October–31 December 2027 |
Shortlisted applicants are invited to interviews in Zurich, Switzerland. Final selection takes place after the interview stage.
Applying
- 01Review the eligibility criteria: Visit the official Branco Weiss Fellowship website.
- 02Identify a host and mentor: Find an academic institution and prospective mentor suited to your research idea.
- 03Develop your proposal: Explain the originality, scientific significance and broader societal relevance of your project.
- 04Prepare your documents: Complete your motivation letter, CV, proposal, publication copies and other required materials.
- 05Submit online: Apply through the official application portal.
- 06Submit before the deadline: Complete your application by 15 January 2027, 5:00 p.m. CET. The programme recommends submitting one or two days early.
Common questions
Is the Branco Weiss Fellowship fully funded?
It provides a research project grant of up to CHF 600,000 over five years. Eligible salary and research costs can be covered under the programme’s rules, but the award should not be interpreted as a fixed personal stipend or a conventional tuition scholarship.
Can international researchers apply?
Yes. The fellowship is open to researchers of all nationalities, subject to its eligibility criteria. The research project may be hosted at an appropriate academic institution anywhere in the world.
Can current postdoctoral researchers apply?
Yes. Current postdoctoral researchers can apply if they satisfy the PhD completion window, career-stage requirements and other eligibility criteria.
Can assistant professors or lecturers apply?
No. Applicants who hold or have held faculty-equivalent positions, including assistant professor or lecturer roles, are not eligible under the programme’s stated rules.
Is there an age limit?
No biological age restriction is stated by the fellowship. Eligibility is determined primarily by academic qualifications, career stage and the other programme criteria.
Is there an application fee?
No application fee was identified in the official application information reviewed. Confirm the current portal instructions before submitting.
Where can I apply?
Apply through the official Branco Weiss Fellowship application page.
Who can apply?
Nationality: All nationalities
Education: PhD or doctorate, officially completed by 15 January 2027
Age: No biological age restriction stated
Full description
Have you completed your PhD and developed a research idea that challenges conventional thinking? The Branco Weiss Fellowship 2027 offers outstanding early-career researchers the freedom to pursue ambitious, unconventional research projects with funding of up to CHF 600,000 over five years.
Administered by ETH Zurich in Switzerland, the fellowship supports researchers across disciplines, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and the humanities. Your proposed project can be hosted at a suitable academic institution anywhere in the world.
Unlike a conventional postdoctoral position tied to an existing research project, this fellowship encourages researchers to develop their own scientific vision, explore new directions and engage with broader societal questions.
Applications for the 2027 intake are open until 15 January 2027.
Required Documents
Prepare the following documents before beginning your application:
- Letter of motivation: Maximum one page, including an explanation of how your research departs from mainstream work.
- Research proposal: Maximum five pages, including the project timeline, tentative milestones and references.
- Curriculum vitae: Maximum four pages.
- Host invitation letter: Explaining why the host welcomes you and supports your proposed project.
- Three best publications: Copies of three eligible peer-reviewed publications or individual book chapters; doctoral theses and books are not accepted for this requirement.
- Five reviewer suggestions: Entered directly into the online application.
- PhD certificate or confirmation: A scan of your certificate or confirmation that you successfully completed your doctoral examination.
Documents must be submitted in PDF format and follow the programme’s file-size requirements. Reference letters are not required at the initial application stage, and a budget does not need to be submitted with the application.
Check the official application guidelines for the latest document specifications.
Apply for the Branco Weiss Fellowship 2027
If you have an outstanding research record, an officially completed PhD and an original research idea that goes beyond conventional approaches, the Branco Weiss Fellowship may offer the independence and resources to pursue your vision.
Review the eligibility requirements carefully, identify a suitable host institution and prepare your proposal well before the deadline.
Apply through the official Branco Weiss Fellowship website
Disclaimer: Potenue shares opportunity information for discovery and educational purposes. Funding amounts, eligibility rules and deadlines may change. Always verify the latest information on the official fellowship website before applying.
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All quick facts
- Detail
- Information
- Opportunity Type
- Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
- Host Organisation
- Branco Weiss Fellowship – Society in Science, administered by ETH Zurich
- Location
- Academic host institution anywhere in the world
- Duration
- Up to 5 years
- Funding Amount
- Up to CHF 600,000 over five years
- Research Fields
- Natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities and other research disciplines
- Nationality
- All nationalities
- Gender
- All genders
- Minimum Degree Required
- PhD or doctorate, officially completed by 15 January 2027
- PhD Completion Window
- PhD obtained no more than five years before 15 January 2027, subject to the programme’s rules
- Work Experience
- No separate minimum professional experience requirement stated
- Age Limit
- No biological age restriction stated
- Application Period
- Open for the 2027 intake
- Application Deadline
- 15 January 2027, 5:00 p.m. CET
- Application Fee
- No application fee
- Funding Type
- Research project grant administered through the host institution
- Project Start Window
- 1 October–31 December 2027
