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Funding

Salary · Grant

Program dates

Oct 1, 2027

Branco Weiss Fellowship – Society in Science

FellowshipGlobal

ETH Zurich

Application Deadline

January 15, 2027

Official Page

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

“You have obtained your PhD a maximum of five years prior to January 15, 2027” Eligibility

  • Education required

    PhD

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The Branco Weiss Fellowship – Society in Science, run by ETH Zurich and endowed by the late Swiss entrepreneur Branco Weiss, funds early-career researchers whose projects depart from the mainstream of their field.

Fellows choose their own host institution anywhere in the world and run their project independently, in any discipline from the natural sciences and engineering to the social sciences and humanities. The fellowship continues if a fellow takes up a faculty post.

Benefits & funding

  • Up to CHF 600,000 for up to five years, paid via the host institution, covering salary, staff, equipment, travel and consumables.
  • A review and site visit before the end of year two decide continuation into the second half.
  • The host may keep a management fee of up to 10%; unspent funds are returned.
  • Fellows attend the annual symposium in Zurich and file yearly scientific and financial reports.

Eligibility

  • Any nationality and any discipline; no age limit.
  • PhD defence passed by 15 January 2027 and no more than five years before it; documented full-time parental or illness leave extends this by up to one year, if emailed before applying.
  • No current or past faculty-equivalent post (assistant professor, lecturer) and no permanent employment.
  • A project departing from your discipline’s mainstream, an outstanding research record, and willingness to engage with society beyond your field.
  • Your mentor at the host may back only one candidate per round.
  • You must be able to travel to the Greater Zurich Area for the annual symposium.

Application process

  1. 1
    Secure an invitation letter from a mentor at your chosen host, confirming support, independence and a workplace in their group.
  2. 2
    Submit in English via ETH Zurich’s eResearch portal by 15 January 2027, 5 p.m. CET, with five reviewer suggestions and the name of one referee other than your host.
  3. 3
    Referee letters are requested only from shortlisted candidates; finalists are interviewed in Zurich in June 2027.

Program timeline

  1. Application deadline

    15 January 2027, 5 p.m. CET

  2. Interview invitations and rejections sent

    May 2027

  3. Interviews and final selection

    June 2027

  4. Fellowships start

    1 October – 31 December 2027

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