The Research Fellowship is CERN’s postdoctoral programme for recent PhD graduates in physics and engineering. Fellows join CERN teams near Geneva and define their own projects in theoretical, experimental or applied physics, engineering or computing.
Experimental Physics, Applied Science and Engineering, and Theoretical Physics are recruited through separate vacancies. The Theoretical Physics round, for an October 2027 start, is open until 2 November 2026; other fields show no open posts right now.
Benefits & funding
- Net monthly stipend of 7,004 or 7,425 CHF, depending on degree and post-PhD experience.
- Contract of 6–24 months (theory: 24), extendable to 36 months.
- CERN health cover for you, partner and children; CERN Pension Fund membership.
- Installation grant, family allowances and travel to Geneva, depending on circumstances.
- 30 days’ paid leave a year plus 2 weeks’ annual closure.
Eligibility
- National of a CERN Member or Associate Member State (list below); a few exceptions are possible each year.
- Currently not considered: nationals of Pakistan, Lithuania, Latvia, Cyprus, Croatia and Türkiye, whose associate-membership hiring ceiling has been reached.
- A PhD held, or obtained within six months (theory: defence scheduled), and completed before the appointment starts.
- Theoretical and experimental physics: at most 6 years’ research experience after the PhD by the deadline; applied sciences and engineering: at most 3 years (exceptionally up to 6).
- Never held a CERN fellow or graduate contract; CERN staff cannot apply.
- Good English or French.
- Eligible nationalities now: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Brazil, Chile, India, Ireland, Ukraine.
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.
Eligible nationalities
Austria · Belgium · Bulgaria · Czechia · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Israel
+ 18 more
Italy · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · UK · Brazil · Chile · India · Ireland · Ukraine
Education required
PhD Enrolled · PhD
Experience required
≤ 6 yrs
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Apply online to the vacancy for your field before its deadline (theory: 2 November 2026, 23:59 Geneva time).
- 2Submit a CV in English or French, your diploma or a university certificate, and any documents the vacancy asks for (theory: a research statement and three letters of recommendation under a year old, uploaded by the deadline).
- 3Shortlisted candidates may have an online interview with the hiring manager(s).
Program timeline
Application deadline (Theoretical Physics, 23:59 Geneva time)
Nov 2, 2026
Ideal start date (Theoretical Physics)
Oct 1, 2027