Objective

To enable selected applicants to undertake a postdoctoral research at one of the 10 Swiss cantonal universities, the two Swiss federal institutes of technology, the public teaching and research institutes or the universities of applied sciences.

Validity

The Scholarship is only valid for full-time postdoctoral research in Switzerland. It is not valid for mixed research (part time in Switzerland and part time in another country). This scholarship is not compatible with fieldtrips outside Switzerland. Therefore no possibility and no funding for fieldwork.

Target Group

Highly qualified postdoctoral researchers at the beginning of their academic career from all academic fields. No funding for sabbaticals.

Eligibility

• PhD degree achieved after 31 December 2015 and before 31 August 2019 recognised by the Swiss university. As a proof, the degree has to be submitted to the Federal Commission for Scholarships before the start of the scholarship.
• Applicants who have been in Switzerland for more than one year at the beginning of the scholarship in September are not eligible.
• Applicants must provide a letter from an academic host professor (including her/his short CV) at the chosen Swiss university confirming why she/he is willing to supervise and support the postdoctoral research. Without such support, the application will be rejected.
• Not accepted as academic supervisors for postdoctoral scholarship applicants are their former PhD mentors and their co-directors for the co-tutelle PhD if the academic supervisor is at a Swiss university.
• Applicants must have a research proposal including a timeframe. This is the centrepiece of the application. The applicant must devote all required attention to it.
• Applicants must be in command of the necessary language skills required for the postdoctoral research.
• Applicants who have already benefited from a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a second scholarship. Scholarship holders are expected to move to Switzerland during their grant period.