The Branco Weiss Fellowship is a unique postdoc program. It awards young researchers around the world with a generous personal research grant, giving them the freedom to work on whatever topic they choose anywhere in the world, for up to five years.
This research fellowship is designed to support postdoctoral researchers after their PhD and before their first faculty appointment. Those in current postdoctoral positions are also eligible. Ideally, fellows pursue unconventional projects in new areas of science, engineering and social sciences.
How to apply: Candidates that present an unusual research project that departs from the mainstream and that have a remarkable track record will be short-listed and could emerge from the annual selection process with an award for the prestigious grant.
Simply apply with a groundbreaking research idea to secure financial support for up to five years, working at an academic institution of your choice anywhere in the world.
The registration portal for the 2015 fellowship is now closed. Candidates are welcome to start applying again in October 2015 for the January 15, 2016 deadline.
Eligibility: The ideal applicant has the competencies to design a surprisingly novel and scientifically rigorous research project which blazes new trails, profiting from the freedom uniquely offered by the fellowship.
You are eligible for the 2016 campaign if:
- You officially hold a PhD on January 15, 2016
- Your project departs from the mainstream of research in your discipline
- You have a record of outstanding scientific achievement
- You demonstrate in the proposal a willingness to engage in a dialogue on relevant social, cultural, political or economic issues across the frontiers of your particular discipline
Please do not be disheartened if you have applied before and were not selected, you are welcome to apply again.
Your application will not be forwarded for evaluation if:
- You have not officially completed a PhD by January 15, 2016
- Your PhD was awarded more than five years ago, as of January 15, 2016
- You already hold or have held a faculty or faculty-equivalent position (e.g. assistant professor, lecturer)
- You were born before January 1, 1982
How to Apply:
Applications for the 2015 fellowship are now closed. If you are interested to apply for the 2016 fellowship you will need to have the following material and information for your online application starting October 2015:
- Letter of motivation including a statement explaining why your research differs from the mainstream
(max. 1 page) - Research experience (max. 500 characters)
e.g. lab assistant at Harvard University 1999-2003 - Your CV (max. 4 pages)
- Bibliographic references of your three best publications
- Digital copies of your three best publications
- Contact details of two references
- Statement positioning your proposed research project within your discipline (max. 500 characters)
- Your proposed research project (max. 4 pages including references)
Please note that letters of support, timelines and budgets do not have to be submitted upon application.
In preparing the description of your intended research you may wish to give emphasis to the idea or concept forming the heart of the work, the methods to be used for its implementation, and the potential impact of the outcome both for your own subject and for other disciplines. You should seek to present links between society and science that you wish to explore and promote.
All documents must be submitted as PDF files.
Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the Society in Science team on society-in-science@ethz.ch.
