Applications are officially open for the prestigious Branco Weiss Fellowship - Society in Science 2027. Based at ETH Zurich in Switzerland and endowed by the late Swiss visionary entrepreneur Dr. Branco Weiss, this global postdoctoral program awards up to CHF 600,000 (approx. $690,000 USD / €635,000 EUR) for up to five years of independent, pioneering scientific research.
The fellowship offers unprecedented intellectual and geographical freedom: selected fellows have the flexibility to pursue their self-designed research project at any leading academic or research institution anywhere in the world. The program targets courageous postdoctoral researchers whose work departs significantly from the mainstream in their discipline and who demonstrate a passion for bridging science with societal, cultural, political, or economic issues.
The application deadline for the 2027 intake is January 15, 2027 at 17:00 Central European Time (CET).
Quick Facts - Branco Weiss Fellowship 2027
| Key Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Opportunity Title | Branco Weiss Fellowship - Society in Science 2027 |
| Administering Body | ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) |
| Endowment Benefactor | Dr. Branco Weiss (Society in Science) |
| Research Location | Any academic or research institution worldwide of the fellow’s choice |
| Annual Gathering | Annual Fellows' Symposium held in the Greater Zurich Area, Switzerland |
| Total Award Value | Up to CHF 600,000 (typically CHF 120,000/year for up to 5 years) |
| Eligible Fields | All disciplines (Natural Sciences, Engineering, Life Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, Interdisciplinary) |
| Duration | Up to 5 years (2.5 years Pioneer Phase + 2.5 years Exploitation Phase) |
| Annual Cohort Size | Up to 10 exceptional postdoctoral fellows selected globally |
| Application Deadline | January 15, 2027 at 17:00 CET |
| Application System | ETH Zurich eResearch Portal |
What Makes the Branco Weiss Fellowship Unique?
Unlike standard postdoctoral positions tied to predefined research grants or principal investigator (PI) lab agendas, the Branco Weiss Fellowship grants early-career scientists the freedom to:
- Define an Independent Vision: Design and lead your own research program departing from mainstream assumptions, exploring bold questions, high-risk hypotheses, or novel cross-disciplinary intersections.
- Choose Any Institution Globally: Conduct your research at any premier university, research institute, or laboratory worldwide, provided you secure a supportive host and mentor.
- Retain Funding Across Promotions: The grant stays with the fellow. If a fellow is appointed to an assistant professorship, tenure-track faculty role, or group leader position during the 5-year term, the fellowship funding continues.
- Foster Society-in-Science Dialogue: Engage public stakeholders, policymakers, and communities on the ethical, social, environmental, and economic ramifications of breakthrough science.
- Participate in Zurich Symposia: Join the tight-knit global community of current fellows and distinguished alumni at the annual multi-day symposium in Switzerland.
Award Structure & Eligible Funding Costs
A Branco Weiss Fellowship provides up to CHF 600,000 across two distinct structural phases:
- Pioneer Phase (First 2.5 Years): Fellows launch their independent project, validate novel methodologies, and produce initial findings. Before the conclusion of year two, a comprehensive project review and site visit take place.
- Exploitation Phase (Subsequent 2.5 Years): Upon successful evaluation of the Pioneer Phase, fellows advance to synthesize, scale, and publish their findings or transition into junior faculty leadership.
The grant may be allocated flexibly to cover all legitimate research expenses, including:
- Fellow’s personal salary (benchmarked to host institution postdoc/researcher standards)
- Personnel costs (collaborating technicians, research assistants, or doctoral students)
- Laboratory equipment, software, and computational infrastructure
- Consumables, reagents, fieldwork expenses, and dataset acquisitions
- Conference travel, international research exchanges, and open-access publication fees
Eligibility Criteria for the 2027 Intake
To qualify for the 2027 selection cycle, applicants must satisfy all of the following conditions:
- PhD Defense & Award Status: You must officially hold a PhD by January 15, 2027. This means you must have successfully passed your formal doctoral defense on or before January 15, 2027.
- Postdoctoral Window: You must have attained your PhD a maximum of five years prior to January 15, 2027 (i.e., defense on or after January 15, 2022). Extensions of up to 1 year are considered exclusively for verified parental leave or certified medical inability to work.
- No Faculty Positions: You must not currently hold, nor have previously held, a faculty-equivalent appointment (such as Assistant Professor, Lecturer, or Tenured Group Leader).
- Unconventional & Rigorous Research: Your proposed research must depart from conventional dogma in your field, demonstrating exceptional originality, intellectual courage, and rigorous methodological grounding.
- Outstanding Scientific Track Record: Proven achievement in research, evidenced by high-impact peer-reviewed publications, awards, or impactful scientific contributions.
- Public & Social Dialogue: Clear willingness and capacity to engage in meaningful communication with broader society and address ethical, cultural, or policy dimensions.
- Symposium Participation: Willingness and availability to travel annually to the Greater Zurich Area, Switzerland, for the mandatory in-person symposium.
- Exclusive Mentor Support: You must ensure you are the sole candidate supported by your proposed host mentor in this application cycle.
Required Application Documents (PDF Uploads)
Applications must be prepared in English and submitted via the ETH Zurich eResearch portal with the following files (each under 5 MB, total under 15 MB):
- Letter of Motivation (Max. 1 Page): Outlining your career aspirations, personal motivation, and a clear explanation of how and why your proposed project departs from mainstream research.
- Research Project Proposal (Max. 5 Pages): Comprehensive scientific description including problem formulation, methodology, innovation, timeline, milestones, society-in-science linkages, and references. (Budgets are not required at the initial application stage).
- Curriculum Vitae (Max. 4 Pages): Detailing educational background, research appointments, fellowships, awards, and invitations.
- Host Invitation Letter: Formal letter from your prospective mentor/host institution confirming why they invite you and how their department supports your independent project.
- Three Best Publications: Copies of your three most significant peer-reviewed journal articles or book chapters (doctoral dissertations and complete books are not accepted).
- PhD Certificate / Defense Confirmation: Official diploma or administrative confirmation verifying successful completion of your PhD defense.
- Reviewer Suggestions: Names, affiliations, and emails of 5 proposed independent external peer reviewers (entered directly into the online form).
How to Apply Step-by-Step
- Access the eResearch Portal: Visit the official ETH Zurich eResearch Login Portal. If you do not have an account, register to generate your credentials.
- Navigate to Funding Opportunities: Click on "Funding Opportunities" in the upper-left navigation menu and select the Branco Weiss Fellowship Call.
- Initialize Draft: Click "Apply Now" and immediately select "Save Draft" at the bottom of the page to establish your pre-submission reference code.
- Complete Information & Upload Attachments: Fill out each section systematically and upload the required PDF files.
- Review and Finalize: Run the automated field validator by clicking "Submit". Rectify any missing entries and finalize your submission.
- Submit Ahead of Deadline: The system closes promptly on January 15, 2027 at 17:00 CET. Applicants are strongly advised to finalize submissions 1 to 2 days early to avoid server traffic.
Official Links & Resources
- Official Program Website: The Branco Weiss Fellowship Official Portal
- Direct Application Portal: ETH Zurich eResearch Submission System
- Submission Guidelines Guide (PDF): Download eResearch Step-by-Step Instructions
- Frequently Asked Questions: Branco Weiss FAQs
- Program Inquiries Email: brancoweissfellowship@ethz.ch
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Branco Weiss Fellowship?
The Branco Weiss Fellowship - Society in Science is an international postdoctoral fellowship administered by ETH Zurich. It awards up to CHF 600,000 over five years to support groundbreaking, unconventional research projects in any discipline anywhere in the world.
Can I choose any host institution in the world?
Yes. Fellows can conduct their research at any recognized university or research institution worldwide. You are not required to conduct research at ETH Zurich, although you must attend the annual symposium in the Greater Zurich Area, Switzerland.
What does the fellowship funding cover?
The grant provides up to CHF 120,000 per year (CHF 600,000 total over five years). It can be used for researcher salary, lab equipment, research assistants, consumables, travel, and publications.
What happens if I receive a faculty position during the fellowship?
The fellowship stays with the fellow. If you are appointed as an assistant professor or group leader during the grant period, the funding continues as long as you maintain your research focus and attend the annual symposium.
What is the deadline for the 2027 intake?
The application deadline is January 15, 2027, at 17:00 CET (5:00 p.m. Central European Time) through the ETH Zurich eResearch portal.
