The Branco Weiss Fellowship, established in 2002 and managed by ETH Zurich, is a global program welcoming highly skilled researchers across various fields. It offers a platform for individuals willing to discuss and address significant societal, cultural, political, or economic matters that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. This fellowship, characterized by its international and interdisciplinary approach, encourages collaboration and dialogue among diverse fields of study. A Branco Weiss Fellow is expected to embark on an innovative research endeavor, taking full advantage of the freedom provided by the fellowship. A successful fellow also demonstrates a readiness to engage in discussions regarding pertinent social, cultural, political, or economic issues within their specific field of study. Members of the Branco Weiss Fellowship form a diverse, committed, and intellectually stimulating community. They convene at least once annually to share and deliberate on their research projects. The fellowship receives financial support from the late Swiss entrepreneur Dr. Branco Weiss and is managed as a fund by ETH Zurich. The program’s directors, responsible for both scientific and operational aspects, include Heidi Wunderli-Allenspach, former Rector at ETH Zurich (2007 to 2012) and a previous Full Professor for Biopharmacy at ETH Zurich; Angelika Steger, a current full professor of Computer Science at ETH Zurich; and Josef Zeyer, a former full professor of Environmental Microbiology at the Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics at ETH Zurich. They collaborate with other ETH Zurich faculty members to assess applications and conduct interviews with shortlisted candidates. The Branco Weiss Fellowship is based and managed by ETH Zurich, an institution established in 1855 in the heart of Europe. ETH Zurich is renowned for its exceptional scientific expertise, conducting research that benefits both society and industry while training highly skilled professionals. Notably, 21 Nobel Prize Laureates have been associated with ETH Zurich. Sharing knowledge across academia, industry, society, and politics is a key objective of ETH Zurich, alongside providing top-tier education, fostering outstanding research, and maintaining a robust international network. The Branco Weiss Fellowship serves as one avenue to achieve these ambitious objectives.
Location:
SwitzerlandBenefits
- Financial Support: Fellows typically receive financial support to conduct their research, which may include a stipend, research funds, and resources necessary for their projects.
- Freedom and Flexibility: The fellowship provides a high degree of autonomy, allowing fellows the freedom to explore innovative research ideas without rigid constraints.
- Networking Opportunities: Fellows become part of a diverse and intellectually stimulating community. They have the chance to engage and collaborate with other fellows, esteemed faculty members, and professionals from various disciplines during annual gatherings or events.
- Mentorship and Guidance: Access to guidance and mentorship from experienced faculty members or advisors associated with ETH Zurich can be a valuable aspect of the fellowship.
- Interdisciplinary Engagement: The fellowship encourages dialogue and collaboration across different fields, fostering an environment where interdisciplinary research and discussions on societal issues are highly valued.
- Association with ETH Zurich: Being associated with ETH Zurich, a renowned institution, provides credibility and access to its resources, libraries, laboratories, and academic networks.
- Opportunities for Knowledge Transfer: Fellows have the chance to translate their research findings into societal, industrial, or political impacts, aligning with the strategic goals of ETH Zurich in knowledge dissemination and application.
- Professional Development: The fellowship could offer opportunities for skill development, presenting research findings, and gaining experience in communicating complex ideas to broader audiences.
- Recognition and Prestige: Being selected as a Branco Weiss Fellow is a prestigious recognition that could open doors to further academic and professional opportunities.
Eligibilities
You are eligible for the 2024 intake if:
- You officially hold a PhD on January 15, 2024
- You have obtained your PhD a maximum of five years prior to January 15, 2024
- You do not hold/have not held a faculty-equivalent position (e.g. assistant professor or lecturer)
- 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 dialog on relevant social, cultural, political or economic issues beyond the frontiers of your particular discipline
Please note that they typically do not fund mainstream research projects that could also be funded by other scientific organizations.
If you have applied before and were not selected, you are welcome to apply again.
Only the following reasons for delays after attaining your PhD are acceptable:
- parental leave
- inability to work due to illness or accident
Applicants must provide an official confirmation of their leave(s) before they submit an application. The number of weeks that the research work was interrupted is accepted as an extension (max. 1 year in total).
Eligible Regions: Open for AllApplication Process
- Register on eResearch and set a password to create an account. This step only needs to be
done when using eResearch for the first time. Having registered once, you can log in with your
eResearch login details. - Click on “My Applications” in the navigation bar on the left to start a new application. (Alternatively,
you can open a new application in the section “New Grant Application” on the homepage.) - Then click on “New Application”. You will be directed to a page where all open calls are available for
selection. Select the Branco Weiss Fellowship and click on “Apply”. You will now be in the edit mode
of the newly opened application form. Please note the reference number of the application in the
upper left corner. - Fill in all mandatory fields and upload the required attachments (marked with a red dot) by navigating
from page to page using the “Next” and “Previous” buttons. Be sure you save the information you
entered by clicking “Save”. As soon as all mandatory fields of a page are filled in, the icon in the
sidebar on the left will turn green. - Once you have completed the application form, click on “Validation Summary” on the left. The
“Validation Summary” page will then list all mandatory fields that have not yet been filled in. - Fill in the missing fields and validate again. After successful validation, exit the edit mode by clicking
“Save And Close”. - Submit the application form by clicking on the “Submit” button at the bottom right of the application
summary page. Please scroll down if you cannot see the button. Changes are no longer possible after
the application has been submitted. If you have submitted an application in error, please contact
[email protected]. - Create a PDF file of your application for your personal records. To do this, click on “View/print” in the
grey “PDF the application” box on the right side of the same page.
Application Deadline: January 15, 2024
Application ClosedOfficial link
