Branco Weiss Fellowship: Supporting Groundbreaking Research Beyond Boundaries
The prestigious Branco Weiss Fellowship, administered by ETH Zurich, is offering exceptional postdoctoral researchers the opportunity to pursue innovative research projects with funding of up to CHF 600,000 over five years. This fellowship is designed for researchers who dare to venture beyond conventional boundaries in their respective fields.
Who Should Apply
The ideal candidate for the Branco Weiss Fellowship is a junior researcher with an outstanding scientific track record and a passion for exploring uncharted territories. The fellowship seeks individuals who can leverage the freedom it offers to design novel and scientifically rigorous research projects that depart significantly from mainstream research in their disciplines.
Applicants should demonstrate a willingness to engage in dialogue on relevant social, cultural, political, or economic issues beyond the frontiers of their particular discipline. The fellowship is open to researchers from all disciplines, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the 2026 intake, you must:
Officially hold a PhD by January 15, 2026 (having successfully passed your PhD defense)
Have obtained your PhD a maximum of five years prior to January 15, 2026
Not hold or have held a faculty-equivalent position (e.g., assistant professor or lecturer)
Propose a project that departs from the mainstream research in your discipline
Have a record of outstanding scientific achievement
Demonstrate willingness to engage in dialogue on relevant issues beyond your discipline
Extensions to the five-year post-PhD eligibility period are granted only for parental leave or inability to work due to illness or accident. Applicants must provide official confirmation of such leaves before submitting their application, with a maximum extension of one year in total.
If you have applied before and were not selected, you are welcome to apply again.
Fellowship Duration and Structure
Research projects should be conceived to last five years, divided into two phases:
Pioneer Phase (First 2.5 years): Before the end of the second year, a site visit and review will be conducted to evaluate the project, its continued originality, and the fellow's productivity.
Exploitation Phase (Remaining 2.5 years): If the evaluation is satisfactory, the fellow enters this phase for the remainder of the fellowship.
Fellows are encouraged to seek faculty positions during their exploitation phase. Starting a faculty position/professorship after the first year of the fellowship will not result in termination of the fellowship.
Funding Details
A Branco Weiss Fellowship amounts to a maximum of CHF 600,000 for up to five years. This funding can be used to cover all legitimate research costs, including:
Salary
Equipment
Travel expenses
Consumables
Personnel
Other research-related expenses
Application Timeline for 2026 Fellowship
The application portal for the 2026 fellowship intake will open in October 2025. Based on previous cycles, the expected timeline is:
January 15, 2026, 5 p.m. CET: Final deadline for applications via the online form
May 2026: Notification and invitation for personal interviews sent to final selection of candidates; notification sent to rejected candidates
June 2026: Candidates interviewed by a panel in Zurich, Switzerland; final selection of fellows
October 1 to December 31, 2026: Fellows commence research projects
Application Requirements
When the application portal opens in October 2025, you will need to prepare the following materials:
Letter of motivation including a statement explaining why your research differs from the mainstream (max. 1 page)
Your proposed research project (max. 5 pages, including abstract, timelines, tentative milestones, and references)
Your CV (max. 4 pages)
An invitation letter from your prospective host, stating why you are invited to the host group and why your research project is supported
Copies of your three best publications (only peer-reviewed journal articles or individual book chapters, no doctoral theses or books)
5 reviewer suggestions (to be entered directly in the online application)
All documents must be submitted as PDF files (max. 5 MB per file and 15 MB in total). Note that budgets and letters of support do not need to be submitted upon application.
Selection Process
The proposals are evaluated by the directorate, selected faculty members of ETH Zurich, and external reviewers. Short-listed candidates are invited for personal interviews in Zurich, Switzerland. The program aims to award up to ten fellowships each year, though the actual number depends on the performance of the applicants during the interviews.
About The Branco Weiss Fellowship
The Branco Weiss Fellowship is a worldwide fellowship program, founded in 2002 and coordinated by ETH Zurich. It is financed by the late Swiss entrepreneur Dr. Branco Weiss and administered as a fund by ETH Zurich. The fellowship provides a platform for exceptionally qualified researchers from all disciplines who demonstrate a willingness to engage in dialogue on relevant social, cultural, political, or economic issues across the frontiers of their particular discipline.
For Nigerian researchers and academics looking to expand their horizons and pursue groundbreaking research, the Branco Weiss Fellowship represents an exceptional opportunity to receive substantial funding and international recognition for innovative work.
For more information and to apply when the portal opens, visit the official Branco Weiss Fellowship application page. Join our newsletter for future notifications.
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