Deadline for applications: 15 January 2024

The Branco Weiss Fellowship – Society in Science is designed to support postdoctoral researchers after their PhD and before their first faculty appointment. The fellowship is open for postdocs from all around the world and from all disciplines (natural and social sciences, humanities and engineering) with original and independent research ideas that fall outside the scope of large-​scale research projects. Fellows can choose the best possible academic institution, anywhere in the world, to perform their research. They will receive support for up to five years and they decide for themselves how the financial resources will be allocated – for their own salary, for staff, for equipment or for a combination of these. The aim is to award up to ten fellowships per year.   

Eligibility, Duration, and Funding

Courageous postdocs aiming to go further

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 we 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).

Duration
Research projects should be conceived to last five years.

The first two years of a project are called the pioneer phase. At the end of the pioneer phase, a review and a site visit will be conducted. At this point, the project, its continued originality, and the productivity of the fellow will be evaluated. If the results of the evaluation and site visit are satisfactory, the fellow enters the exploitation phase for the remaining three years of the fellowship.

Branco Weiss Fellows are encouraged to seek faculty positions during their exploitation phase. Fellows can start a faculty position/professorship after the first year of the fellowship. Assuming an academic position will not result in termination of the fellowship.

Funding
A Branco Weiss Fellowship amounts to max. CHF 600,000 for up to five years. It may be used to cover all legitimate costs of research (i.e. salary and/or equipment, travel expenses, consumables, personnel, etc.).

Source / More information: Official Website HERE.