The Branco Weiss Fellowship Grant

The Branco Weiss Fellowship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Society in Science
Amount: Up to Fr.600,000
Last Updated: December 03, 2025

Summary

The Branco Weiss Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for postdoctoral researchers to pursue innovative projects worldwide. With up to CHF 600,000 in funding for five years, it supports those who have completed their PhD and wish to explore unconventional research topics. Ideal candidates demonstrate scientific excellence and a commitment to addressing broader societal issues. This fellowship fosters a diverse community of fellows who engage in annual symposiums to share their groundbreaking work.

Overview

Background 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. Ideally, fellows pursue unconventional projects in new areas of science, engineering and social sciences. 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. Society in Science fellows can expect financial support for up to five years as well as the opportunity to work at any academic institution of their choice throughout the world. The fellows belong to a diverse, dedicated and intellectually stimulating group. They meet at least once a year to present and discuss their research projects to scientific and public audiences. 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.).

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. You are eligible for the 2026 intake if: You officially hold a PhD on January 15, 2026. This means that you have at least successfully passed your PhD defense before January 15, 2026. You have obtained your PhD a maximum of five years prior to January 15, 2026 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 You can confirm that you are willing and able to travel to the Greater Zurich Area and attend the annual symposium in personIf 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 leaveinability to work due to illness or accidentApplicants 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).

Ineligibility

Please note that we typically do not fund mainstream research projects that could also be funded by other scientific organizations.Your application will not be forwarded for evaluation if: You have not officially completed a PhD by January 15 of the application year. Your PhD was awarded more than five years ago, as of January 15 of the application year. You already hold or have held a faculty or faculty-equivalent position (e.g. assistant professor, lecturer)You were born before January 1, 1983