Postdoctoral Funding Opportunities

• Salary funding for early‑career postdocs conducting a research project at UZH.
• Covers salary and some material costs, typically up to 12 months for Faculty of Science.

https://www.research.uzh.ch/en/funding/postdoc/uzhpostdoc.html

• The Research Talent Development Fund (FAN) - supported by UZH Alumni - supports outstanding, innovative early career researchers.

https://www.fan4talents.uzh.ch/de/gesuche/wer.html

• The early-career fellowships at the Collegium provide protected time and space for individual research projects and facilitate exchange across disciplines. The fellowship duration is 10 months.

https://collegium.ethz.ch/fellowships/early-career-fellowship

• The SNSF awards funding to postdocs wishing to conduct an individually planned project at a Swiss higher education institution.

https://www.research.uzh.ch/en/funding/postdoc/ambizione.htmlhttps://www.snf.ch/en/N18L3oGWomTSSGkF/funding/careers/ambizione

• Enables doctoral holders to pursue up to 24 months abroad including a return phase (3–12 months).
• Covers travel, subsistence, research costs, return-phase support

https://www.research.uzh.ch/de/funding/postdoc/postdoc-mobility.html
https://www.snf.ch/de/XIZpfY3iVS5KRRoD/foerderung/karrieren/postdoc-mobility 

• For researchers 2–8 years post‑PhD to lead their own project in Switzerland.
• Up to CHF 1 million over five years; includes salary funding as well.

https://www.snf.ch/en/w728UqT1Yw256Mz2/funding/snsf-starting-grants

• The aim of Spark is to fund the rapid testing or development of new scientific approaches, methods, theories, standards, ideas for applications, etc. It is intended for projects that show unconventional thinking and introduce a unique approach.

https://www.research.uzh.ch/en/funding/postdoc/spark.html 
https://www.snf.ch/en/8EWqXT6CZ7wuAJUq/funding/programmes/spark

• Researchers with at least 4 years' experience after the doctorate (or an independent research position) can apply for SNSF funding to finance a research project. They cannot apply for funding for their own salary.

https://www.research.uzh.ch/en/funding/researchers/snf-projekte.html
https://www.snf.ch/en/WAvYcY7awAUGolST/funding/projects/projects-in-all-disciplines

• Swiss researchers regained access as full beneficiaries in 2025. UZH provides advice and support for ERC applicants, including budget templates and open science requirements.

https://www.research.uzh.ch/en/funding/postdoc/ERC-Grants-and-SNSF-Transitional-measures.html

• Supports talented young scientists who have already produced excellent, supervised work, are willing to work independently and have the potential to take on a leadership role in research.

https://www.research.uzh.ch/en/funding/postdoc/ERC-Starting-Grant.html

• Supports researchers who want to consolidate or strengthen their independence by building a research team and pursue an academic career in Europe.

https://www.research.uzh.ch/en/funding/postdoc/ERC-Consolidator-Grant.html

• With these scholarships, foreign doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers in all disciplines can fund a research stay at a Swiss higher education institution.

https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/en/swiss-government-excellence-scholarships

• There are a number of mobility programs that offer postdocs financial assistance for a stay abroad. For details and mobility programs see below:

https://www.research.uzh.ch/en/funding/postdoc.html