Biozentrum PhD Fellowships Program

The Biozentrum PhD Fellowships Program 2026-27 in Switzerland offers an exceptional opportunity for talented young scientists from around the world to pursue a fully funded PhD at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel. The competitive fellowship is designed for highly motivated researchers interested in life sciences and provides a distinctive rotation-based approach that allows fellows to explore different research groups before selecting the laboratory in which they will complete their doctoral research.

The current Winter 2026–27 call is open until October 18, 2026
. Up to 10 fellowships are awarded each year, with selection based on academic excellence and the overall strength of applicants.

The Biozentrum is part of the University of Basel and is an internationally recognised centre for life-sciences research. Its PhD Fellowship Programme is aimed at outstanding early-career scientists who want to develop their research careers in a highly international and interdisciplinary environment.

The fellowship is particularly distinctive because it is not tied to one research group or a specific PhD project at the time of application
. Instead, fellows have the opportunity to work in different Biozentrum laboratories before deciding which research group is the best fit for their doctoral thesis.

The programme encourages applicants with a strong interest in life sciences and a desire to explore different scientific disciplines. Research opportunities span a broad range of fields within the Biozentrum.

The Biozentrum PhD Fellowship provides full funding for the entire PhD
.

Successful fellows also receive several additional benefits designed to support their scientific development and future careers. These include:

• Full financial support for the entire PhD.
• A personal annual allowance that can be used for scientific meetings, books or a computer.
• An annual study trip to a city connected to Siemens.
• Opportunities to attend scientific meetings.
• Networking opportunities with current Biozentrum fellows and alumni.
• Support from Biozentrum faculty with preparation of a personal CV and future postdoctoral applications.
• Financial support for travel to postdoctoral interviews at the end of the PhD.

The specific benefits are subject to possible annual changes, but the current programme confirms full PhD funding and the additional professional-development support.

One of the strongest features of the Biozentrum Fellowship is its rotation-based selection of a PhD research group
.

Fellows do not have to commit to a particular laboratory or research project at the beginning of the fellowship. Instead, they conduct research in at least two different Biozentrum laboratories
, with each rotation lasting at least two months.

After experiencing different laboratories, research topics and supervisory environments, fellows can choose the group in which they would like to complete their PhD thesis, subject to approval from the relevant group leader.

This structure can be particularly valuable for researchers who have broad interests within the life sciences and want to make an informed decision about their doctoral research environment.

Applicants must hold, or expect to soon receive, a university degree that qualifies them for admission to a PhD programme at the University of Basel.

The standard qualification is an MSc or equivalent degree
. In exceptional cases, outstanding applicants holding a four-year Bachelor’s degree
, typically obtained outside the Bologna system, may also be eligible.

These exceptional applicants can complete a fast-track Master’s programme at the University of Basel as part of their fellowship.

There is also an important restriction concerning applicants who are already at the University of Basel. Candidates cannot be enrolled as PhD students at the University of Basel or have already signed a PhD employment contract with the university at the time the fellowship decision is made.

The programme welcomes talented researchers from all over the world
. The Biozentrum specifically encourages ambitious young scientists internationally…