The fellowships for postdocs starting their career are a funding scheme from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) enabling postdocs to spend a research stay abroad.
In principle, the Early Postdoc.Mobility fellowships are awarded for a duration of 18 months or, in justified cases, for a minimum of 12 months. No follow-up application is possible. If a prolongation of the stay is intended, it must be requested via a mobility fellowship for advanced postdocs (Advanced Postdoc.Mobility) as a new application (and not as a prolongation).
Eligibility requirements (see Regulations)
- Doctorate (PhD) already obtained (or obtainment within 6 months) or medical training completed with a doctorate (MD)
- Doctorate obtained no more than 2 years ago; medical researchers must have passed the state examination no more than 6 years ago. Exceptions are possible in justified cases, e.g. family care duties
- Swiss nationality, permanent residence, residence or cross-border commuter permit, or marriage resp. registered partnership with a Swiss
- For persons with foreign nationality, at least 3 years of research activity at a Swiss research institution
Application documents
Applications containing all the required documents and data must be submitted electronically via the mySNF portal. Please refer to the guidelines concerning the submission of applications (see "Forms, regulations and directives").
Applications for Early Postdoc.Mobility fellowships must be submitted to:
a) the SNSF Research Commission at the Swiss higher education institution where the applicant has obtained or will obtain his/her doctorate or, for medical researchers, where the applicant has passed his/her state examination;
b) the SNSF Fellowship Commission in all other cases.
Before submitting the application, each applicant should contact the relevant Research Commission or the Fellowship Commission for further information.
Call for proposals: 3 months before the submission deadline
Submission deadlines: 1 March and 1 September
Start of awarded fellowships:
a) Research Commissions: approx. 2 to 4 months after the submission deadline at the earliest
b) Fellowship Commission: 4 months after the submission deadline at the earliest