Postdocs
The purpose of the postdoc phase is to deepen your or select an additional focus for your research. There are a variety of funding opportunities available for this.
It is important to find an adequate source of funding that allows for the greatest possible independence during this career phase. Mobility is another central aspect at this career level that should be taken into account, because often further funding instruments require research stays at different universities.
If you have specific questions regarding funding possibilities or need academic career advice, please contact the Career Advancement Office. If you require support with the preparation of a grant proposal, please contact the Grants Office. For further information on postdocs in Basel, please visit the Graduate Center's pages on Postdocs.
University Internal Funding
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Max Geldner Foundation
- Call for proposals within the framework of the Research Fund of the University of Basel.
- Habilitation, Swiss citizen, humanities, University of Basel.
- Call for proposals within the framework of the Research Fund of the University of Basel.
- Habilitation, Swiss citizen, humanities, University of Basel.
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Medical Division of the Lichtenstein Foundation
- For postgraduates: Call for proposals within the framework of the Research Fund of the University of Basel.
- Medicine, research and education, Swiss citizen, University of Basel
- For postgraduates: Call for proposals within the framework of the Research Fund of the University of Basel.
- Medicine, research and education, Swiss citizen, University of Basel
National Funding
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SNSF Ambizione
Is aimed at young researchers who would like to conduct, manage and lead an independently planned project at a Swiss university and have a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 48 months of postdoctoral research experience.
Is aimed at young researchers who would like to conduct, manage and lead an independently planned project at a Swiss university and have a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 48 months of postdoctoral research experience.
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SNSF Starting Grants
As an integrative funding instrument, the SNSF Starting Grants cover the ERC Starting Grants as a transitional measure on the one hand, and replace the SNSF funding instruments PRIMA and Eccellenza on the other.
Researchers who wanted to apply for the ERC Starting Grants, Eccellenza or PRIMA in order to work at a university in Switzerland can submit an application for an SNSF Starting Grant to the SNSF. The funding instrument is open to all disciplines and topics. Researchers from all countries can participate. Applicants can request a budget of a maximum of CHF 1.8 million for a period of five years.
As an integrative funding instrument, the SNSF Starting Grants cover the ERC Starting Grants as a transitional measure on the one hand, and replace the SNSF funding instruments PRIMA and Eccellenza on the other.
Researchers who wanted to apply for the ERC Starting Grants, Eccellenza or PRIMA in order to work at a university in Switzerland can submit an application for an SNSF Starting Grant to the SNSF. The funding instrument is open to all disciplines and topics. Researchers from all countries can participate. Applicants can request a budget of a maximum of CHF 1.8 million for a period of five years.
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SNSF Professorial Fellowships (planned)
The future SNSF Professorial Fellowships were announced by the SNSF at the beginning of 2022 as a new instrument that combines PRIMA and Eccellenza and is intended to form the highest level of career funding. As a transitional measure, due to Switzerland's non-association to the Horizon Europe framework program, the integrative SNSF Starting Grants were announced. This currently also covers the announced SNSF Professorial Fellowships. Therefore, the SNSF will not open the call this new instrument for the time being.
The future SNSF Professorial Fellowships were announced by the SNSF at the beginning of 2022 as a new instrument that combines PRIMA and Eccellenza and is intended to form the highest level of career funding. As a transitional measure, due to Switzerland's non-association to the Horizon Europe framework program, the integrative SNSF Starting Grants were announced. This currently also covers the announced SNSF Professorial Fellowships. Therefore, the SNSF will not open the call this new instrument for the time being.
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Funding for SNSF projects
Funding opportunity for postdoctoral studies that include SNSF research projects. Project submission by main applicant possible from the first postdoc phase for raising research funding or under the direction of a professor for one’s own salary.
Funding opportunity for postdoctoral studies that include SNSF research projects. Project submission by main applicant possible from the first postdoc phase for raising research funding or under the direction of a professor for one’s own salary.
International Funding
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EU: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) offer experienced researchers an opportunity to diversify their creative and innovative potential through advanced training as well as international and intersectoral mobility and to develop their individual competencies. Postdoctoral Fellowships thus enable the acquisition and transfer of knowledge through research work in a European (EU member states and associated countries) or non-European context.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) offer experienced researchers an opportunity to diversify their creative and innovative potential through advanced training as well as international and intersectoral mobility and to develop their individual competencies. Postdoctoral Fellowships thus enable the acquisition and transfer of knowledge through research work in a European (EU member states and associated countries) or non-European context.
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EMBL Fellow Programmes
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory is an intergovernmental organization that specializes in basic research in the life sciences. The organization consists of 21 member states, one potential candidate and two affiliated countries. There are currently 85 independent research groups working in the field of molecular biology at EMBL.
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory is an intergovernmental organization that specializes in basic research in the life sciences. The organization consists of 21 member states, one potential candidate and two affiliated countries. There are currently 85 independent research groups working in the field of molecular biology at EMBL.
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Human Frontier Science Fellowships
HFSP postdoctoral fellowships encourage young scientists to expand their research skills by exploring new fields of research through working in a different country. HFSP fellowships last for three years. Fellows can either spend the entire duration in their host country or return to their home country for the final year or spend this year in another HFSP member country.
HFSP postdoctoral fellowships encourage young scientists to expand their research skills by exploring new fields of research through working in a different country. HFSP fellowships last for three years. Fellows can either spend the entire duration in their host country or return to their home country for the final year or spend this year in another HFSP member country.
Advanced Postdocs
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SNSF Starting Grants
As an integrative funding instrument, the SNSF Starting Grants cover the ERC Starting Grants as a transitional measure on the one hand, and replace the SNSF funding instruments PRIMA and Eccellenza on the other.
Researchers who wanted to apply for the ERC Starting Grants, Eccellenza or PRIMA in order to work at a university in Switzerland can submit an application for an SNSF Starting Grant to the SNSF. The funding instrument is open to all disciplines and topics. Researchers from all countries can participate. Applicants can request a budget of a maximum of CHF 1.8 million for a period of five years.
As an integrative funding instrument, the SNSF Starting Grants cover the ERC Starting Grants as a transitional measure on the one hand, and replace the SNSF funding instruments PRIMA and Eccellenza on the other.
Researchers who wanted to apply for the ERC Starting Grants, Eccellenza or PRIMA in order to work at a university in Switzerland can submit an application for an SNSF Starting Grant to the SNSF. The funding instrument is open to all disciplines and topics. Researchers from all countries can participate. Applicants can request a budget of a maximum of CHF 1.8 million for a period of five years.
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SNSF Professorial Fellowships (planned)
The future SNSF Professorial Fellowships were announced by the SNSF at the beginning of 2022 as a new instrument that combines PRIMA and Eccellenza and is intended to form the highest level of career funding. As a transitional measure, due to Switzerland's non-association to the Horizon Europe framework program, the integrative SNSF Starting Grants were announced. This currently also covers the announced SNSF Professorial Fellowships. Therefore, the SNSF will not open the call this new instrument for the time being.
The future SNSF Professorial Fellowships were announced by the SNSF at the beginning of 2022 as a new instrument that combines PRIMA and Eccellenza and is intended to form the highest level of career funding. As a transitional measure, due to Switzerland's non-association to the Horizon Europe framework program, the integrative SNSF Starting Grants were announced. This currently also covers the announced SNSF Professorial Fellowships. Therefore, the SNSF will not open the call this new instrument for the time being.
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European Research Council (ERC): ERC Starting Grant, ERC Consolidator Grant, ERC Synergy Grants
The European Research Council (ERC) offers grants to support outstanding researchers, regardless of nationality and age, who see themselves in the field of pioneering research and wish to further pursue this goal. Project applications from all fields of science and research are welcome. In particular, the ERC funds interdisciplinary and groundbreaking projects. Calls for proposals are announced annually for three different career phases: Starting Grants (2-7 years after PhD), Consolidator Grants (over 7-12 years after PhD) and Synergy Grants for projects with up to four project leaders.
Further information is available on the European Research Council website of the Grants Office.
The European Research Council (ERC) offers grants to support outstanding researchers, regardless of nationality and age, who see themselves in the field of pioneering research and wish to further pursue this goal. Project applications from all fields of science and research are welcome. In particular, the ERC funds interdisciplinary and groundbreaking projects. Calls for proposals are announced annually for three different career phases: Starting Grants (2-7 years after PhD), Consolidator Grants (over 7-12 years after PhD) and Synergy Grants for projects with up to four project leaders.
Further information is available on the European Research Council website of the Grants Office.
Contributions for postdocs after motherhood
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stay on track
The funding line «stay on track» is aimed towards highly qualified female postdoctoral researchers in the early stage of motherhood. To focus on and maintain high-quality research, relief options are advertised on a semester-by-semester basis.
The funding line «stay on track» is aimed towards highly qualified female postdoctoral researchers in the early stage of motherhood. To focus on and maintain high-quality research, relief options are advertised on a semester-by-semester basis.
Congress participation
Grants for scientific retreats, graduate events and editing
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Grants for scientific retreats
The Rectorate of the University of Basel offers an annual grant to carry out events for junior researchers. Support is provided for disciplinary and interdisciplinary, intra-university, national or international events for junior researchers, such as meetings for PhD students and postdocs with external experts.
The Rectorate of the University of Basel offers an annual grant to carry out events for junior researchers. Support is provided for disciplinary and interdisciplinary, intra-university, national or international events for junior researchers, such as meetings for PhD students and postdocs with external experts.
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Grants for guest lectures
The Albrecht Travel Fund provides support to certain further education events as part of doctoral promotion at the University of Basel. Applications for guest speakers may be submitted provided they contribute to the further qualification of junior researchers as part of scientific retreats or graduate events at the University of Basel.
The Albrecht Travel Fund provides support to certain further education events as part of doctoral promotion at the University of Basel. Applications for guest speakers may be submitted provided they contribute to the further qualification of junior researchers as part of scientific retreats or graduate events at the University of Basel.
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Academic Editing
Postdoctoral researchers employed by the University of Basel or an associated institute may apply for a one-time contribution to the editing costs of an English-language publication. The text should be an own, publication-relevant research output.
Postdoctoral researchers employed by the University of Basel or an associated institute may apply for a one-time contribution to the editing costs of an English-language publication. The text should be an own, publication-relevant research output.
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Scientific Exchanges
Scientific Exchanges is aimed at researchers who want to host their own scientific event in Switzerland, invite colleagues from abroad for a research visit to Switzerland, or visit their colleagues in another country.
Scientific Exchanges is aimed at researchers who want to host their own scientific event in Switzerland, invite colleagues from abroad for a research visit to Switzerland, or visit their colleagues in another country.
