Society in Science–The Branco Weiss Postdoctoral Fellowships to Study Abroad, 2019

Applications are invited for up to 10 Society in Science – The Branco Weiss Fellowships for postdoctoral researchers to study abroad in any academic institution of student’s choice around the world. Applicants of all nationalities are eligible to apply for this fellowship programme.

Society in Science – 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.

Scholarship Description:

• Application Deadline: January 15, 2019
• Course Level: Fellowships are available for pursuingpostdoctoral programme.
• Study Subject: Fellows are free to choose any research area of their choice anywhere in the world, for up to five years. Ideally, fellows pursue unconventional projects in new areas of science, engineering and social sciences.
• Scholarship Award:A Branco Weiss Fellowship consists of CHF 100,000 per year. It may be used to cover all legitimate costs of research (i.e. salary and/or equipment, travel expenses, consumables, personnel, etc.).
• Number of Scholarships: Not Known
• Scholarship can be taken in Abroad (any academic institution of student’s choice around the world)

Eligibility for the Scholarship:

• Eligible Countries: Researchers from around the world are eligible to apply for these fellowships.
• Entrance Requirements: 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.You are eligible for the 2019 campaign if:
  • You officially hold a PhD on January 15, 2019
  • You were born after December 31, 1984
  • 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 dialogue on relevant social, cultural, political or economic issues across the frontiers of your particular discipline
  Please do not be disheartened if you have applied before and were not selected, you are welcome to apply again.
  Your application will not be forwarded for evaluation if:
  • Your PhD was awarded before January 15, 2014
  • You were born before January 1, 1985
  • You already have or have held a faculty-equivalent position (e.g. assistant professor or lecturer)

• English Language Requirements:  Applicants from outside the home country will often need to meet specific English language/other language requirements in order to be able to study there.

Postdoctoral Fellowships

Application Procedure:

Applications for the 2019 fellowship intake are now open. Apply here.

Please have the following documents (pdf files) ready for uploading:

• Letter of motivation including a statement explaining why your research differs from the mainstream (max. 1 page)
• Your proposed research project (max. 4 pages, plus references)
• Your CV (max. 4 pages)
• Copies of your three best publications
• Application overview (download template here), including a reasoning of why you believe that you are a perfect candidate for a Branco Weiss Fellowship (max. 1000 characters)

Please note that letters of support do not have to be submitted upon application. Timelines and budgets are not necessary.

In preparing the description of your intended research, you may wish to give emphasis to the idea or concept forming the heart of the work, the methods you are planning to use, and the potential impact of the outcome both for your own subject and for other disciplines. You should also seek to present links between society and science that you wish to explore and promote.

All documents must be submitted as PDF files.

Application Form

Scholarship Link