Society in Science – The Branco Weiss Fellowship - post-doctoral research fellowships



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Host country
Slovakia
Field of study/research
Natural Sciences
Technical Sciences
Medicine
Social Sciences
Type of support
scholarship
Support category
research mobility
Target group (when applying for the scholarship)
researcher, other
Duration
5 years
Finance source
Society in Science
Quota
the programme aims at awarding up to ten fellowships each year
Offered support
Society in Science fellows can expect financial support for up to five years as well as the opportunity to work at any academic institution of their choice throughout the world. The fellows belong to a diverse, dedicated and intellectually stimulating group. They meet at least once a year to present and discuss their research projects to scientific and public audiences.

The amount granted is 100,000 CHF/year (approx. 81,000 €). It may be used to cover all legitimate cost of research (i.e. salary and/or equipment, travel cost, consumables, personnel etc.).
Deadline
January
Submission of applications
Applications are submitted on-line at www.society-in-science.org.
Application form and supporting documents
In order to complete the on-line application form you will need to have the following material:
  • letter of motivation including a statement explaining why your research differs from the mainstream (max. 1 page);
  • research experience (max. 500 characters), e.g. lab assistant at Harvard University 1999-2003;
  • your CV (max. 4 pages);
  • references of your three best publications;
  • digital copies of your three best publications;
  • contact details of two references;
  • statement positioning your proposed research project within your discipline (max. 500 characters);
  • your proposed research project (max. 4 pages including references).

Please note that letters of support, timelines and budgets do not have to be submitted upon application.

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 to be used for its implementation, and the potential impact of the outcome both for your own subject and for other disciplines. You should seek to present links between society and science that you wish to explore and promote.

All documents must be submitted as PDF files.

Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the Society in Science team on society-in-science@ethz.ch.
Other relevant information
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 an eligible applicant if:
  • you officially hold a PhD by the date of the application deadline;
  • 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:
  • you have not officially completed a PhD by the date of the application deadline;
  • your PhD was awarded more than five years ago by the date of the application deadline;
  • you already hold or have held a faculty or faculty-equivalent position (e.g. assistant professor, lecturer);
  • you are not older than 33 year by the date of the application deadline.

Duration
The five year fellowship is awarded in two installments:

1. the pioneer phase – the first two years of research;

2. the exploitation phase – the remaining three years.


At the end of the pioneer phase a review is conducted. This evaluates the project, its continued originality and the productivity of the fellow. The review is conducted in accordance with a list of requirements, communicated to fellows at the start of their research undertaking.



Programme administrator
Programme administrator: Society in Science is financed by the late Swiss entrepreneur Dr. Branco Weiss and administered as a fund by ETH Zurich.
Selection procedure
Selection procedure
Incoming applications will be screened. External references will be requested only once the applicant has been short-listed. A final selection of applicants will be invited for interviews to present their project to the strategy committee in Zurich, Switzerland. The decision is typically communicated to candidates within one week of the interview.
Attachments
There are no attachments for this programme.

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