NOMIS Foundation ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship

Overview

The NOMIS Foundation–ETH Fellowship Programme supports postdoctoral researchers at ETH Zurich within the Centre for Origin and Prevalence of Life (COPL). The programme is intended to foster the development of young interdisciplinary researchers in the field of the origin and prevalence of life who have demonstrated scientific excellence in the early stages of their careers, and to enable the conditions necessary to conduct interdisciplinary, fundamental and high-risk research with some level of independence and autonomy.

Project background

The Centre for Origin and Prevalence of Life at ETH Zurich is an innovative collaboration between several departments to address the big questions of life’s origins and ubiquity. The Centre includes facilities for scientific discussion, hot desks and temporary office space for students, faculty, and visiting scientists across campuses.

The purpose of the Centre is to establish and promote new forms of scientific collaborations that transcend disciplinary boundaries to exploit opportunity and synergies, linking planetary context with chemical forms and functions of life. The Centre deploys a programme including interdisciplinary research projects, talent development, recruitment of professors, an extensive scientific network, and an interdisciplinary curriculum about the origin and prevalence of life.

The NOMIS Foundation supports and enables insight-driven science across disciplines, focusing on researchers who pursue bold ideas and inspire progress. The foundation aims to create a spark in science by enabling pioneering research in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities that benefit humankind and our planet.

Once appointed, NOMIS–ETH Fellows become part of an international network of leading interdisciplinary researchers and institutions through the NOMIS collaborative research network and the Origins Federation.

Profile

Applications within three years of obtaining a doctorate will be considered. In duly justified cases, applications outside this criterion may also be considered. Preferably, you will have already gained postdoctoral experience and/or interdisciplinary training. You must have an existing affiliation to an academic/research institution. Following the initial evaluation round, you must be available for a remote interview. In each evaluation round, a professor may submit one candidate as host. A host may be a co-host of another candidate in the same round. At least one of the host or co-host professors must have a guaranteed ETH position for the entire duration of the fellowship. The hosts shall be members of the COPL; see the COPL website for affiliated professors. The host or co-host must commit to providing the allowance and any additional support required beyond the fellowship allowance to carry out the research project, as well as resources for the fourth year if the candidate passes the review. It is not possible to resubmit an application following a rejection in a previous call. Applications not complying with eligibility criteria will be rejected on formal grounds.

We offer

• Your job with impact: Become part of ETH Zurich, which supports your professional development and contributes to positive change in society

In line with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a respectful working and learning environment. See the Equal Opportunities and Diversity resources for details.

Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application by 07 November 2025 at 17:00 Swiss local time with the following documents as PDF-files:

• Cover letter with signature and date.
• Complete CV with publication list; include month and year for all dates.
• Statement of role and input, and how the NOMIS–ETH Fellow’s project relates to other research directions in the host group and the Centre.
• Brief outline of your career goals.
• Description of the interdisciplinary nature, high-risk/outside-the-box character of the proposed research and synergy with the Centre’s mission.
• Invitation letter from a host professor describing why you are an excellent candidate and a statement of financial support for year 4.
• Completed form concerning ethical issues and research requiring authorization or notification.
• Two external letters of reference to be emailed directly by the authors to the Managing Office of the Centre for Origin and Prevalence of Life before the deadline ( ).

The necessary document templates can be downloaded from the COPL website. Please do not change the internal structure of the templates, and adhere to the file-naming conventions.

Incomplete applications will not be processed.

Questions about the position should be directed to Dr. Mathias Beck. ETH Zurich is committed to excellence in science and education and values a diverse community.

Deadlines: There is one call for NOMIS–ETH Fellowships per year. The 2025 deadline is 07 November 2025 at 17:00 Swiss local time. Applications must be submitted electronically via the ETH Zurich Job Board. Reference letters must be sent by the authors before the deadline to

Further information about COPL can be found on the COPL website.

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