Share your passion for life sciences. If you are talented and highly motivated, want to broaden your horizons and are interested in a wide range of research topics, apply for one of the sought after Biozentrum PhD Fellowships. It offers you the unique opportunity of a rotation-based choice of research group as well as other incentives.

The Biozentrum encourages talented, ambitious and highly motivated young scientists from all over the world to apply for the prestigious and sought after fellowships offered by the Biozentrum International PhD Program. In contrast to many other PhD student programs that aim at a broad recruitment of many candidates, the Biozentrum PhD Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis to a maximum of 10 successful candidates per year. 

Unique rotation-based choice of lab
The special feature of the fellowships is that they are independent and neither tied to a research group nor to a project. As a fellow you have the unique opportunity to conduct research in at least two different labs at the Biozentrum (rotations), before you decide on the research group in which you want to do your PhD thesis (pending approval of the respective group leader). The duration of these rotations are at least two months each. 

Perks 
You are also offered a number of incentives to support your scientific excellence, your personal growth and your carrier opportunities. Currently, the following benefits are provided (annual changes may apply): 

• a personal, annual allowance to attend meetings, acquire books or a computer 
• an annual study trip to a city with ties to Siemens (see below)
• scientific meetings and networking opportunities with current students and alumni of the Biozentrum PhD Fellowships Program
• support for the preparation of a personal CV and postdoctoral application by Biozentrum faculty members in the Program Committee
• financial support for travel to postdoctoral interviews at the end of the PhD thesis 

Application is open until October 5, 2024. 
Further information on application and selection procedure. 

The PhD thesis underlies the general rules and guidelines of the University of Basel and fellows are automatically part of the Biozentrum International PhD Program. The fellowship provides full funding for the entire PhD.

If you have any questions, please contact the PhD Student Office

The Biozentrum PhD Fellowships program was established in 2006 by the Biozentrum professors Joachim Seelig and Jeff Schatz with the generous support of the Werner Siemens Foundation who recognized the value of an international excellence program. After the initial financial support by the Werner Siemens Foundation, the University of Basel took over funding the salaries of new fellows in 2010, to assure the continuation of the program, since it has proven to be both a great opportunity for the graduates and an enrichment for the international community of the Biozentrum.