The prestigious Biozentrum PhD Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis. Shortlisted candidates are invited to the Biozentrum for a week of interviews with group leaders and other opportunities to interact and get to know the Biozentrum. 

To find out first hand from a student about the Biozentrum PhD Fellowships, the selection procedure and the rotations, read this interview with PhD Fellow Alexander Kuznetsov.

Conditions 
You must hold or expect to soon receive a university degree that qualifies you for a PhD program at the University of Basel (MSc or equivalent). In exceptional cases, outstanding students with a 4 year Bachelor's degree, typically from outside the Bologna System, are also eligible to apply. These will be able to complete a Master’s program on a fast-track at the University of Basel as part of their fellowship.

In order to be eligible to receive a PhD fellowship, candidates can neither be enrolled as a PhD student at the University of Basel nor have signed a PhD working contract at the University of Basel at the decision date of the respective fellowships call.

Application
The Summer Call 2025 is now open. Application deadline is May 18, 2025. You must submit your application online. Your application must include:

• your diploma/MSc degree with grades and transcripts as pdf files
• CV or scientific résumé (maximum one page, pdf format) 
• names and contact information of 2 referees from your previous academic environment (usually faculty members). The reference letters must be requested through our online application portal.

Selection procedure
After the closing date for the open call, applications will be evaluated by the group leaders of the Biozentrum. Based on the feedback from their peers, the Program Committee will shortlist 20-30 candidates who will be invited to the Biozentrum for an interview week (travel and accommodation provided by the Fellowship Program). 

To organize your individual interviews and lab visits during the interview week, you will be asked to indicate 8 to 10 group leaders. You will also present your research in a 10-minute presentation and 20-minute question and answer seminar to the Program Committee and other interested group leaders. A chaperone – a PhD from the Fellowships Program − will be your personal guide during these days, tell you about being a PhD at the Biozentrum and be happy to answer your questions. Two dinners with group leaders and the chaperones, an informal meeting with the PhD Club and a cultural visit to Basel will provid you with a good insight into Basel, the Biozentrum and its community. 

After the interview week, you will be informed about whether or not you will be offered a fellowship. If successful, you can then start your PhD within the following six months.