The Branco Weiss Fellowship

Summary

Branco Weiss, a renowned Swiss entrepreneur and supporter of science, has dedicated nearly his entire fortune to supporting exceptional postdoctoral researchers with a generous 5-year grant (more information available at https://brancoweissfellowship.org). Since 2002, the Branco Weiss Fellowship – Society in Science has supported more than 150 early-career researchers. Fellows are free to carry out their projects at any academic institution worldwide, allowing them to choose the environment that best suits their research needs. The fellowship is open to researchers at postdoctoral level in all disciplines (including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities).

Eligibility

You are eligible for the 2025 intake if:

• You officially hold a PhD on January 15, 2025
• You have obtained your PhD a maximum of five years prior to January 15, 2025
• You do not hold/have not held a faculty-equivalent position (e.g. assistant professor or lecturer)
• 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 dialog on relevant social, cultural, political or economic issues beyond the frontiers of your particular discipline

Please note that we typically do not fund mainstream research projects that could also be funded by other scientific organizations.

Duration
Research projects should be conceived to last five years.

The first two and a half years of a project are called the pioneer phase. Before the end of the second year, a site visit will take place and a review will be conducted. At this point, the project, its continued originality, and the productivity of the fellow will be evaluated. If the results of the evaluation and site visit are satisfactory, the fellow enters the exploitation phase for the remaining two and a half years of the fellowship.

Branco Weiss Fellows are encouraged to seek faculty positions during their exploitation phase. Fellows can start a faculty position/professorship after the first year of the fellowship. Assuming an academic position will not result in termination of the fellowship.

Funding
A Branco Weiss Fellowship amounts to max. CHF 600,000 (currently $678,560 US) for up to five years. It may be used to cover all legitimate costs of research (i.e. salary and/or equipment, travel expenses, consumables, personnel, etc.).

Application

Applications for the 2025 fellowship are now open and close January 15^th, 2025. Apply here.

Before applying, please read the Frequently Asked Questions and Guidelines on this website carefully.

To avoid server-overload, submit your application at least 1 to 2 days before the deadline.

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. 5 pages, including abstract, timelines, tentative milestones and references)
• Your CV (max. 4 pages)
• An invitation letter by your prospective host, stating why you are invited to the host group and why your research project is supported
• Copies of your three best publications (no doctoral theses, no books, only peer-reviewed journal articles or individual book chapters)
• 5 reviewer suggestions (to be entered directly in the online application)

Rachelle Swan, Ph.D.

Extramural Funding Specialist Fellowship Office

E-mail: trainee-funding@purdue.edu; Tel: (765) 496-7652