In short, three different fellowships are available:

1. Research Fellowship: For individuals without a PhD who are considering pursuing research studies.
2. PhD Scholarship: For those who wish to pursue a PhD in Switzerland for a period of 3+ years.
3. Post-Doc Scholarship: For individuals with a PhD who are looking to spend one year in Switzerland conducting postdoctoral research.

Please note that all fellowships are intended for individuals who have not previously spent time in Switzerland. Consequently, if you are awarded one of these fellowships, you will be ineligible to apply for the others in the future as you technicaly already have a Phd or Postdoc in Switzerland.

Let’s see each one of them in dettail:

Research Fellowship

Research Fellowships are 12-month programs aimed at highly qualified postgraduate researchers from all academic disciplines. Applicants must have obtained a master’s degree or equivalent by July 31, 2024, except for ETH Zurich applicants, who must meet this requirement by June 30, 2024. Candidates should be born after December 31, 1988. The application requires a support letter from an academic host professor at a Swiss university, including a brief CV (maximum 2 pages), explaining their willingness to supervise and support the research. This letter differs from the confidential recommendation letter also required. Additionally, applicants must submit a research proposal with a defined time frame. Notably, this fellowship is not available to those who already hold a PhD degree

PhD Scholarship

PhD Scholarships are designed for highly qualified PhD students from all academic disciplines, offering funding for 12 to 36 months, extendable in three 12-month increments based on academic progress. Applicants must have obtained a master’s degree or equivalent by July 31, 2024, except for ETH Zurich applicants, who must meet this requirement by June 30, 2024. Eligible candidates should be born after December 31, 1988. The application requires a support letter from an academic host professor at a Swiss university, including a brief CV (maximum 2 pages), detailing their commitment to supervise and support the PhD throughout its duration. If an assistant professor supports the application, a full professor must co-sign the letter. This support letter is distinct from the confidential recommendation letter also required. For PhD studies at a University of Applied Sciences, an additional support letter from a faculty member of the host research university is mandatory. The doctoral degree must be awarded by a research university. A detailed research proposal with a defined time frame is the centerpiece of the application and requires thorough attention.

Post-Doc Scholarship

Postdoctoral Scholarships are 12-month programs aimed at highly qualified early career scientists from all scientific fields. Eligible candidates must have completed their PhD between December 31, 2020, and July 31, 2024 (June 30, 2024, for ETH Zurich), and primarily for those who have not previously studied in Switzerland. The program does not fund sabbaticals. Applicants need a support letter from an academic host professor at a Swiss university, including a brief CV (maximum 2 pages), explaining their willingness to supervise the research. Former PhD mentors and co-directors for co-tutelle PhDs cannot be supervisors. A detailed research proposal with a timeframe is the centerpiece of the application. This scholarship is exclusively for full-time postdoctoral research in Switzerland, prohibiting fieldwork outside the country, and recipients are expected to reside in Switzerland during the grant period. For double doctorates, the date of the first degree is considered. The scholarship is not valid for mixed research conducted partly in Switzerland and partly in another country.

Where to find more Information

The official link of the scholarship contains all the relevant information and is the “GO TO” resources:

• https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/sbfi/en/home/education/scholarships-and-grants/swiss-government-excellence-scholarships.html

Additionally, each country has specific information and details regarding the application procedure, which can be found at the following link.

• https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/dam/sbfi/en/dokumente/2022/07/all-countries.pdf.download.pdf/2023_ESKAS_all_country_contacts_A_to_Z_for_application_documents.pdf

I recommend relying on the official information provided at the link above. The program itself warns about potential scams, and while there are numerous YouTube videos on the topic, some are generated by ChatGPT and others are, for lack of a better word, “dubious.” Here, I share videos from two YouTubers who, in my opinion, offer a reliable overview of the program. From Jama, part 1:

And part 2:

As well as from Aatiya:

My personal suggestions:

If you are interested in applying for a Phd or Postdoc in Switzerland, here are my personal suggestions:

1. Start Early (Paperwork): The application process is deliberately complex to filter out unmotivated candidates. The responsibility for managing the paperwork falls entirely on you, so begin early to ensure you have ample time to complete everything accurately.
2. Start Early (Connections in Switzerland): A critical aspect of the application is obtaining a support letter from a professor in Switzerland who is willing to endorse your candidacy and confirm that your proposal aligns with their and their institution’s research. Building these connections early is essential.
3. Start Early (Your Research Proposal): Develop a meaningful and well-written research proposal as soon as possible. Without a solid proposal, it will be challenging to secure support from a professor. You are solely responsible for writing this proposal. Once you have a polished version formatted according to the required templates, use it as your business card when reaching out to potential professors in Switzerland. Without this document, your communication is likely to be ignored or flagged as spam.

In other words, your commitment and the importance of contacting your potential supervisor as early as possible, armed with all the relevant information, cannot be overstated. This official video from the program provides additional valuable suggestions:

In addition, please note that each professor will not/cam not endorse more then one (or two) candidates per year. Therefore many of the request may simply be not answered.

Can I help you further for your Phd or Postdoc in Switzerland?

It really depends. For this specific grant you (the applicant) are really responsible for doing the heavy lifting as well as for dealing with the dettails. As for the rest, (i) if you believe that you have what it takes for this fellowship, (ii) you fulfill all the requirements, (iii) you have a nice idea to pursue and (iv) it is related to one of the following areas:

1. Internet of Things (IoT): Refers to the network of interconnected devices and objects that can communicate and share data. IoT enables smart homes, industrial automation, and more.
2. Extended Reality (XR): Encompasses virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). XR technologies blend digital content with the real world, enhancing user experiences.
3. Human Behavioral Informatics: The study of human behavior using data analytics and computational methods. It involves understanding patterns, preferences, and decision-making based on digital interactions.
4. Computer Vision: A field of artificial intelligence that focuses on enabling machines to interpret visual information from images or videos. Applications include facial recognition, object detection, and medical imaging.
5. Language Processing: Also known as natural language processing (NLP), it involves teaching computers to understand and generate human language. NLP powers chatbots, language translation, and sentiment analysis.
6. Security and Privacy: Addresses safeguarding data, systems, and networks from unauthorized access or breaches. It includes encryption, authentication, and privacy-preserving techniques.
7. Big Data Processing: Deals with managing and analyzing large volumes of data. Technologies like Hadoop and Spark enable efficient processing of massive datasets.
8. Distributed Systems: Involves designing and managing systems that run on multiple interconnected computers. Examples include cloud computing, peer-to-peer networks, and distributed databases.
9. Serverless Computing: A cloud computing model where developers focus on writing code without managing servers. Serverless platforms automatically scale resources based on demand.
10. Digital Decision Making: The process of using data-driven insights and algorithms to make informed choices in various domains, such as business, healthcare, and finance.

You can consider dropping me a line! Are you still finishing your thesis instead? These guides may help!

Good Luck!

The post Phd or Postdoc in Switzerland for International Students: On Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships appeared first on Francesco Lelli.

Background: Replacing the CentER Honors Program, the goal of the CentER Honors Research Experience is to make top students familiar with academic research at TiSEM, by jointly working with TiSEM professors on academic research.

Target group: Second and third-year Bachelor and Master students with a GPA of at least 7.5 and with a serious interest in doing research and pursuing an academic career.

Set-up: During a period of 10 weeks students work on a research project (individual or in small groups, depending on number of projects handed in) and are supervised by an academic staff member. They will meet with the academic supervisor at least 5 times to discuss the progress of the project. During these meetings, the supervisor also shares some information on “academic life”. At the end of the period, students will present the results of their project to their fellow students and the researchers involved. Further, participants will be required to attend 2 research seminars from the research group relevant to their project and will have a meeting with the Graduate Program Coordinator to talk about the possibilities for an academic career.

Credits: the project is “on top of” regular curricula. A certificate and 4 ECTS (112 hours) will be awarded upon successful completion.

Selection criteria: GPA at least 7.5, motivation letter and resume

Period: Two rounds per year: summer (in the period May to August) or fall (in the period September to December).

Projects: Project proposals are provided by research faculty of TiSEM. Projects can include different elements of conducting research, such as data collection, data analysis, model analysis, model development, programming, and experiment. Students can indicate a preference for a research direction, and selected students will be assigned to a supervisor on the basis of their preference, experience and education.

Do you want to apply for the Honors Research Experience?: Send your grade list (with GPA), motivation letter and resume in English to CHP@uvt.nl. You will be informed about whether you are selected and to which supervisor you are assigned. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ms Carine Rocha, Coordinator Research Masters at the CentER Research Master office, room K 122, email CHP@tilburguniversity.edu

The post Honors Research Experience: Call for Students at CentER appeared first on Francesco Lelli.

The key outcome of this initiative is a federated smart factory ecosystem and a digital platform (called EFPF) that interlinks different stakeholders of the digital manufacturing domain. The EFPF platform supports European Industry 4.0 companies to utilize innovative solutions, experiment with disruptive approaches and develop custom solutions to address dynamic manufacturing needs for mass-customization and lot-size-one production.

The EFPF platform offers embedded intelligence and integrated tools and services to significantly reduce the burden of setting up collaborative networks, shorten the time to respond to new business opportunities and simplify the management and control of distributed processes.The main EFPF objectives are:

• To foster the growth of a pan-European platform ecosystem that enables the transition from “analogue-first” mass production, to “digital twins” and lot-size-one manufacturing
• To provide a unified Portal through which new and existing users can simply and seamlessly access the full range of services provided by the federated platforms (e.g. Single Sign On, Governance…etc)
• To support developers to create digital tools/services of direct added value to manufacturers, especially for lot-size-one production, through dynamic collaboration
• To demonstrate sustainable value networks and tangible benefits in three pilot industrial areas: Aerospace: B2B SME collaborations; Furniture: OEM Supply Chain; and Smart Waste Management: the Circular Economy
• To extend and align existing Marketplace functionalities
• To avoid the fragmentation of European digital manufacturing platforms and services
• To establish standardized, industry-relevant platform architectures

Why should you be involved?

Here you can find a few reasons:

• You will receive between €50-150K of non-equity funding and support to develop new services/products.
• You will own what you produce and will be able to exploit outcomes across your business
• You will have the opportunity to develop new, working relationships with innovative businesses in the Industry 4.0 domain
• You will have access to a new sales channel through the EFPF Marketplace

Important dates and key information:

• Total available funding: €2.5million
• Funding range per project: €50,000 – 150,000
• This budget will cover: 80% of your costs
• Call Launch: October 19th 2020
• Call Close: February 19th 2021
• Your Project Start: September 2021
• Your Project Duration: 6-12 months

Who can apply?

Please apply if you meet the following criteria.
You are:

1. an SME as defined in EU Law: EU Recommendation 2003/361/EC, (see https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/conferences/state-aid/sme/smedefinitionguide_en.pdf),
2. or a legal entity of any size operating in the manufacturing or supply chain domain,
3. or a technology provider / software developer,
4. or a research center / university

In addition:

• You are legally established in an EU Member State, the UK or an Associated Country (see EC Countries List)
• You are a stable, solvent, legal entity eligible for participation and funding in H2020 Initiatives
• You have no formal business partnerships with any EFPF consortium member (eg part- or wholly-owned subsidiary, or affiliate) – there are no restrictions on customers and/or suppliers of EFPF consortium members

Where to find more information for this EFPF call:

• Find out more on the official page of the funding call
• Or, register your interest using the subscription form

The post European Factory Platform (EFPF): €2.5 million for Industry 4.0 Initiatives appeared first on Francesco Lelli.

Student associations across various Tilburg University Schools have joined forces to compose a multi-disciplinary team of 5 to 6 students to compete in an amazing Hackathon on April 2-6, 2020. The team will be actively supported and coached by a panel of expert advisors, comprising experienced practitioners and academics, throughout the entire process. No need to feel intimidated if you do not have technical skills — All are welcomed and will be guided through the process!

Key benefits to you:

• Demonstrate innovative problem-solving on your CV
• Be introduced to an incredible international network of game-changers
• Develop experience working in multi-disciplinary teams (non-technical and technical)
• Learn more about key technologies that are shaping the future of business and society
• Be coached by an experienced team of advisors who will actively support you

Key Milestones and Dates:

• Attend SOE (if undecided) session on blockchain on December 2 at 10:45 AM in CZ-007
• Interested students submit applications before Monday, December 9, 2019
• The university committee dedicated to Odyssey Hackathon selects students and composes the team on Friday, December 13, 2019
• The team meets with expert advisors and student association chairs mid-January, 2020
• The team travels to The Hague for intensive mentoring and to choose topic Feb 4-5, 2020*
• The team meets with expert advisors and student association chairs to work on topic mid-March 2020
• The team and advisors travel to Groningen for the Odyssey Hackathon April 2-6, 2020 *
• The team will have a chance to share learnings mid-May, 2020

 *All hotel and travel expenses will be covered by the Sponsoring Committee. 

Are you interested in joining Tilburg University at Odyssey Hackathon ?

Motivated students who love to solve complex, real-world challenges, please apply before Monday, December 9, 2019. The application link:

• https://forms.gle/GjyVSfNwedamuWD9A

For more information on the Odyssey Hackathon please check out these resources:

• Odyssey Hackathon 2020 Trailer:

• Odyssey Hackathon Participant Insights 2019:

Odyssey Hackathon website:

• https://www.odyssey.org/odyssey-hackathon-2020/

A few pictures of the past event:

#Tilburg #University is searching for bachelor and master #Students that will participate to the Odyssey Hackathon. All expenses payed! #Odyssey2020 #blockchain
Share on X

The post Tilburg University at Odyssey Hackathon: Team wanted! appeared first on Francesco Lelli.

A Student Assistant (SA) is a student that is enrolled at the university who have been hired to provide services to a department or facility. They are paid on an hourly basis and the job load is specifically tuned for considering the load that he/she has in the classes.

This position is particularly research oriented. In other words your work will contribute to the development of the research of the department of management.

The ideal candidate is a student that has a proactive and go-getter attitude that is curious to know more about cutting edge topics explored by the professors in the department.

During your work you will gain:

• Hard skills that you will develop include mathematical analysis and programming. 
• Soft skills includes critical thinking and scientific writing.

If you are interested in this opportunity I encourage you to get in touch with me, as the application will require the development of a small research project.

Procedure for the application:

• Step 1: get in touch with me via eMail with and idea that you would like to develop or simply saying why you believe that you are a good fit for this position of research student assistant.
• Step 2: If you pass the initial screening we will develop a proposal following your idea or you will select among the currently available proposals
• Step 3: A committee at the department of management will evaluate the proposal and your suitability for the project
• Step 4: If successful you will start working as SA base on your available time.

Note: Projects (and students) that have the greatest potential towards top publications (see this journal list for more information) will have a greater chance of been accepted.

Help spreading the voice:

#research #student #Assistant #JobOpening at Tilburg University.
Share on X

The post Research Student Assistant at Tilburg University (TiU) appeared first on Francesco Lelli.