80+ Fully Funded PhD Positions in the Life Sciences – University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Switzerland

PhD position

8/14/2026

The Life Science Zurich Graduate School (LSZGS) offers more than 80 fully funded PhD positions across 17 competitive doctoral programmes jointly operated by the University of Zurich (UZH) and ETH Zurich. The programmes bring together research groups working across molecular biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, systems biology, computational biology, genetics, cell biology, microbiology, immunology, plant science, ecology, and related life-science disciplines.

This structured doctoral opportunity is suitable for candidates who want to pursue research in an international environment while receiving doctoral training, supervision, and access to laboratories and scientific infrastructure at two of Switzerland’s leading research universities.

Position Details

Opportunity: Fully funded PhD positions in the life sciences
Graduate school: Life Science Zurich Graduate School (LSZGS)
Universities: University of Zurich and ETH Zurich
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Program structure: 17 competitive doctoral programmes
Number of positions: More than 80 positions offered on a regular basis
Research areas: Molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, neuroscience, immunology, microbiology, systems biology, computational biology, plant science, ecology, and related areas
Degree: Doctoral degree awarded through the affiliated university and programme
Funding: Fully funded PhD positions
Typical duration: Approximately four years, subject to programme and employment conditions
Eligibility: Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field
Application deadline: Varies by application round; confirm the current deadline on the LSZGS application portal

Research Areas

The LSZGS provides access to a broad range of life-science research projects. Depending on the programme and supervisor, projects may involve experimental, computational, clinical, or interdisciplinary methods.

Potential research themes include:

Molecular mechanisms of disease.
Cell signalling, trafficking, and intracellular organization.
Genetics, genomics, epigenetics, and gene regulation.
Structural biology and protein biochemistry.
Neuroscience and neural circuit function.
Immunology, infection biology, and host–pathogen interactions.
Microbiology and microbial systems.
Developmental and stem-cell biology.
Systems biology and quantitative biology.
Computational biology, bioinformatics, and machine learning.
Plant biology, ecology, and environmental life sciences.
Metabolism, ageing, and tissue homeostasis.

The graduate-school model allows applicants to apply to doctoral programmes rather than relying exclusively on a single advertised project. Candidates should review the research themes, faculty groups, programme requirements, and available supervisors before selecting the most appropriate track.

Programme Structure

Life Science Zurich Graduate School is jointly operated by the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich and encompasses 17 highly competitive doctoral programmes. The programmes are designed to provide structured doctoral training in addition to laboratory or computational research.

A typical doctoral experience may include:

Research conducted in a participating laboratory or research group.
Individual supervision and mentoring.
Research seminars and journal clubs.
Doctoral courses and transferable-skills training.
Scientific retreats, conferences, and collaborative activities.
Progress reviews and thesis committee meetings.
Opportunities to work across UZH and ETH Zurich research environments.

The exact curriculum, admission process, and doctoral degree affiliation depend on the programme and the research group that hosts the candidate.

Eligibility and Skills

Applicants must hold, or expect to soon obtain, a master’s degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant field from a recognized university. Suitable academic backgrounds may include:

Biology or molecular biology.
Biochemistry or biotechnology.
Biomedical sciences or biomedical engineering.
Medicine or related health sciences.
Chemistry or biophysics.
Neuroscience or psychology with relevant research training.
Computer science, bioinformatics, data science, or computational biology.
Environmental science, ecology, or plant science.
A related life-science or quantitative discipline.

The preferred background depends on the selected doctoral programme and research group. Applicants may be expected to demonstrate some combination of:

Research experience through a master’s thesis, internship, or laboratory project.
Familiarity with experimental methods or computational analysis.
Scientific writing and presentation skills.
Quantitative reasoning and data-analysis ability.
Programming experience for computational or systems-biology projects.
Motivation to work in an interdisciplinary and international environment.
Strong spoken and written English.

For computational projects, experience with Python, R, MATLAB, bioinformatics pipelines, machine learning, image analysis, or statistical modelling may be useful. For experimental projects, relevant laboratory methods and research experience should be described clearly in the application.

Funding and Benefits

The opportunity is explicitly advertised as offering fully funded PhD positions. The graduate school states that more than 80 positions are available in the life sciences on a regular basis. Funding is associated with the doctoral position and is not presented as a self-funded study route.

Candidates should verify the exact employment percentage, salary, social-security contributions, insurance, and contract duration for the specific research group. In Switzerland, doctoral researchers are commonly appointed through the university or affiliated research institution, but employment terms can vary between UZH, ETH Zurich, departments, and laboratories.

The funding package generally enables doctoral researchers to focus on research without paying the full cost of the doctorate from personal funds. Candidates should nevertheless budget for Zurich’s relatively high living costs and review the specific salary and benefits stated in the offer.

Why Apply?

This is a particularly strong opportunity for candidates who want access to a large, interdisciplinary life-sciences ecosystem rather than a single isolated laboratory. The joint UZH–ETH environment may be especially attractive for research involving:

Biomedical imaging and quantitative microscopy.
Computational modelling of biological systems.
AI and machine learning in biology or medicine.
Tissue mechanics, mechanobiology, and regenerative medicine.
Molecular diagnostics and biomarker discovery.
Systems-level analysis of disease and physiology.
Bioengineering, biosensors, and translational technologies.
Interdisciplinary research combining engineering and life sciences.

For applicants working in ultrasound elastography, computational biomechanics, PINNs, or medical imaging, relevant programme themes may include quantitative biology, biomedical engineering, mechanobiology, imaging, computational medicine, or systems biology. The exact fit should be assessed by reviewing participating laboratories and contacting potential supervisors where permitted.

Application Process

Applicants should apply through the official LSZGS application:

Life Science Zurich Graduate School – Application

Applicants should tailor their materials to the selected doctoral programme. A strong statement should identify the candidate’s research preparation, methodological strengths, scientific questions of interest, and reasons for choosing the LSZGS and the UZH–ETH Zurich research environment.

Application Link

Apply through the official Life Science Zurich Graduate School application portal:

Apply to LSZGS

Additional information about doctoral study programmes at ETH Zurich is available through the ETH Zurich doctoral-programme page:

ETH Zurich – Doctoral Study Programmes

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