International Fully Funded PhD Positions in the Life Sciences in Switzerland

Life Science Zurich Graduate School offers over 100 fully funded PhD positions in the life sciences on a regular basis. With approximately 500 research groups and more than 1,600 PhD students, LSZGS is among the largest and most prestigious graduate schools in Europe. It encompasses 17 highly competitive PhD programs and is jointly operated by ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich.

LSZ GS Programs:

• Biomedical Ethics and Law (Med. Track)
• Biomedicine
• Biomolecular Structure and Mechanism
• Cancer Biology
• Clinical Science
• Drug Discovery
• Ecology
• Epidemiology and Biostatistics
• Evolutionary Biology
• MD-PhD Program
• Microbiology and Immunology
• Molecular Life Sciences
• Neuroscience
• Plant Science
• RNA Biology
• Science and Policy
• Systems Biology

Our PhD programs provide outstanding research and educational opportunities in a dynamic and international environment, ideal for ambitious students aiming to pursue a doctoral degree. If admitted, you will carry out your research project within one of our participating research groups, aligned with your scientific interests.

Throughout your studies, you will benefit from advanced courses and training tailored to support your academic and professional development. The program is conducted entirely in English and typically spans four years.

How is the research environment?

We aim to attract to Zurich the most promising young scientists from across the world. We offer you a challenging training environment, a clear mentoring system and the opportunity to perform cutting-edge research. As a PhD student, you’ll become part of a vibrant scientific and social community, collaborating with leading experts in your field and contributing to impactful discoveries.

Qualification profile

To be eligible for admission, applicants must hold—or expect to soon obtain—a Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field from a recognized university. Upon arrival in Zurich, students will be required to register with either the University of Zurich or ETH Zurich, depending on the affiliation of the research group they join.

How do I finance my Ph.D.?

All research groups within the Life Science Zurich Graduate School provide financial support in accordance with the Ph.D. student salary set by the Swiss National Science Foundation.

How can I apply?

Our web pages provide detailed information for submission of your application. Please refer to the guidelines as we only take into consideration applications received in the required format:

APPLICATION

FAQ

There are two open calls per year, with deadlines on May 1 and November 1.

Field: Life Science, Animal Science, Environmental Science, Food Science, Biological Anthropology, Animal Biology & Ethology, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Biotechnology, Botany and plant science, Cancer Research, Cell Biology, Chronobiology, Computational Biology, Developmental Biology, Ecology, Entomology, Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, Histology, Human Biology, Limnology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Mycology, Nanobiology, Neuroscience, Paleobiology, Parasitology, Physiology, Structural Biology, Systematics (Taxonomy), Systems Biology, Virology, Zoology, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, Molecular Chemistry, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biosystems Engineering, Biomedicine, Clinical Sciences, Epidemiology, Immunology, Molecular Medicine, Toxicology, Biophysics, RNA Biology, Science and Policy