EPFL AI Center and Swiss AI Initiative Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026-2027

Deadline: November 9, 2026

Applications are open for the EPFL AI Center and Swiss AI Initiative Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026-2027. The EPFL AI Center Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme, supported in part through funding from the Swiss AI Initiative, gives outstanding and highly motivated young researchers the chance to collaborate with a broad range of EPFL faculty on furthering the capabilities and applications of AI techniques in a variety of scientific domains.

The Fellowship programme focuses on excellence and collaborative research endeavours. Therefore, Fellows will work with several laboratories at EPFL and will be granted ample freedom to develop their own research agenda. This will include contributing to and participating in the various community activities and strategic initiatives associated with the EPFL AI Center.

Funding

The fellowship covers a contribution to the salary of the postdoctoral researcher of appr. 50% per year (EPFL salary scales apply). The remaining part of the salary is covered by the EPFL host laboratories. EPFL Human Resources guidelines and practices apply with regard to social security.

A maximum amount of CHF 5’000 per fellowship year can be granted for research costs, open research data costs, open access publication costs, travels and conferences. These costs need to be justified in the budget and in the financial report. Any additional costs for research expenses, travel, etc. need to be covered by the host Professor(s).

The host laboratories commit to making the necessary infrastructure available to the postdoctoral researcher (e.g., office space, laboratory space and equipment, administrative support).

Eligibility

Applications are encouraged by researchers at the postdoctoral level.

Applicants must have obtained a PhD diploma in computer science, physics, engineering, applied mathematics, or another field relevant to artificial intelligence, no more than two years before the submission deadline.

Doctoral students in the last year of their doctoral studies are eligible to apply (senior PhD students), provided that they will have successfully completed their PhD diploma by the time they start the fellowship.

Applicants must have the support of two EPFL host professors who are Faculty members affiliated with the EPFL AI Center. Applicants should therefore contact potential host Professor(s) from this list and discuss and agree on a potential collaboration before submitting their application.

Priority will be given to external candidates. However, senior PhD students and junior postdocs, who are already at EPFL are eligible to apply.

This programme is highly competitive, and the primary evaluation criterion is excellence, as measured by academic records and professional accomplishments. Candidates applying for the AI Center fellowship are expected to have excellent grade transcripts.

Applicants may submit only one application.

Citizens of any nationality may apply for the AI Center & Swiss AI Initiative postdoctoral fellowship programme. No age restrictions apply

Applications from candidates of all genders and backgrounds are strongly encouraged.

Application

Explore the Application toolkit and read carefully the application guidelines. All documents must be submitted in English.

All required documents must be submitted on the online submission platform.

For more information, visit EPFL AI Center and Swiss AI Initiative Postdoctoral Fellowships.

Applicants must have the support of two EPFL host professors who are Faculty members affiliated with the EPFL AI Center.

Applicants must have obtained a PhD diploma in computer science, physics, engineering, applied mathematics, or another field relevant to artificial intelligence, no more than two years before the submission deadline. Doctoral students in the last year of their doctoral studies are eligible to apply (senior PhD students), provided that they will have successfully completed their PhD diploma by the time they start the fellowship. Applicants must have the support of two EPFL host professors who are Faculty members affiliated with the EPFL AI Center.

The 3rd call is now open with a submission deadline on 9 November 2026 17:00 (CET).