Human Resources

The employment relationship is based on the conclusion of a written employment contract, including a job description, which is signed by both parties. Any extension, modification or termination of the employment contract requires the agreement of the line management and the HR Managers (HRM) and must also be done in writing. The Employee Experience domain is also responsible for implementing the salary policy, which is based on the FIT domain’s Salary System and flat-rate salaries (doctoral and postdoctoral assistants).

Employment relationships are for a fixed term or for an indefinite term (Art. 19 of the FIT domain’s Personnel Order (OPers-EPF) and Art. 17b of the FIT Act).

Any request pertaining to an employment contract must be submitted to the HR Manager for the relevant School or Vice Presidency.

The FIT Board shall appoint professors, tenure track assistants (PATT), associate professors (PA) and full professors (PO). These members of the teaching staff are hired under either public or private law. Their contracts are managed by Faculty Affairs (APR).

Tenure track assistant professors are appointed for four years. Their contract is renewable once for a further four years. In the event of pregnancy, an extension of the employment period of one year will automatically be granted, with the corresponding evaluation deadlines being deferred accordingly, as well as a release from teaching for two terms.

Doctoral assistants are hired for a fixed period of one year, renewable for a total period of up to six years. The annual assessment of their thesis work will be decisive in whether their contract is renewed. When they enrol at EPFL, doctoral assistants will receive a fixed remuneration.

Scientific staff are commonly referred to as “post-doctoral fellows”. When they are hired, holders of a doctoral degree at EPFL must have spent at least two years of their professional or academic career outside EPFL. Heads of Unit are competent to hire these post-docs, under a fixed-term contract, subject to the agreement of the Faculty HR Manager. The consent of the Dean of the Faculty is also required for any exceptional appointments extending beyond four years or for an indefinite term.

The hiring of foreign nationals may be subject to the approval of cantonal and federal authorities depending on their nationality, i.e. subject to them obtaining a valid work permit.

The hiring of two persons in a relationship (married or otherwise) is possible under certain conditions, but there must be no link of subordination or potential conflict of interest between them under any circumstances. The same rule applies to first- and second-degree blood relatives and to first-degree relatives by marriage.

see the chapter on “Equality, Diversity and Respect”

The Leadership & Development domain offers an extensive training and development programme. Link: “Keep Learning”, management and leadership training as well as language courses (language centre). It is also available to develop tailor-made training programmes or even to establish training courses in line with the specific needs of the units. Specific measures are taken to support career management for the entire community.