EPFL AI Center and Swiss AI Initiative Postdoctoral Fellowships
Applications are encouraged from researchers at the postdoctoral level with a keen interest in collaborative, interdisciplinary research on AI topics and who typically feel attracted by a career in research.
EPFL AI Center and Swiss AI Initiative Postdoctoral Fellowships
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.
Mission
The EPFL AI Center is the hub for AI research at EPFL, spearheading strategic initiatives and research challenges in AI, hosting large-scale projects in collaboration with diverse partners.
The Fellowship will enable the Postdoctoral researcher to develop an interdisciplinary research agenda in collaboration with at least two EPFL labs headed by EPFL AI Center faculty members.
Key goals of this Fellowship programme are to:
- Advance cutting-edge AI research;
- Promote ethical AI development ensuring fellows critically evaluate issues such as bias, privacy, and fairness in AI research;
- Prepare for the next generation of leaders in AI;
- Spark interdisciplinary collaboration between the EPFL AI Center’s community.
Eligibility requirements
- Candidates must have obtained a doctorate (PhD) in a field relevant to artificial intelligence, no more than two years before the submission deadline. Candidates in the last year of their PhD studies may also apply.
- Priority will be given to external candidates, postdocs who are already at EPFL are eligible to apply.
- Citizens of any nationality may apply for the AI Center Postdoctoral fellowships.
- No age restrictions apply.
- Applicants must have the endorsement of two EPFL Professors associated with the AI Center willing to host when they submit their Stage 2 formal host support letter.
- The Fellowship should be carried out on a full-time basis (100%) (specific exceptions could possibly be considered depending on individual circumstances).
- Applicants may only submit one application.
- This programme is highly competitive, and the primary evaluation criterion is excellence, as measured by academic records and professional accomplishments.
Funding
Eligible costs include and are limited to:
- The fellowship covers the full salary of the postdoctoral researcher, based on the EPFL salary scale and is for a period of up to two years max.
- EPFL Human Resources guidelines and practices apply with regard to social security contributions.
- 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.
- The host laboratories commit to making the necessary infrastructure available to the postdoctoral researcher.
How to apply
Explore the Application toolkit and read carefully the application guidelines.
All required documents must be submitted on the online submission platform.
All documents must be submitted in English.
Deadline
The submission deadline for Stage 1 is 3 November 2025 (17:00 CET).
Applicants who are endorsed by the AI Center fellowship committee will be able to proceed to Stage 2. For more information on the process check the Application Guidelines.
Selection process
The selection process includes two stages.
In Stage 1 the submitted applications will be evaluated by the Evaluation Committee for the programme, based on criteria such as: the fit of the candidate’s research proposal with the aims of the fellowship programme, scientific excellence, relevance and practical impact of the project proposal, feasibility, candidate profile.
Only those applicants who are endorsed by the Evaluation Committee will be able to proceed to Stage 2.
In Stage 2, the applicant will need to submit a formal support letter signed by at least two EPFL professors affiliated with the AI Center willing to host and supervise the project and a budget calculator. This needs to be submitted via the online submission platform before the submission deadline (date to be announced). Additionally, online interviews with be held with the short-listed candidates.
Successful applicants may begin their project after the notice of the award once the fellowship agreement has been signed, but no later than nine months after the receipt of the decision letter.