SNSF Ambizione

General information

The School of Basic Sciences (SB) consists of three Institutes: the Institute of Physics (IPHYS), the Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC), and the Institute of Mathematics (MATH). An Ambizione applicant is hosted by a professor within an Institute of SB. The Ambizione awardee joins the unit of their host professor at EPFL, as Scientist (collaborateur·trice scientifique).

Both external and internal (i.e., already working at EPFL) candidates are eligible. Internal applicants must beware that the total duration of employment (CDD) at EPFL requires special exception beyond 6 years and can in no circumstances exceed 9 years. 

Before preparing their application, candidates must obtain the support of their host professor. Then, each Institute has a process to screen the applications (details below) and collect the approval of the Institute Director. Please contact your host professor well in advance and refer to the support letter templates (see below) and information on this webpage to prepare your application.

Important (please refer to SNSF Ambizione regulations):

  • Candidates must have a link with Switzerland.
  • It is no longer possible to employ doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers as part of Ambizione grants. The maximum amount of project funding for a project duration of four years has therefore been reduced to CHF 250’000.
  • This is the last Ambizione call.

 

Information for host professors

Host professors are responsible for the selection of the candidates they would like to support. Supporting a candidate implies that the host professor commits to provide the necessary space and infrastructure for the success of the proposed project, including secretarial support, within the present means available to their unit. Neither the Institute nor SB can provide additional space or financial support in case an Ambizione project is granted.

Important:

  • This year, each host professor can only support one applicant.
  • The host professor needs to state their commitment in an “Internal endorsement letter” (template below) addressed to the Institute Director and included by the applicant in their EPFL pre-application file. In addition, the host professor prepares and signs a “Detailed confirmation letter” addressed to the SNSF (template below), which will be co-signed by the Institute Director only after pre-application has been received and approved. Please refer to the process description and templates below.

Process

The application toolkit can be found here (in case of issues in accessing the toolkit please contact [email protected]). Please read all the documents carefully before preparing your pre-application and follow the instructions. The procedure goes as follows:

  • Candidates fill in (by the SB deadline: September 15th) the EPFL online pre-application form, following the instructions detailed in the toolkit, and uploading:
    • a CV with publication list;
    • the PDF generated from the mysnf application including the project description and requested funding;
    • the “internal endorsement letter” signed by the host professor (using the template provided below);
    • the “detailed confirmation letter” signed by the host professor (using the template provided below WITHOUT the signature of the institute director – please make sure that the uploaded file allows additional signatures to be added electronically).

Candidates must indicate in the online pre-registration form (under ‘Equipment and Lab Office Space’) that lab & office space is provided by the host laboratory. The host laboratory commits to this in the “internal endorsement letter”.

  • The EPFL Research Office, Human Resources, and (if applicable) the Equipment & Centers Management Office conduct an administrative and eligibility check.
  • The Director of the Institute and the SB Dean evaluate the files and give their approval.
  • The SB sends to the supported candidates the fully signed “detailed confirmation letter” and notifies the EPFL Research Office of the list of supported candidates.
  • The EPFL Research Office provides the supported candidates an additional “institutional general confirmation letter”, needed to submit the application to the SNSF.

Timeline & deadlines

SB Pre-application deadline: September 15th, 2026 (midnight CET ). Files received after the deadline will not be considered.

SNSF Application deadline: November 3rd, 2026 (17h CET)

Templates

Contact