This document describes the process for getting support from the Institute of Physics (IPHYS) to apply as an external candidate, non-professor or PANTT internal candidate (unless the ERC project ends before the PANTT contract). EPFL PATTs can refer to the ERC Starting Grants application toolkit for their own application process
Generalities
IPHYS accepts both external and internal candidates fulfilling the condition that at least 50% of their own salary is funded through other means that the ERC grant (averaged over the duration of the grant). Please note that neither IPHYS nor SB will cover (partially or in full) this salary.
ERC Starting Grant applicants who would like to be hosted at IPHYS must first be approved by the hosting institute according to the process described below. For the purpose of the internal selection process, a professor of the institute needs to endorse the application. ERC Starting Grant applicants should therefore first obtain the support from an IPHYS professor (called the supporting professor in the following).
Upon successful application, ERC Starting Grant awardees will receive the title of Assistant Professor (non tenure-track). They head their own research group and supervise the PhD students involved in their project. ERC Starting Grant awardees receive 100 kCHF of start-up funds. As assistant professors, awardees will be assigned teaching duties.
Description of the selection process
The supporting professor is responsible to ensure that the candidate they support is of outstanding quality. The supporting professor also needs to ensure that financing for at least 50 % of the salary of the applicant is guaranteed for the duration of the grant. The supporting professor states in an endorsement letter (using the template provided below) either that they commit to provide the necessary space and infrastructure for the success of the proposed project, or they need to provide a list of required lab (with specifications) and office space. Finally, the supporting professor should commit to provide the extra resources that may be needed to complete the involved PhD theses and must be ready to take over the supervision of the involved PhD students should the grant holder leave EPFL.
To seek support of the institute for application, candidates should send to the institute director (at [email protected]) the following documents: CV with publication list, short summary of main achievements to date (max. 1 page), outline of proposed project (max. 3 pages), teaching statement (max. 1 page), reasons for IPHYS as host (max. 1 page), support letter by hosting professor (using the IPHYS template provided below). This should be done as soon as possible but no later than 9/09/2025.
If the application is supported by IPHYS, the applicant is notified and received the endorsement letter countersigned by the institute director and the dean of the school. The applicant can then send their file together with the endorsement letter to the Research Office to obtain the EPFL commitment letter (deadline 30/09/2025).
The Research Office has published an application toolkit here. Please read all the documents carefully, follow the instructions and make sure that your application file fulfils all the requirements. Incomplete files will not be considered. If you have questions regarding the IPHYS procedure, please contact Blandine Jérôme ([email protected], +41 21 69 33376). If you have questions regarding the application toolkit, please contact the Research Office ([email protected]).
Timeline & deadlines
IPHYS deadlines are at midnight (23h59) on the indicated date. Files received after the deadline will not be considered.
IPHYS internal application deadline: September 9th, 2025
EPFL internal application deadline: September 30th, 2025
ERC application deadline: October 14th, 2025 17h CET
Links
IPHYS template for endorsement by supporting professor