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Employment as a doctoral candidate or teaching / research assistant

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Below are basic principles, parameters, Q&A, and documents that provide an overview for doctoral candidates and teaching / research assistants and serve as a guideline for supervisors and recruiters when hiring. 

On August 29, 2023, the Extended Executive Board of the University approved a completely revised set of regulations on the general outline of rights and responsibilities of the faculties for teaching / research assistants and doctoral candidates (Regulations on the general outline of rights and responsibilities), which will come into effect on January 1, 2024. The regulations of rights and responsibilities include provisions on employment, in particular on the share of tasks and working hours, of holders of junior academic positions, which apply to the entire university. For postdocs and senior teaching and research assistants, the previous regulations on the outline of rights and responsibilities of the faculties for holders of junior academic positions (only available in German:  Reglement über die Rahmenpflichtenhefte der Fakultäten für die Inhaberinnen und Inhaber von Qualifikationsstelle (PDF, 130 KB)  , PDF, 130 KB) remain unchanged. The aim of the new employment model is to strengthen PhD candidates at UZH by creating clear and transparent employment conditions, especially in the area of their own research time. In order to increasingly promote research work during the qualification phase, a minimum limit for the amount of own research work (protected time) will be defined and ensured.

Weiterführende Informationen

Presentation Meet-Ups for early career researchers  (EN) Presentation Meet-Ups for HR Representatives  (DE)

University acts and practices at UZH

Models and parameters

Description of the new model, graphical representations and requirements

Current regulations 2023, templates new doctoral agreement and individual outline of rights and responsibilities 

Questions and Answers

General Questions, recruiting for the year 2024 and existing employment

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Professorships Department

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The salaries of UZH professors are based on the principles and the salary system of general employment law. The employment ordinance of the University of Zurich (PVO-UZH) regulates the classification into the various pay categories.

Salaries are paid out in 13 monthly installments, with the 13th monthly salary being due in December or the month in which the professor leaves the University (pro rata entitlement). They are generally paid on the 25th of the calendar month.

Salary system

The salary regulations define 29 pay categories, 29 pay levels, and two preliminary levels for classifying a position. Whereas the pay category relates to the position itself, the pay level reflects the individual's scientific qualifications.

The following classification guidelines (§ 22 PVO-UZH) apply to professorial positions:

Salary development

Individual salaries develop on the basis of personal achievement and in line with the promotion rate, which is set by the Government Council each year. The promotion rate depends on the Canton of Zurich's financial budget and is communicated to the faculties by the Executive Board of the University. In addition, a cost-of-living allowance may be paid. The decision on this is also taken annually by the Government Council.

Allowances and benefits may also be paid in addition to the salary, such as:

• Family and education allowances
• Function-based allowances (directorate, dean's office, office of the vice president allowances, etc.)

Each month, statutory deductions  are applied to the gross salary for social insurance contributions, which the employer UZH pays in equal parts together with the employee. This does not include contributions to the pension fund, 2/5 of which are paid by the employee and 3/5 of which are paid by UZH.

Added to this are  individual deductions , which are borne in full by the employee. Deductions for Lunch Checks, half of which are paid by UZH, are excluded from this.

The monthly payslip does not list the contributions for work-related accident insurance as these are assumed in full by UZH.

Monthly deductions – social insurance contributions

Monthly deductions are applied to salaries for the following types of social insurance:

• Old-Age and Survivors’ Insurance, Disability Insurance and Income Compensation (AHV/IV/EO)
• Unemployment Insurance (ALV)
• Non-Work-Related Accident Insurance (NBU)
• Retirement provision (BVK or VSAO pension funds)

Individual deductions

• Voluntary top-up insurance for accidents (FEV, private cover for medical costs)
• Lunch Checks
• Parking fees
• Solidary Fund for Foreign Students
• Withholding tax (e.g. for cross-border commuters)

Weiterführende Informationen

Legal basis.

• Employment Ordinance of the University of Zurich (PVO-UZH) (in German)
• Salary regulations UZH
• Family and Education Allowances
• Regulations on Function-Based Allowances (in German)

Deductions: Social insurance contributions

• Social insurance contributions UZH
• BVK Pension Fund
• VSAO Foundation for retirement savings (in German)
• Voluntary top-up insurance for accidents (FEV)
• Parking Fees
• Solidarity Fund for Foreign Students
• Withholding Tax

Swiss Social Insurance System

• Social Insurance of Switzerland (Jan 2022, Libera)

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Life Science Zurich Graduate School

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Admission requirements

Can I apply before I receive my degree?

I hold a medical degree (MD). Am I eligible?

I hold a degree from a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule). Am I eligible?

I hold a Bachelor's Degree/B.Tech/B.Sc (Hons) and have research experience, which gives me access to a PhD in my home country. Am I eligible?

I hold a Master in Public Health/a Master in Clinical Research/a Master in Psychology/ another biology related M.Sc. Do I qualify for the program?

Does the LSZGS have specific language requirements?

Does the LSZGS require candidates to have taken a GRE test?

Application process

How much is the application fee?

How many letters of recommendation are required and can I add a reference letter after submission?

• My referee has not been contacted by the LSZGS.

How many times can I send invitation to my referee?

Can I upload scanned copies of recommendation letters instead of having them submitted online?

Can I change the chosen program?

Do I need to choose and contact a specific group leader with whom I wish to work with before applying to the LSZGS?

Where do I find a list of open positions?

Can I save the data of my application and resume completing it later?

• Will I receive a confirmation after having registered and submitted my application?

Why am I not able to download a pdf of my application?

How can I check the status of my application (references, upload of certificates, result of my application)?

Do I need to have my certificates translated into English and authenticated?

Should I send a hardcopy of my application and curriculum vitae by post as well?

My first choice program has turned down my application. Will my application be considered by the second choice program?

Am I allowed to apply a second time?

How and when will I hear about the outcome of my application?

What is the meaning of "University best possible grade"/ "University worst possible grade"?

My university uses a percentage system instead of grades or scores. What should I indicate?

My PDF files are too big. What can I do?

I am pursuing an integrated BSc-MSc degree and do not have a BSc certificate. What kind of document should I upload instead?

PhD studies, Tuition Fees, Employment, Living in Switzerland

When do I start my PhD / when does the PhD Program start?

How long does it take students to complete their PhD?

How do I proceed to enroll at the ETH and the University of Zurich?

Are there any tuition fees?

How will I finance my PhD studies?

How do I prepare my entry in Switzerland?

Can my spouse join me if I accept a PhD position in Zurich?

How do I go about finding accommodation in Zurich?

Do I need to organise my own health insurance in Switzerland?

Where do I find practical information regarding life in Switzerland?

Yes. Applications can be submitted before obtaining the degree. You should, however, obtain your degree within 6-9 months after the application deadline. If your Master's degree is not available at the time of your application, we kindly ask you to upload a copy of your Bachelor degree and your latest academic transcript instead.

If you hold a Medical (MD) you can apply either to the MD-PhD program or the Clinical Science program. For all other programs a MSc or Mphil degree is required - mind that a MD is not considered an equivalent of a MSc degree. Applicants with a Veterinary degree (DVM) can apply to the MD-PhD program. For more information, check the websites of the  MD-PhD program  or the  Clinical Science program .

Students with a MSc of a university of applied sciences are welcome to apply. However, please note that the Life Science Zurich Graduate School - as it does with all applicants - will only evaluate your scientific ability. After the successful acceptance to the Life Science Zurich Graduate School all applicants have to apply for their formal admission as PhD students at the University of Zurich or ETH. The admission might not be granted because of formal reasons or it might be granted with or without further admission requirements.

Unfortunately, our universities do not consider a Bachelor's Degree/B.Tech/B.Sc (Hons) as equivalent to a Masters and therefore an application is not possible.

In this case, please contact the coordinator of the program you would like to apply to prior to registering as it will have to be looked at individually. Eligibility depends on the specific curriculum/credit points.

The program language is English throughout. Proficiency in English is therefore required. A formal proof of competence in English (IELTS, CPE or TOEFL) is recommended but not mandatory.

The only program that requires fluent German is the PhD program in Clinical Science.

At present, the LSZGS does not ask for a GRE test.

The Life Science Zurich Graduate School does not charge an application fee.

Two letters of recommendation are requested but you can upload up to 4 letters. Once you submit your application references cannot be added anymore. The link for the recommendation letters expires the moment you submit your application.

My referee has not been contacted by the LSZGS .

Check whether his or her email address is correct. If it is wrong, please use one of the remaining slots for the correct entry and invite again. If the email address is correct the following might have happened:

a) The email ended up in the junk box of your referee because the spam filter blocked our email -> Resend the email and, importantly, tell your referee to also check the junk box.

b) There was another problem and the email was not delivered -> Resend the email and inform your referee accordingly. After 24 hours the link gets reactivated twice.

You can invite your referee three times. After 24 hours the "invite" button gets active again and you may re-send the invitation. After the third time the "delete" button gets active and you can exchange your referee (or correct mistakes in the email address). 

No, it is not possible to upload letters of recommendation. Your referees must fill in our online form.

Yes, you can do so before the application deadline expires and again after having been admitted to the LSZGS. In case your prospective supervisor is affiliated with another program than the one you applied to you can easily change programs, there is no need to re-apply.  If he or she is a member of more than one program, you may choose together with him or her which program you will join.

No. It is neither necessary nor recommended to contact group leaders individually. Students who are invited for an interview will get access to a list of open positions and project descriptions before coming to Zurich.

The list of open positions is only published after the application deadline. Only invited students will automatically have access to the list of open positions.

Yes, you can save your application and take up editing again later. Once you have submitted your application, no more changes can be made. 

Will I receive a confirmation after having registered and submitted my application?  

Yes, after having registered you will receive a confirmation email to the mail address stated. After having submitted your application you will again receive a confirmation. 

If you did not receive any confirmation email, most likely our email ended up in the spam or junk folder. If you cannot find your confirmation email there, you might have misspelled your email address during registration. In that case, simply fill in the registration form again.

If you still do not receive your registration email, please contact the graduate school office and let them know about it.

Most likely one of the documents you uploaded is not a pdf or it is bigger than 1 MB. The difficulty may also lie with the security settings of the pdf, which is often the case with certificates. Please make sure the pdf you upload is viewable (click on it after the upload and check whether the download works). If the upload or download does not work, it is best to convert the documents once more into a pdf.

1) References: You can easily check yourself whether the letters of recommendation have arrived or not. On the dashboard your referees will be listed. Please indicate which letters of recommendation you would like to submit.

2) Upload of certificates: To check whether you uploaded your documents correctly, you can download the pdf version of your application. You will find the corresponding button on your dashboard. If you are not able to download the pdf, this means that your documents are not correctly uploaded.

3) Result of your application: The status of your application will be indicated on the dashboard.

There is no need to have your certificates authenticated prior to the online application and you may provide the translation yourself for this purpose. Official translation and authentication of the certificates and degrees is required, however, for the registration at the ETH or the University of Zurich.

No, there is no need to send a hardcopy as the whole application process is online and no post mail is exchanged. However, you will need to bring along the hardcopy originals of your certificates when you start your PhD, as you will need them for registration at the University or the ETH Zurich.

No. Our programs all apply the same quality standards, which would not be guaranteed if a program invited a student who has been rejected by another program.

Yes, you are welcome to apply a second time to a PhD program of the LSZGS. However, please be aware that we will not accept a third application.

In case you have been shortlisted and have attended the interviews you cannot apply a second time irrespectively of whether you have successfully passed or failed the admission interview.

Students who have submitted a complete application will be informed on the dash board about the outcome. If possible, you will know about the result by mid November and mid May, respectively. There will be no further correspondence on the decision.

The "University best possible grade" is the best grade your university awards (e.g. 6 in Switzerland, 1 in Germany), whereas the "worst possible grade" is the lowest degree (e.g. 1 in Switzerland, 5 in Germany). If a percentage system is used in your country, just indicate the "best-grade-value" and "worst-grade-value" in percentage.

Please upload the key to the grades of your university. Also indicate the percentage you obtained and which percentage is the worst possible that can be achieved according to the grading scale of your university.

You will have to reduce their sizes.  There are several online free tools that can easily reduce the size of your PDF files, for example:

• http://smallpdf.com/compress-pdf
• https://www.pdfcompress.com/

Please make sure you understand their privacy policy before using any of these third-party services.

You can upload an official university document stating that you are enrolled in an integrated BSc-MSc degree in lieu of the BSc degree.

Accepted students may start their PhD and the PhD program any time of the year. In general, the student will agree with his or her prospective supervisor on a specific starting date.

Students of the Life Science Zurich Graduate School are expected to submit their thesis within three to four years.

After having been accepted to the LSZGS and accepted a job offer from one of our group leaders, you will have to enroll at the institution your prospective group leader is affiliated with. The enrollment procedures of ETH and University differ considerably; therefore make sure that you stick to the right requirements. Both institutions may ask you to complete specific admission requirements such as examinations. You will be informed whether you have to fulfill such requirements after your enrollment. For detailed information see the regulations of ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich.

For the enrollment at ETH please refer to the following web pages: https://ethz.ch/en/doctorate/registration-admission.html

For the enrollment at the University of Zurich you will find all necessary information here: www.uzh.ch/en/studies/application/doctoralstudies.html

Please be aware that you will have to enroll at the general office (Kanzlei) of the university as well as the dean's office for doctoral studies of the relevant faculty!

University of Zurich: Overview of process for PhD students (Track 1) from outside Europe (PDF, 136 KB)

ETH: Before beginning your PhD studies you will be asked to pay an application fee of 150,- CHF. Should you have to fulfill additional admission requirements (qualifying examinations) a fee of 120.- CHF is due. In addition to that, there is a one-time global fee of CHF 1'500 which will be charged at the end of your doctoral studies. Compulsory semester fees are currently CHF 37.-.

ETH fees and contributions

University: PhD students have to pay an application fee of 100 CHF. The tuition fee is  204 CHF per semester.

UZH tuition fees

Research groups within the Life Science Zurich Graduate School provide financial support for PhD students employed at the University of Zurich in accordance with the Ph.D. student salary set by the Swiss National Science Foundation (at present CHF 48’686.40- in the 1st year; 50'238.90 - in the 2nd year; 51'791.40 - in the 3rd and 4th year). These rates are valid for an employment level of 60%. Valid as of 1.1.2024: The rates apply to an employment level of 80%.

For our PhD students with an employment at ETH the amounts will change as of 1 January 2024 to CHF 50'700 in the 1st year; CHF 52'300 in the 2nd year and CHF 53'900 from the 3rd year. Please note that these are gross amounts from which approx. 15 % will be deducted for social security, taxes, etc., not including the private health insurance which is compulsory (approx. 250.- to 300.-/month depending on the scheme you choose). The income is generous compared to international standards and sufficient to make a decent living in Zurich. Living costs (including accommodation, health insurance, transport, meals) sum up to approx. CHF 2'000 per month.

Students from EU and EFTA countries only need a valid passport. For students from the new EU states, transitory regulations apply. Please contact the Swiss embassy or consulate in your country for information about the immigration procedure. Students from countries with a visa requirement need to apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate general in their home country at least three months before entry. More information is provided by  Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs .

Please note that students from the above mentioned countries cannot be matriculated at our universities without having a valid visa. If you have accepted a position with ETH or the University of Zurich, the HR department of that particular institution or the person responsible for personnel in your future research group will contact the immigration authorities and file an official demand for the work permit. You will probably be required to provide additional personal information needed for this procedure. Within approx. one month, you will receive a confirmation letter with which you can obtain the visa for your entry to Switzerland at your local embassy. Once in Switzerland, you have to report to the immigration office who will then finalize the work permit formalities. As a rule you have to reckon with about two months for immigration formalities prior to traveling to Switzerland.

If you are not from an EU or EFTA country, it will be up to the immigration office to decide whether your spouse will receive a permit to join you or not. In general, a PhD salary is not considered sufficient to make a living for two adult persons. Nonetheless, it might be possible to obtain a permit, if your spouse can prove that she or he has enough personal savings or that she or he has a working contract with a company domiciled in Switzerland or a funded PhD position.

You will find an answer to all the above and many more questions you may have at the  ETH Welcome center

For UZH related information on these topics please refer to the

• UZH for International Students and Scholars

Weiterführende Informationen

Phd studies at eth.

General information about PhD Studies at ETH Zurich

PhD Studies at UZH

General information about PhD studies at the University of Zurich

Best Practice for Doctoral Education at UZH

The Best Practice Recommendations can be found here or downloaded under the following link .

ETH Survival Guide by AVETH, 6th edition

Support to new international staff and guests

• ETH Welcome Center

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Neuroscience Center Zurich

Quicklinks und sprachwechsel, main navigation, international phd program in neuroscience.

The ZNZ doctoral program, founded in 1998, offers students of different disciplines a solid foundation in the neurosciences. With over 600 alumni and an average of 300 registered students, it is the largest PhD program in the Life Science Zurich Graduate School. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds: biology, medicine, human movement science, psychology, pharmacology, biochemistry, physics and engineering. In accordance with their supervisor's affiliation, they register either at the University of Zurich or at ETH Zurich for their doctoral studies and  carry out their thesis work at one of the following institutions: University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, University Hospital, Children's Hospital, Balgrist University Hospital or the Psychiatric Clinics. 

Weiterführende Informationen

Doctoral Studies at ETHZ

General Information PhD at ETHZ

Doctoral Studies at UZH

General Information PhD at UZH

Bereichs-Navigation

Unterseiten von phd program.

• Program Description
• Application and Registration
• Student Office

PhD position in computer-aided catalyst design

100%, zurich, fixed-term.

The Digital Chemistry Laboratory is led by Prof. Dr. Kjell Jorner at the Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering, within the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences at ETH Zurich. Our mission is to accelerate chemical discovery using digital tools. We predict chemical reactivity and molecular properties using the tools of machine learning, computational chemistry, and cheminformatics. Our ultimate goal is the computer-aided design of molecules and especially catalysts.

Project background

Catalysts are needed to produce the large amounts and types of chemicals that we use in modern life. Development of new catalysts and improvement of existing ones enable us to, for example, synthesize new types of medicines or increase the efficiency of industrial processes. New catalyst will also be needed for the transition to chemical production from sustainable feedstocks and chemical recycling. Computer-aided catalyst design aims to accelerate the currently slow process of catalyst development. This project focuses on development of new methods for computer-aided molecular design using a combination of quantum-chemical simulations and machine learning. Initially, focus will be on catalysis for generation of small organic molecules by simple catalysts such as Lewis acids, and the scope will later be widened to more complicated systems. The project is highly interdisciplinary and will be carried out in collaboration with groups in theoretical chemistry, computer science and applied mathematics.

Job description

As a PhD student in our growing team, you will perform quantum-chemical simulations using the Chemoton autonomous reaction simulation software to generate large datasets for catalyzed chemical reactions. Building on the generated data, you will work with our collaborators in computer science and applied mathematics to develop state-of-the art generative machine learning models to design improved catalysts for these reactions.

Your profile

We are looking for a committed and motivated candidate that is excited to push the boundaries of research in computer-aided catalyst design. 

Essential experience, skills, and characteristics:

• A Master’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, computational science, physics, or related fields, or expectation of obtaining such a degree before September 2024.
• English proficiency.
• Self-motivation, ability to work independently and solution-oriented mentality.
• Interdisciplinary and collaborative mindset and desire to work with people from different disciplines and  backgrounds .
• Programming experience using languages such as Julia, Python, R, etc.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of quantum-chemical simulations from research projects or thesis
• Experience of applying machine learning from research projects or thesis
• Familiarity with reactions mechanisms and their description through transition state theory

Your workplace

You will join a new, dynamic, and growing research group in the emerging field of Digital Chemistry in the highly motivating environment of ETH Zurich. We foster a modern and supportive group culture and value diversity, independence, and initiative. The position is embedded in an exciting and interdisciplinary research environment with connections to the ETH AI Center and the National Competence Center for Research,  NCCR Catalysis , connecting the chemical sciences, digitalization, and sustainability. ETH also hosts the SwissCat+, a data-​driven technology platform with high-​throughput experimentation for catalysis.

A competitive salary is paid according to Rate 2 of the  Doctoral student salary ladder .

We value diversity

Curious so are we..

We look forward to receiving your online application until  June 15 , including:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Copies of BSc and MSc educational records

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered. We will continuously evaluate applications as they come in.

Further information about the group can be found on our website  and you can follow us on X/Twitter at  @DCL_ETHZ . Questions regarding the position should be directed to Prof. Dr. Kjell Jorner by email at  [email protected]  (no applications).

About ETH Zürich