Multiple fully funded PhD positions at the University of Basel, Switzerland

Applications are now open for multiple fully funded PhD positions at the University of Basel, Switzerland. These opportunities cover a wide range of fields including physics, computer science, chemistry, psychology, ancient history, and life sciences. Deadlines range from 1 August 2026 to 21 August 2026 (some positions remain open until filled).

All positions are open to international applicants of any nationality. There is no application fee. Successful candidates receive a competitive salary, research funding, access to world-class facilities, and full integration into leading research groups. You can check out more Internships, BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

• Degree Level: PhD (one position also open to Postdoc)
• Host Country: Switzerland
• Host University: University of Basel
• Funding Type: Fully Funded
• Application Deadline: Varies by Positions
• Application Fee: None
• Open to: All nationalities
• Start Dates: Mostly October 2026 or by mutual agreement

Multiple Phd Positions:

PhD for Local Sensing of Collective Spin Phases:

Employer:

• University of Basel

Location:

• Petersplatz 1, Basel, Switzerland

Published:

• 23 July 2026

Application Deadline:

• 21 August 2026, 23:59 (Europe/Zurich)

Job Type:

• PhD

Field:

• Optics
• Electrical Engineering
• Optical Engineering

About the Project:

• Modern condensed matter physics aims to control magnetism at the nanoscale
• Semiconducting moiré materials (SMMs) are formed by twisted or lattice-mismatched monolayers of van der Waals crystals
• SMMs feature flat electronic bands and excellent optical properties
• When embedded in gated heterostructures, SMMs host collective spin phases
• SMMs act as artificial quantum materials with direct optical access to spin physics
• They offer tunability similar to cold-atom simulators

Research Group:

• Quantum Opto-Electronics Group (QOEG)
• Led by Prof. Dr. Tomasz Smoleński
• Department of Physics, University of Basel
• Collaboration with the group of Prof. Martino Poggio

Project Goal:

• Develop a platform for local sensing of collective spin phases in SMMs
• Integrate optical spectroscopy with SQUID-on-tip (SOT) magnetometry
• Combine dynamical control from optical experiments with high spatial resolution from SOT
• Enable simultaneous use of both techniques on a single device
• Advance fundamental research and support emerging nanotechnologies

Key Requirements:

• MSc degree (completed or expected soon) in Physics, Electrical/Optical Engineering, or a closely related discipline
• Solid background in condensed matter physics and optics
• Excellent academic record
• Experience with data analysis
• Familiarity with software tools for automated measurement, data acquisition, or data processing
• Ability to work effectively in a team
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• High level of motivation, independence, creativity, and commitment to research
• Very good written and spoken English

Desirable Qualifications:

• Track record of research papers or conference presentations
• Experience in scanning probe experiments (STM, NV magnetometry, SQUID-on-tip, etc.)
• Experience in clean-room processing and/or handling van der Waals materials

What We Offer:

• Inspiring international research environment
• Cutting-edge infrastructure
• Direct impact on the future of quantum technologies
• Involvement in engineering and fabricating electrically-tunable devices
• Designing and assembling experimental setups
• Performing magneto-optical measurements
• University of Basel values openness, diversity, team spirit, and scientific curiosity

How to Apply:

• Submit application via the university online recruiting tool
• Include CV
• Include publication list
• Include conference presentations
• Include contact details of at least two referees
• Applications are reviewed until the position is filled

Also Check: PhD, Postdoc & Professor positions at the University of Freiburg, Germany.

PhD or Postdoctoral Position in LLM Training (Prof. A. Lucchi and Prof. I. Bogunovic):

Employer:

• University of Basel

Location:

• Petersplatz 1, Basel, Switzerland

Published:

• 20 July 2026

Application Deadline:

• 18 August 2026, 23:59 (Europe/Zurich)

Job Type:

• PhD
• Postdoc

Field:

• Applied Mathematics
• Algorithms
• Artificial Intelligence
• Computational Sciences
• Machine Learning

About the Position:

• Focus on Large Language Models (LLMs)
• Includes pre-training and post-training
• Develop and improve methods for LLM reasoning
• Applications include mathematical reasoning, decision-making, and adaptation to specialized domains
• Design and run large-scale experiments
• Develop fine-tuning and reinforcement learning approaches
• Study reliable generalization across tasks and reasoning domains
• Combine ambitious empirical work with conceptual and theoretical insights
• Goal is to push capabilities and reliability of modern AI systems on challenging reasoning problems

Start and Duration:

• Available starting around October 2026 (later start possible)
• PhD position funded for four years
• Postdoctoral position initially for two years, with possibility of extension up to four years

Your Tasks:

• Conduct research in applied mathematics and computer science
• Write research papers and articles
• Present results at leading international conferences (ICML, NeurIPS, ICLR, JMLR, AISTATS, and more)
• Interact with national and international teams of mathematicians and computer scientists

Requirements:

• PhD applicants: Master’s degree in mathematics, theoretical physics, computer science, or related field
• Postdoctoral applicants: PhD (or close to completion) in one of these areas
• Exceptional academic record
• Strong background in machine learning
• Robust mathematical foundation
• Strong coding and implementation skills
• Ability to run large-scale experiments
• Prior research experience advantageous for PhD applicants
• Strong publication record required for postdoctoral applicants (in machine learning, artificial intelligence, optimization, or related areas)
• Excellent communication skills
• Fluency in English (spoken and written)
• Applications from women and underrepresented groups are explicitly encouraged

What We Offer:

• Close supervision of research
• Access to national collaborators (EPFL and ETH among others) and international collaborators
• Diverse range of tasks in a dynamic environment
• Possibility of traveling to international conferences
• Excellent salary, benefits, and working conditions
• Position based in Basel, Switzerland

How to Apply:

• Send application as two PDF files
• Short motivation statement (maximum 150 words) explaining interest and fit
• Curriculum vitae (including list of publications if applicable)
• Scanned transcripts of bachelor’s and master’s degrees
• Contact info for peers who can recommend you (no direct recommendation letters)
• Latest thesis and/or one of your publications (if applicable)
• Applications encouraged before 31 July 2026
• Position remains open until a suitable candidate is found

Also Check: Technical University of Denmark PhD and Postdoc Scholarships 2026 (Fully Funded)

PhD Position: Development of a Single-Ion Optical Clock:

Employer:

• University of Basel

Location:

• Petersplatz 1, Basel, Switzerland

Job Type:

• PhD

Supervisor:

• Prof. Stefan Willitsch

Collaborators:

• Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS)
• Paul Scherrer Institute
• ETH Zurich
• Swiss National Competence Center of Research “Precision”

About the Project:

• Develop a next-generation single-ion optical clock for Switzerland
• Optical clocks have achieved fractional frequency uncertainties below the 10⁻¹⁸ level
• This precision enables new measurement capabilities in relativistic geodesy
• Provides robust frequency references for next-generation navigation systems
• Enables stringent tests of fundamental physical theories and searches for new physics
• Precision now surpasses the current SI definition of the second (based on cesium microwave transition)
• Clock will be characterized, evaluated, and eventually deployed at METAS
• Clock signal will be distributed to laboratories across Switzerland via stabilized optical-fibre links
• Forms a cornerstone of the NCCR “Precision” network uniting 30 research groups

Requirements:

• MSc degree in physics or a related discipline
• Preferably experience in experimental quantum science, quantum optics, or spectroscopy

Embedding:

• Swiss National Competence Center for Research “Precision”
• Basel PhD program on Quantum Computing and Quantum Technology (QCQT)
• Basel Quantum Center

How to Apply:

• Send applications to Prof. Stefan Willitsch ([email protected])
• Include cover letter
• Include curriculum vitae
• Include list of publications (if applicable)
• Include transcripts of degree certificates
• Include contact details of at least two referees
• Applications accepted until the position is filled

Also Check: Deakin University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (DUPR) Australia

PhD Position: Conformationally Controlled Chemistry in the Gas Phase:

Employer:

• University of Basel

Location:

• Petersplatz 1, Basel, Switzerland

Published:

• 16 June 2026

Application Deadline:

• Unspecified

Job Type:

• PhD

Field:

• Molecular Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Experimental Physics
• Chemical Physics

Supervisor:

• Prof. Stefan Willitsch

About the Project:

• Explore the role of individual molecular conformations on chemical reactivity and dynamics
• Focus on reactions in the gas phase under single-collision conditions
• Complex molecules possess multiple conformers that interconvert through hindered rotations
• Conformation can strongly influence chemical reactivity
• Room-temperature experiments typically produce mixtures that erase specificity
• Project uses new experimental methods developed by the group
• Study reactions of specific conformations of prototypical organic molecules
• React with conformationally selected molecular ions
• Aim to understand fundamental aspects of conformer-specific reactivity in selected model systems

Requirements:

• Master’s degree (or soon to obtain) in physical chemistry, atomic/molecular/chemical physics, or a related field

How to Apply:

• Send applications to Prof. Stefan Willitsch ([email protected])
• Include curriculum vitae
• Include transcripts of degree certificates and grades
• Include letter of motivation
• Include contact details of at least two referees
• Further information available on the group website and in recent publications

Also Check: Deakin University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (DUPR) Australia

PhD in Developmental Psychology with Focus on Metacognitive Skills:

Employer:

• University of Basel, Faculty of Psychology

Location:

• Petersplatz 1, Basel, Switzerland

Published:

• 23 July 2026

Application Deadline:

• 12 August 2026, 23:59 (Europe/Zurich)

Job Type:

• PhD

Field:

• Developmental Psychology
• Quantitative Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology

About the Project:

• Join the Human Development group
• Investigate development of metacognitive skills across childhood and adolescence
• Metacognitive skills enable monitoring of understanding, recognition of uncertainty, detection of errors, and regulation of behaviour
• Examine how metacognitive monitoring and regulation develop across age groups and within individuals
• Focus on complex learning activities such as text comprehension and reasoning
• Investigate how children and adolescents use AI-based tools in situations of uncertainty
• Combine cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches
• Data collection primarily in schools using computer-based learning tasks

Main Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and conduct research on development of metacognitive monitoring and control
• Design research tasks to investigate metacognitive monitoring and control
• Contribute to research coordination and organizational tasks
• Collect data in schools
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with schools and teachers
• Manage and analyze cross-sectional and longitudinal data using advanced statistical methods
• Disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and reports
• Communicate scientific findings to schools, teachers, educational practitioners, and the broader public
• Contribute to science communication and knowledge transfer
• Contribute to teaching activities (seminars, supervision of bachelor’s and master’s students)

Requirements:

• Very good Master’s degree in Psychology
• Interest in cognitive and developmental processes underlying learning
• Enjoyment of working with children and adolescents
• Motivation to engage with schools, teachers, and educational stakeholders
• Excellent knowledge of research methods and statistics
• Interest in learning new methodological and statistical approaches
• Experience with longitudinal, developmental, or school-based research is an asset
• Proficiency in data analysis using R
• Programming skills or willingness to learn programming for computerized research tasks
• Proficiency in both English and German
• Organized, proactive, and able to work independently and reliably
• Enjoy working collaboratively in a research team

What We Offer:

• Joining a new and dynamic team
• Working on highly topical issues
• Involvement in the research group’s projects
• Opportunities to present work at international conferences and workshops
• Opportunities to undertake research visits with collaborating researchers and institutions
• Participation in an active doctoral program in the research area Society & Choice
• Employment conditions according to university guidelines for doctoral candidates
• Position initially limited to 1 year, extendable by 3 years upon positive evaluation

How to Apply:

• Submit one single PDF file (named with the applicant’s name) via the online portal
• Include one-page cover letter describing research interests, relevant experience, and fit
• Include transcripts of records and degree certificates
• Include contact details of one academic referee
• Also submit CV
• Applications through other channels will not be considered
• Deadline: 12 August 2026
• In-person interviews on 16 September 2026 in Basel
• Questions about the position: Prof. Dr. Mariëtte van Loon ([email protected])
• Questions about the application process: [email protected]

Also Check: Deakin University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (DUPR) Australia

PhD Position in Ancient History: The People Behind the Villa:

Employer:

• University of Basel, Department of Ancient Civilizations

Location:

• Petersplatz 1, Basel, Switzerland

Published:

• 7 July 2026

Application Deadline:

• 1 August 2026, 23:59 (Europe/Zurich)

Job Type:

• PhD

Field:

• Archaeology
• Biological Anthropology
• Genetics
• Human Biology
• Economic History

Project Title:

• The Roman Villa as Ecosystem: Climate, Production, and Society in the Sabina Tiberina
• Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Sabine Huebner
• Funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)

Start Date:

• 1 October 2026 (negotiable)

About the Project:

• Investigate life histories, health, mortality, mobility, ancestry, and social organization of the land-working population of the Roman hinterland
• Time period: first century BCE to third century CE
• Work with interdisciplinary dataset including literary and epigraphic sources, archaeological evidence, cemetery populations, osteological analyses, stable isotope data, and archaeogenetic data
• Focus on the Sabina Tiberina region north of Rome
• Reconstruct lived experiences of rural populations associated with Roman villa landscapes
• Emphasis on daily life, health and disease, mortality patterns, kinship structures, migration and mobility, ancestry, childhood, labour, and social inequality
• Engage with broader debates on rural populations, family, slavery, dependency, labour organization, and demographic behaviour in the Roman world

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Ancient History or a closely related field
• Strong interest in Roman social and economic history
• Strong interest in interdisciplinary collaboration between the humanities and natural sciences
• Very good command of English

What We Offer:

• Stimulating research environment at the Department of Ancient Civilizations
• Access to one of the world’s leading research libraries in Classical Studies
• Numerous international collaborations and large-scale interdisciplinary research projects
• Integration into a highly collaborative international research team
• Opportunity to develop an innovative doctoral project at the intersection of ancient history, archaeology, bioarchaeology, and archaeogenetics
• Advanced training in interdisciplinary approaches to the study of past populations
• Participation in ongoing field and laboratory research in central Italy
• Participation in fieldwork, summer schools, project workshops, and international conferences
• Contribution to the project’s publication strategy and preparation of a doctoral dissertation
• Employment conditions follow Swiss National Science Foundation and University of Basel regulations

How to Apply:

• Submit via the University of Basel online portal
• Include motivation letter
• Include CV
• Include copies of academic degrees
• Include a writing sample (e.g. MA thesis chapter, seminar paper, or publication)
• Include contact details of two referees
• Appli:cations not submitted via the portal will not be considered
• Questions: Prof. Dr. Sabine Huebner ([email protected])

Also Check: Deakin University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (DUPR) Australia

PhD Student – Antibiotic Biosensor Protein Engineering:

Employer:

• University of Basel, Biozentrum

Location:

• Petersplatz 1, Basel, Switzerland

Published:

• 9 July 2026

Application Deadline:

• 7 August 2026, 23:59 (Europe/Zurich) (online form deadline 20 August 2026)

Job Type:

• PhD

Field:

• Bioinformatics
• Structural Biology
• Molecular Biology
• Microbiology
• Computational Biology

Supervisor:

• Prof. Knut Drescher

About the Project:

• Part of the Swiss National Competence Center in Research (NCCR) “AntiResist”
• Develop new approaches to overcome the global antibiotic resistance crisis
• Measure local concentration of antibiotics at the site of infection
• Group recently developed the first allosteric biosensors for antibiotics
• These enable real-time measurements with high spatial and temporal resolution
• Goal is to extend biosensors to all major classes of antibiotics
• Use protein design and protein engineering
• Combine computational and experimental approaches
• Design biosensor candidates and transform them into fully functional biosensors in bacterial cells
• Apply newly developed biosensors in infection biology assays
• Assays range from biofilm treatment to stem-cell-derived organoids and bioengineered tissue infection systems

Requirements:

• Master’s degree with a research thesis in molecular microbiology, protein biochemistry, protein design, or a related discipline

What We Offer:

• Fully funded PhD position
• Highly interactive, multidisciplinary, and international research group
• Expertise in molecular microbiology, biophysics, bioinformatics, and analysis of large datasets
• Participation in the Swiss-wide NCCR AntiResist consortium
• Excellent support from Biozentrum core facilities
• Structured PhD program
• Commitment to diversity and equal opportunity
• High standard of living and rich cultural atmosphere in Basel

How to Apply:

• Submit only through the online form: https://biped.biozentrum.unibas.ch/apply/phd-antibiotic-biosensor-protein-engineering
• Include brief statement of research experience and interest in the position
• Include CV
• Include contact information of two references
• Informal enquiries: [email protected]

Also Check: PhD, Postdoc & Professor positions at the University of Freiburg, Germany.