Fully funded CYD Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships, Switzerland

Applications are now open for the CYD Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships. This fully funded postdoctoral program in Switzerland supports researchers who want to advance cyber-defence through innovative projects that combine security, data science, and artificial intelligence.

The fellowship covers a salary contribution, research expenses up to CHF 3,000 per year, and conference travel up to CHF 5,000 per year, with no application fee required. It is open to all nationalities, and applicants must secure the support of a Swiss professor before submitting Stage 2 documents. You can check out more Internships, BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

• Degree Level: Postdoctoral
• Host Country: Switzerland
• Application Deadline:
  • Stage 1 on 19 August 2026 at 17:00 CEST
  • Stage 2 on 1 October 2026 at 17:00 CEST
• Open for: All nationalities
• Funding Type: Fully Funded
• Application Fee: None

What This Scholarship Offers:

• Salary plus social security benefits based on the host institution’s scale
• Opportunity to develop and lead a research project that directly influences cyber-defence priorities in Switzerland
• Work in a dedicated CYD Campus laboratory
• Collaboration with professors from at least one Swiss higher education institution
• Up to CHF 3,000 per year for project-specific research equipment
• Up to CHF 5,000 per year for attending international conferences
• Strong career development, networking, and global exposure

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

Eligibility Criteria:

• Hold a postdoctoral position at the time of application
• Have excellent academic records and professional accomplishments
• Obtain endorsement from a professor at a Swiss higher education institution who will supervise the project
• Conduct the research in a laboratory different from their previous doctoral or current postdoctoral affiliation

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

Important Notes:

• This is a highly competitive program where excellence is the main evaluation criterion, as shown by strong academic records and professional accomplishments
• Applicants are expected to have excellent grade transcripts

Mission and Focus

The program targets researchers who are willing to engage with cross-cutting issues in cyber-defence and must demonstrate that their project will:

• Significantly influence the research fields of security and data science and have a strong impact on Swiss cyber-defence
• Bring together researchers from the CYD Campus and from at least one higher education institution in Switzerland in a collaborative effort

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

Key Documents:

• Letter of motivation (max 2 pages)
• Research Pre-Proposal (max 2 pages for postdoctoral)
• CV
• Diplomas and grade transcripts
• Recommendation letters from two referees

Stage 2

• Research Proposal (max 5 pages)
• Host Institution Letter
• Salary Scale document
• Budget Calculator
• Ethical Issues Form

Important Notes

• All documents must be in English and PDF format
• Use provided templates
• Applications that do not meet formal requirements will not be considered
• Template: Explore the Application toolkit.

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

How to Apply:

• Read the official call guidelines
• Prepare all required documents in English and submit them through the online platform

The process has two stages:

• Stage 1 (pre-proposal evaluation and mentor interview) closes on 19 August 2026
• Stage 2 (full research proposal) closes on 1 October 2026

Final decisions will be announced by the end of November 2026.

Apply now at the official submission platform and check the dedicated CYD Fellowships page for the latest updates and the online applicant workshop.

Selection Process:

• Applications are evaluated by a CYD Campus internal committee based on fit with the CYD Campus and the pre-proposal
• Shortlisted applicants receive a prospective mentor who conducts an interview
• Only those endorsed by the mentor proceed to Stage 2, where a full research proposal is submitted
• Final decisions are made by a committee chaired by the Director of the CYD Campus

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