Applications are now open for the CERN Post Career Break Fellowship, a prestigious program designed for science and engineering graduates looking to re-enter their careers after a personal break. Hosted by CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, this fully-funded fellowship supports full-time or part-time work in fields like particle physics, engineering, and related disciplines for up to three years.
Open to nationals of CERN Member or Associate Member States (with no nationality restrictions for physics research profiles), it welcomes those with a Master’s degree (2–6 years’ experience) or a PhD (up to 6 years’ post-PhD experience) who have taken at least a two-year career break for personal reasons, such as family or health responsibilities.
The application deadline is September 7, 2025, and there is no application fee. This is an exceptional opportunity to work at the forefront of scientific research in a diverse, international environment. Check more BS, MS and PhD positions
Key Details
- Program: CERN Post Career Break Fellowship
- Location: Geneva, Switzerland
- Fields: Particle physics, engineering, computing, and related scientific disciplines
- Duration: 24 months, extendable to 36 months
- Funding: Fully-funded with a monthly stipend of 6,287–6,911 Swiss Francs (net of tax)
- Additional Benefits: Health coverage, CERN Pension Fund, installation grant, family/child allowances, travel expense coverage, 30 days of paid leave
- Application Deadline: September 7, 2025, at midnight (12:00 AM CEST)
- Start Date: January 1, 2026
- Application Fee: None
Interested in BS, MS and PhD Positions? Follow links below
Overview
The CERN Post Career Break Fellowship is a unique opportunity for science and engineering graduates who have taken a career break for personal reasons and are eager to return to cutting-edge research. Hosted by CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Geneva, Switzerland, this fully-funded fellowship offers full-time or part-time positions for up to three years. Fellows will work in an international environment, contributing to groundbreaking projects that explore the fundamental structure of the universe using the world’s largest and most complex scientific instruments.
Check fully funded internships here
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the CERN Post Career Break Fellowship, you must meet the following requirements:
- Career Break: You have been on a career break for personal reasons (e.g., family responsibilities, caregiving, or health issues) for at least two years. Note: Periods of unemployment or a change in career/study field do not count as a career break.
- Open to nationals of CERN Member or Associate Member States with:
- A Master’s degree (MSc) with 2–6 years of relevant experience, or
- A PhD with up to 3 years of relevant experience.
- Research Fellowship Profile (for experimental or theoretical physics): You must hold a PhD with up to 6 years of post-PhD experience.
Also check: IFAD Internship Programme 2025
Eligible Countries
This opportunity is open to all nationals of a CERN Member or Associate Member State, which includes the following countries:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Cyprus, Brazil, Croatia, India, Latvia, Lithuania, Pakistan, Türkiye, and Ukraine.
Want to study in Switzerland? Check this Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
Benefits of the Fellowship
The CERN Post Career Break Fellowship offers a comprehensive package to support your return to science:
- Duration: An employment contract of 24 months, with a possible extension up to 36 months.
- Monthly Stipend: Between 6,287 and 6,911 Swiss Francs per month (net of tax).
- Training Opportunities: Access to on-the-job training and formal training, including in-house English and/or French language courses.
- Health and Pension: Coverage by CERN’s comprehensive health scheme (for you, your spouse, and children) and membership in the CERN Pension Fund.
- Additional Support (based on individual circumstances):
- Installation grant.
- Family, child, and infant allowances.
- Travel expense coverage at the start and end of the contract.
- Paid Leave: 30 days of paid leave per year.
For Exchange programs, click here!
For fully funded conferences visit here!
How to Apply?
Visit the official website (link provided below) and click on I’m interested. To complete the application, you will need the following documents:
- A CV;
- A letter covering your experience and career break and how your research interests and skills relate to CERN’s diverse activities.
- A scanned PDF of your most recent relevant qualification;
