The Department of Astrophysics at the University of Zurich seeks to attract future Principal Investigators of SNSF Starting Grants. Successful candidates will acquire the status of Assistant Professor and will be integrated into the Faculty of Science at the University of Zurich. The University of Zurich has a world-class scientific computing infrastructure that includes dedicated access to the tier-0 facilities of the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre in Lugano and a GPU high-performance cluster for large-scale machine learning experiments. We offer a diverse, inclusive, and international environment. The department members are heavily involved, with leading roles, in large national and international projects (e.g., NCCR PlanetS, Ariel, DESI, Einstein Telescope, Euclid, JUICE, LISA Consortium, MWA, Plato, SKA) as well as ongoing ALMA and JWST observational programs.
Candidates are expected to submit a concrete project idea (maximum three pages). Above all, applicants should bring an inspiring and ambitious research vision. In addition to their research contributions, we expect successful candidates to play a pivotal role in teaching the department bachelor/master programs, cultivating and leading an independent science group, fostering collaboration (including with students and postdocs at the department), and mentoring the next generation of scientists.
The department will only consider candidates who match the eligibility criteria of the SNSF Starting Grants funding scheme. Applicants have a PhD degree, or a medical degree, or a qualification that is equivalent to a PhD. In addition, they must fulfil three criteria: (1) Eligibility Window, (2) Career Stage, and (3) Swiss-link.
The SNSF is organising an online information event for researchers interested in this call on 19 February from 10 to 11:30 a.m. (Swiss local time).
Registration for the online event on 19 Februar 2026
We are inviting applications in the general fields of Astrophysics, Planetary Science, Astrobiology, Galaxy Formation, Space Exploration, and Cosmology. We particularly encourage applications from researchers specializing in planetary, exoplanet, and space sciences from a theoretical, numerical, or observational perspective. This includes, but is not limited to, planetary atmospheres and exoplanetary characterization, planetary evolution, planetary magnetic fields and star-planet interaction, proto-stellar and protoplanetary disks, modelling of matter at the high pressures of planetary interiors, remote sensing of solar system planets, small bodies, searches for bio-signatures in the atmospheres of exoplanets, and space exploration of planets and moons. Candidates whose research has clear links to ongoing research activities of the institute will be preferred.
We invite grant applicants who are interested in choosing the Department of Astrophysics at the University of Zurich as their host institution to directly apply via the button below. Applicants should submit a CV, a publication list, contact information for 3 references, and a concise 3-page project description as a single PDF. Applications received by 1 March 2026 will receive full consideration. While we encourage early applications, submissions after 1 March 2026 may also be considered. After an internal evaluation, interviews are held online with the most promising candidates.
