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About the NCCR Automation Fellowship
Are you a Master’s student, PhD candidate, or postdoctoral researcher looking to expand your horizons in automation? The NCCR Automation Fellowship 2025 offers a fully funded opportunity for international researchers to conduct a short-term research stay in Switzerland, collaborate with leading experts, and work on cutting-edge projects in the field of automation. Applications are now open!
The NCCR Automation Fellowship is an initiative of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Automation, based in Switzerland. It is designed to support international researchers—Master’s students, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral scholars—interested in carrying out a short-term research stay within the NCCR network. The program promotes global research cooperation, interdisciplinary work, and knowledge exchange by immersing scholars in Switzerland’s dynamic academic environment.
Fellows will benefit from dedicated supervision, mentorship from experienced faculty, and the chance to participate in high-impact research. Whether you’re focused on robotics, machine learning, or cyber-physical systems, this fellowship will provide you with the tools, environment, and connections to further your career.
Eligible Fields
Applicants can choose research topics across a broad range of fields within automation, including but not limited to:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Energy Systems
- Mobility Solutions
- Robotics
- Social Networks and Recommender Systems
- Co-design and Control Architectures
- Computational Methods for Control
- Control and Optimization Theory
- Cyber-Physical Systems
- Data-Driven Control
- Distributed Control and Optimization
- Ethics and Fairness in Control
- Game Theory
- Humans in the Loop
- Machine Learning and System Identification
- Neural Networks
- Optimal Transport and Control of Distributions
- Robust Control
- Reinforcement Learning
- Stochastic Optimization
- …and other related areas.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the NCCR Automation Fellowship, applicants must:
- Be a current Master’s student, PhD candidate, or postdoctoral researcher.
- Be actively engaged in a program or research that aligns with the host research group in Switzerland.
- Remain enrolled or employed at their home institution throughout the fellowship duration.
- Continue receiving their salary from their home institution (for PhD and postdoc applicants).
- Not have studied or worked at the intended host institution in Switzerland previously.
- Meet the institutional requirements of their proposed host group.
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be assessed based on the following:
- Research potential and academic excellence.
- Alignment of their research interests with the goals of NCCR Automation.
- Commitment to promoting international collaboration and interdisciplinarity.
- Quality of submitted documents, including research proposal or motivation letter.
- Timely submission of all application components via the official platform.
All applications must be submitted by 30th June 2025 at 17:00 (CET). Selection will be handled by an internal NCCR Automation committee. Notification of results will be sent to applicants in October 2025, with the earliest possible start date in January 2026.
Documents Required
- CV (maximum 2 pages), including any publications (if applicable).
- Motivation Letter (for Master’s students) – up to 2 pages.
- Research Proposal (for PhD and postdoctoral applicants) – up to 2 pages, outlining research questions, approach, and plan/timeline.
- Letter of Support from your home institution and supervisor.
- Academic transcripts and copies of university degrees.
- A clear indication of three research topics and three potential NCCR PIs (Principal Investigators) to serve as hosts.
- Disclosure of any existing income or funding from other sources during the fellowship period.
Eligible Countries
This fellowship is open to applicants from all countries worldwide. There are no nationality restrictions.
Benefits of the NCCR Automation Fellowship
Successful applicants will receive a comprehensive support package, including:
- Financial support to cover the cost of living in Switzerland.
- Funding for project-related expenses such as travel costs to attend NCCR Automation events.
- Access to Switzerland’s world-class research infrastructure and academic resources.
- Mentorship and supervision by leading researchers in automation.
- An opportunity to expand professional and academic networks, both locally and internationally.
- The chance to gain valuable experience in interdisciplinary and collaborative research environments.
How to Apply
A complete application must be submitted via the official online platform before the deadline.
Note: The deadline for this application is 30th June 2025 at 17:00 (CET)
A well-prepared and detailed application is highly encouraged, as it reflects your commitment and readiness for a global research experience.
Don’t miss this chance to elevate your research career in one of the world’s most advanced academic environments!
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
See also:
Tokyo University Amgen Scholars Program 2025: Apply Now!
The Letten Prize 2025 for Researchers: Apply Now!
