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MaP Doctoral School

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Ready to make an impact in science and society!

The MaP Doctoral School of ETH Zurich provides topclass international doctoral education in advanced materials, processes and manufacturing technologies.

Join the ETH Zurich MaP Doctoral School for your doctoral studies and drive future transformations in the way materials and processes shape the world:

• join cutting-edge laboratories directed by internationally renowned professors
• acquire technical knowledge through customised thematic tracks
• profit from a multifaceted programme to develop your skills  
• dive into the collaborative spirit of the School & take on an active role in shaping a vibrant community

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Current doctoral students

learn more about

• overall initiative
• more detailed information depending on advancement of your doctoral studies
• overview of benefits when joining the School
• upcoming events

Prospective talents

open doctoral positions

Questions & Support

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external page ETH Zurich Competence Center for Materials and Processes (MaP) call_made

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Department of Physics

Doctoral studies.

Doctoral studies are carried out in individual research groups, combining original research with specialised doctorate courses and teaching activities.

ETH Zurich offers outstanding conditions for a doctorate: an innovative atmosphere, state-of-the-art equipment and laboratories, and an environment that inspires the scientific talents of tomorrow.

The emphasis of your work will be to perform independent research, usually as part of a project. The details will depend on the field chosen. It is expected that you publish your results in international scientific journals and that you write a doctoral thesis, which also will be published. All of this work will be done under the supervision of your thesis advisor. Upon successful completion, you are awarded the title "Doctor of Sciences (Dr. sc. ETH Zurich)”.

On these pages you can find information about doctoral studies at the Department of Physics.

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Department of Computer Science

Direct doctorate in computer science.

Our goal is to educate students to become researchers and future leaders in computer science. The Direct Doctorate in Computer Science comprises course and research work. It allows exceptionally well-qualified students holding a Bachelor's degree to join the doctorate programme at the Department of Computer Science.

The programme is tailored to the needs of students aiming at a career in research and interested in pursuing a doctoral degree at ETH Zurich. The Direct Doctorate enables students to explore a wide range of areas in computer science and to become acquainted with the different groups at the department prior to the selection of a topic and a supervisor for the doctoral dissertation.

Students in this programme are entitled to financial support and tuition waivers in the form of a full scholarship during the first two study years and, thereafter, to a competitive salary that covers living expenses in Switzerland. Typically, the completion of the Direct Doctorate takes 5 to 6 years.

The first two years of the programme provide students with advanced methodological and conceptual knowledge in computer science that goes beyond today's state of the art and prepares students for scientific forerunner roles. The studies are structured similarly to a Master's degree, which students obtain upon completion of the credit requirements. Students can choose from a variety of fundamental and elective courses. During the second part of the Direct Doctorate in Computer Science, students focus on their doctoral research and the completion of the dissertation. 

Important Information about the Application Process: Direct Doctorate applicants use the same application tool as master's applicants. Application information can be found here , and the specific requirements for the Direct Doctorate here (see Computer Science MSc). During the application process, you indicate that your application is for the Direct Doctorate Programme. It is, therefore, possible not to be admitted to the Direct Doctorate Programme, but for the Master’s Programme in Computer Science. However, the application cannot be considered for ESOP simultaneously. Note that applications not submitted as outlined above will not be considered.

Download Study Guide "Direct Doctorate in Computer Science" (PDF, 154 KB) vertical_align_bottom

Studies at ETH Zurich

• chevron_right Doctorate at ETH Zurich
• chevron_right New international students
• chevron_right Information about entering Switzerland
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Practical information

• chevron_right Forms and documents
• chevron_right Course catalogue
• Download vertical_align_bottom Study Guide, Regulations 2009  (PDF, 2.4 MB)
• Phone phone +41 44 633 42 23

ETH Zurich Department of Computer Science Universitätstrasse 6 CAB H 37.1 8092 Zurich

The Direct Doctorate: A unique opportunity for top international undergraduates

The Direct Doctorate in Computer Science was developed to draw talented undergraduates from all over the world. Six years after welcoming its first two enrolees, the programme now receives more than 100 applications every year. Students and professors testify that direct access to doctoral studies and the great atmosphere at ETH Zurich are large parts of its success.  

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Department of Biology

Information events doctorate.

Introductory program of the rectorate for new doctoral students

At ETH, there are two ways to apply for a doctoral position: direct applications and applications for a graduate school .

Graduate school

17 doctoral programs covering various fields in the life sciences are coordinated under the umbrella of "Life Sciences Zurich Graduate School" together with the University of Zurich. Every year there are two application deadlines: May 1st and November 1st. Applicants who meet the required qualifications will be invited for interviews. Detailed information on each program can be found here: external page www.lifescience-graduateschool.ch call_made

Direct applications

In addition to doctoral programs, there is another way to apply for a doctoral position at ETH: Persons interested in a particular area, can also apply directly to the heads of research groups. Often such positions are advertised on their websites, however even if no advertisement is posted, direct contact can be worthwhile. This page provides information about the different research areas which are covered by D-BIOL researchers. Here you will also find the contact information of the individual professors.

All further information on requirements, admission, and registration procedures are available here:

• for professors
• for future doctoral students

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Department of Earth Sciences

Participation in the Earth Science doctoral programme provides a stimulating introduction to independent research on a scientific frontier.

An ETH doctorate provides an excellent educational preparation for a career in academic or industry research. A doctoral degree generally takes three to four years with support through a research assistantship.

All degrees, but particularly the Master's and doctoral programmes allow people to study at other universities, either independently or through collaborations and joint programmes such as those at the University of Zurich or the IDEA League of RWTH Aachen and TU Delft. The Department of Earth Sciences also has extensive research and teaching connections with leading universities in North America and Asia, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, the Tokyo Institute of Technology, and the National University of Singapore.

The formal prerequisite for initiating a doctorate is a Diploma, Master's or equivalent College degree, which includes an independent project equal to the Master's Thesis. To enter the doctorate the thematic basis of the Master is of secondary importance. Doctoral students in Earth Sciences are frequently, chemists, physicists or even mathematicians. The candidate's eligibility for one or more departmental research groups is the crucial factor, which determines admittance to the doctorate. In order to determine the eligibility of the candidate for the doctorate a qualifying examination may be required, depending on the professional qualifications of the candidate. Usually the doctoral students are hired as assistants, funded from research grants from government, industry or the ETH Zurich. Prospective doctoral students may participate in the writing of a research proposal during their Master's degree by collaboration with a potential doctorate advisor, thereby participating in the project definition. More frequently, however, project positions are advertised internationally and candidates selected from the international talent pool. All doctoral students contribute to teaching or to the administration of the departmental laboratory infrastructures.

Formal ordinances concerning the doctorate are given in the ETH rules of procedure and the D-ERDW regulations. Further information or documents on doctoral studies are given by the doctoral administration .

Frequently asked questions

The central Doctoral Administration has put together a list of the most frequently asked questions about the new ordinance on doctoral studies .

D-ERDW related information

Your question wasn't answered in the FAQs about the doctorate or in the new documents ? View the FAQ of the D-ERDW Doctoral Administration.

Open doctoral positions

At the department of earth sciences and associated organisations.

• Phone phone +41 44 632 86 44

ETH Zurich Dep. of Earth Sciences Sonneggstrasse 5 NO D 63 8092 Zurich

Appointment

Quick access.

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• chevron_right Registration and admission for an ETH doctorate
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All doctoral students are automatically members of the Mittelbau association of the Department of Earth Sciences (VAME) .

The Mittelbau meets regularly to discuss department related matters of interest.

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Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering

Doctoral programmes.

The joint doctoral programme Translational Engineering of Biological Systems of Roche's Institute of Human Biology and the ETH Zurich Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering D-BSSE offers a unique opportunity for scientific training in translational human biology and medicine. Doctoral students will conduct highly innovative and collaborative research projects and become the next generation of researchers working on scientific and technological challenges in translation.

Learn about this joint ETH-Roche doctoral programme .

The aim of this highly interdisciplinary doctoral programme of systems biological researchers of the University of Zurich and ETH in Zurich and Basel is to train students from various disciplines and departments including Computer Science and (Bio)Informatics, Biological Sciences, and Engineering to become future leaders in Systems Biology. The doctoral programme Systems Biology is associated with the Life Science Zurich Graduate School. Several research groups of the D-BSSE are part of the Systems Biology doctoral programme. Further information is provided on the doctoral programmes own website .

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Department of Mathematics

The Department of Mathematics offers a broad spectrum of research areas for doctoral students ranging from pure mathematics, such as algebra, analysis, geometry, number theory or probability, to more applied mathematics, such as insurance mathematics, finance, mathematical physics, numerical analysis, operations research and statistics ( Research ).

Owing to its excellent international reputation, the Department of Mathematics provides the best possible start for a career in academic or industrial research. A doctoral degree generally takes from three to five years to complete.

Research environment

Doctoral students work as scientific assistants and are employed for up to six years. They attend the external page Zurich Graduate School in Mathematics. call_made

The benefits are:

• internationally highly respected professors
• research funded by the external page Swiss National Science Foundation call_made
• offices in the ETH Zurich Main Building
• access to of the Mathematics Library and the ETH Library , including online access to practically all recent publications
• conferences organized by the Forschungsinstitut für Mathematik to support the scientific exchange of ideas

Teaching activities

Passing on knowledge to future mathematicians, other scientists and engineers is a key part of doing doctoral studies at ETH Zurich.

The teaching workload depends on the doctoral student's salary level. Teaching generally comprises:

• teaching exercise classes
• organising exercises for a lecture
• assisting in student seminars
• interacting with the lecturer and/or teaching assistants (undergraduate students)
• providing assistance for lectures ranging from basic mathematics for biologists to advanced lectures for mathematicians
• coordinating and correcting exams

Additional courses

Research lives from acquiring knowledge about current theory and discussing it with experts. During the regular doctoral studies, at least 12 ECTS credits must be acquired to cover the following objectives:

• Deepening of knowledge in the research field of the doctoral thesis and expansion of knowledge beyond the original discipline
• Acquisition of transferable skills
• Integration into the scientific community  

Courses and seminars:

• There is a wide variety of high-level lectures, minicourses and student seminars (see ETH Zurich Course Catalogue or external page graduate courses call_made offered by the Zurich Graduate School in Mathematics)
• Reseach seminars organized by professors and research groups where experts from different mathematical fields give talks and exchange their knowledge
• The FIM - Institute for Mathematical Research and the Institute for Theoretical Studies invite academic guests for scientific exchange
• Mathematics Library holds 20,000 classical and recent books from all areas of mathematics

Life in Zurich

There is always a life outside work and studies, and Zurich is the best place to live it.

• largest city in Switzerland with a top ranking for quality of life
• charming medieval old town very close to the ETH Zurich Main Building and the Department of Mathematics
• fantastic for water activities, winter sports or hiking because of the lake and the Alps within close proximity
• variety of cultural events and night life, very cosmopolitan  

The Graduate School and ETH Zurich provides:

• language courses and social events such as barbecues and cheese fondues organized by the external page Zurich Graduate School of Mathematics call_made
• a huge variety of student associations you can join (see Verband der Studierenden an der ETH (VSETH) (German) )
• sports facilities and activities offered by the external page Academic Sports Association Zurich (ASVZ) call_made

Further information

• chevron_right ETH Zurich - Doctorate
• chevron_right Student portal – Doctorate
• chevron_right Welcome Center
• chevron_right AVETH Survival Guide
• protected page lock Help@D-MATH

Skills and career

• external page call_made German courses (Graduate School)
• external page call_made Language center
• chevron_right Continuing education in university teaching

Legal matters

• chevron_right Ordinance on Doctoral Studies at ETH Zurich
• chevron_right Rector’s Implementation Provisions for the Ordinance on Doctoral Studies 2021

Associations

• protected page lock Verein des akademischen Mittelbaus am D-MATH VMM
• chevron_right Math • Phys Alumni

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Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences

Doctoral studies.

The doctoral programmes of the D-CHAB attract around 500 highly qualified doctoral students from all over the world that are doing research in over 50 groups that cover a wide range of research areas in chemistry, pharmaceutical and applied sciences. About 50% of all doctoral chemistry students in Switzerland are educated at the D-CHAB.

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Professorship for Learning Sciences and Higher Education

Eth zurich - epfl joint doctoral program in the learning sciences.

Learning Sciences  is an emerging, interdisciplinary research area that focuses on developing a multi-faceted understanding of learning as it happens in the real world, as well as designing, implementing and improving learning environments.

The ETH Zurich - EPFL Joint Doctoral Program in the Learning Sciences (JDPLS) educates a new generation of dual-discipline scientists, who will bring together knowledge and methods from multiple disciplines such as psychology, education, computer science and data science to answer questions of how people learn and hence how to teach in the digital age. This doctoral program is directed towards students from any field of science or engineering who are highly motivated towards addressing the challenges in education that arise from the digitization of society. Research in the JDPLS emphasizes bridging the gap between fundamental and translational research. Our doctoral students are trained to lead the transformation in all parts of our education systems including schools, universities, workplace and informal learning spaces.  

Program Directors

Prof. Dr. Manu Kapur  (ETH Zurich)

external page Prof. Dr. Pierre Dillenbourg call_made  (EPFL)

Founding Chair 

Prof. Dr. Manu Kapur (ETH Zurich)

Executive Director

external page Dr. Richard Lee Davis call_made (EPFL)

Program Managers

Sara May  (ETH Zurich)

external page Emma Sorrentino call_made  (EPFL)

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Department of Architecture

Doctoral studies.

A doctorate can be obtained within a maximum of six years at various institutes of the Department of Architecture (D-ARCH). It is possible to begin doctorate studies at any time in the academic year. The doctoral programme concludes with the title Dr. sc ETH Zurich.

Prerequisites for application

The admission requirements for a doctorate at our faculty are a Master’s degree from a recognized university as well as an excellent academic performance.

Further, the candidate himself / herself has to look for a Professor who is willing to act as a supervisor.

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Department of Materials

The Department of Materials offers doctoral students excellent research opportunities and specialized education in a variety of research areas.

Doctoral students contribute to ETH Zurich’s research by carrying out an independent and original scientific research project under the supervision of a professor. During their doctoral studies they acquire additional knowledge and competences both in the research area of the doctoral thesis and beyond the original discipline. In addition, doctoral students contribute to the teaching of the department by supervising projects and lab courses or by assisting in lectures.

Doctoral students at the Department of Materials are typically associated with the MaP Doctoral School  and one of its thematic tracks . If you are interested in joining the Department of Materials for your doctorate, we advise you to have a look at the overview of research groups and contact the professors to inquire about available open positions. Direct recruitment through the MaP Doctoral School will be possible regularly. Doctoral students who have been admitted to the Department of Materials can find an overview of the processes associated with the department’s doctoral studies in the following study guide:   Download Study Guide for the Doctorate at D-MATL (PDF, 430 KB) vertical_align_bottom

For more information about registration and admission, please consult the website of ETH Zurich's doctoral administration office .

• Phone phone +41 44 632 25 20

ETH Zurich Department of Materials Leopold-Ruzicka-Weg 4 HCP F 33.1 8093 Zurich Schweiz

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Department of Management, Technology, and Economics

Doctoral studies in economics.

Doctoral studies in economics include advanced micro- and macroeconomics, econometrics, computational economics, environmental and resource economics, the design of institutions, and policy dynamic macroeconomics.

In order to be eligible for doctoral studies in economics, prospective doctoral candidates must apply for an open position at a CER-ETH chair .

Involved chairs, centres, and institutes

Course overview.

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Institute for Quantum Electronics

Phd programme.

Doctoral studies are carried out in individual research groups, combining original research with specialised doctorate courses and teaching activities.

As a rule, doctoral candidates should contact and apply within one of the  research groups  of the institute. More information about doctoral studies at ETH can be found on the  Department of Physics page  and on the  Doctoral Administration pages  of the ETH Academic Services.

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Life Science Zurich Graduate School

Quicklinks und sprachwechsel, main navigation, application.

Welcome to apply for a PhD Program at the Life Science Zurich Graduate School!

Doing your PhD at the LSZ Graduate School of the ETH and the University of Zurich means that you will belong to a large and ambitious life science research community. You will receive a comprehensive and challenging education that will allow you to take further career steps within academia as well as in industry – in Switzerland or worldwide.

We are searching for highly motivated students with a Master’s degree in the field of Life Sciences. You are looking for a PhD position at a renowned institution? That could be a good match! You are welcome to apply now!

Can I apply?

As a rule you must hold or anticipate receiving a university Master’s degree or equivalent in the field of natural sciences, computer sciences or engineering. With an excellent track record and good skills in spoken and written English you are welcome to apply to our PhD programs. Our funded positions are open for national and international (also non-EU) students. PhD studies at our programs usually last around 4 years.

When can I apply?

Our deadlines are 1 May (23:59 CEST) and 1 November (23:59 CET).

Please note that PhD Programs: Drug Discovery, Biomedical Ethics and Law - Medical Track, MD-PhD Program are not recruiting via track 1 ! 

Ready to apply?

Weiterführende informationen, application process, registration form, frequently asked questions, admission requirements, admission to doctoral studies at uzh, admission requirements at ethz, what is it like to do a phd in zurich.

Meet our students in the video spot

• Application Process
• Candidate Registration

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Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences

Doctoral studies, list of doctoral theses from the d-gess.

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ETH AI Center  

Fellowship programs.

Applications for the ETH AI Center PhD and Post-Doc Fellowships are now closed.

We are involved in three phd and post-doc programs.

Please see below a brief overview of the different types of PhD programs. Please note that while the programs are well coordinated, you need to apply for each of the programs separately and also ensure that your motivational letter fits with the corresponding program goals.

ETH AI Center PhD and Post-Doc Fellowships

Our flagship PhD & Post-Doc Program is focused on advancing interdisciplinary AI research . This can be inside the AI foundations or between AI foundations and application areas. The idea is that fellows work with two excellent PIs which carry both equal weights in the supervision.  Fellows have their primary office at the physical space of the ETH AI Center and become part of a cohort . Key selection criteria are ability for research excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and impact-orientation.

CLS PhD Fellowships

The Center for Learning Systems (CLS) is a joint initiative between Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) in Tübingen/Stuttgart, Germany and ETH Zurich. The core idea is to benefit from a combination of advisors of these two AI hubs through a mobility phase where the fellows have spend one year at the institution of the co-advisor.

CLS PhD Fellowship application:  external page https://learning-systems.org/ call_made

ELLIS PhD Fellowships

We are a proud member of  ELLIS - the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems - which is a pan-European AI network of excellence which focuses on fundamental science, technical innovation and societal impact. The ELLIS PhD Fellowships enable a single central application for PhD positions across Europe. A mobility component to spend at least 6 month at another ELLIS unit or choose an industry track is a must.

ELLIS PhD application: external page https://ellis.eu/phd-postdoc call_made

May 1, 2024

Meteorites in Antarctica Are Getting Harder to Find because of Climate Change

As climate change warms the poles, precious Antarctic meteorites will melt their way down out of scientists’ reach

By Meghan Bartels

Meteorites are widely scattered across a moraine on the blue ice field in the Miller Range on December 19, 2015 in Antarctica.

NASA Photo/Alamy Stock Photo

Climate change has pernicious impacts on Earth, affecting everything from the atmosphere to ice sheets and from algae to elephants. But even rocks from space aren’t immune to warming-weather-related upheavals either.

Meteorites are fragments of other worlds that survive whizzing through Earth’s atmosphere to land as dull, scorched-black rocks. For decades, planetary scientists have used meteorites to better understand the distant places they come from, and Antarctica has been a particularly valuable source, supplying more than 60 percent of those collected to date. But the bounty may be disappearing, according to research published on April 8 in the journal Nature Climate Change . In it, scientists estimate that we’re already losing Antarctic meteorites faster than we collect them —and that the rate of loss will increase as the planet continues to warm, with the rocks sinking deep in the ice sheets, out of scientists’ reach.

Although scientists have collected some 80,000 meteorites to date, there’s no telling which ones will reveal something new. “Usually, a few of the meteorites that are brought back every season are something we’ve never seen before,” says Cari Corrigan, a geologist and curator of the Antarctic meteorite collection at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., who peer-reviewed the new paper but wasn’t directly involved in the research. “Each one is kind of a piece of a puzzle that helps us understand how the whole solar system formed .”

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This solar system detritus lands anywhere and everywhere on Earth, but most meteorites are lost—they plummet into the ocean or immediately blend in with terrestrial rocks. In Antarctica , in contrast, dark space rocks stand out from the bleak terrain. In addition, the ice’s slow flow over the continent concentrates space rocks in specific regions that have become treasure troves for scientists.

“Meteorites can fall anywhere on the ice sheet,” says Veronica Tollenaar, a doctoral candidate in glaciology at the Free University of Brussels (ULB) and co-author of the new research. “They become embedded into the ice, and they flow along with the ice, but when there is a barrier, the flow is redirected toward the surface.” That phenomenon is useful to scientists because it concentrates the space rocks in particular locations. In some areas on the continent, harsh winds scour the ice from above, revealing meteorites and other material in the ice, where the rocks can lie for millennia. Scientists call these spots “blue ice” because of their color. These two processes make for easy meteorite hunting; even so, scientists estimate hundreds of thousands more space rocks are still waiting to be found on Antarctica’s ice .

But as the world warms, these Antarctic meteorite dynamics are changing. Just like a black T-shirt on a sunny day, a meteorite on Antarctica’s surface traps heat that then radiates into the surrounding ice. When air temperatures are cold enough, the extra heat doesn’t make much difference—but as climate change warms the poles , the extra few degrees of heat from a meteorite will more often be enough to melt the ice around and under it, sending the rock deep into the ice sheet, out of scientists’ reach.

“Typically, once [a meteorite] is brought to the surface, it needs to kind of fight to stay at the surface,” says study co-author Harry Zekollari, a glaciologist at Vrije University of Brussels (VLB) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich). “What we see is that there’s kind of a magical threshold somewhere around minus 10 degrees Celsius [14 degrees Fahrenheit].” When temperatures are colder than that, the ice survives; any warmer and meteorites begin to disappear—even today. “Every year we find about 1,000 meteorites, but we lose five times as many,” Zekollari says.

Tollenaar, Zekollari and their colleagues used machine learning to identify where Antarctica’s remaining treasure troves of meteorites may be and then projected how different warming scenarios will affect each location.

Their analysis suggests that about a quarter of Antarctica’s meteorites will be lost by 2050—and up to three quarters will be out of reach by 2100 under the direst warming projections. Overall, Zekollari says, 1 or 2 percent of meteorites will disappear with each additional tenth of a degree Celsius of average warming. Corrigan notes that historically, the interior of Antarctica hasn’t seen much snowfall, but increasing rates from climate change will hide meteorites as well, further reducing the amount of samples scientists can collect beyond what the analysis suggests.

Losing meteorites has real consequences for scientists trying to understand the solar system. Expeditions to Antarctica are challenging but not as challenging as sending astronauts to the moon or robotic spacecraft to snag asteroid pieces, Corrigan says. “It is kind of a poor man’s sample-return mission, although it still costs money.”