Engineering for Development (ETH4D) Doctoral Mentorship Program

Job Description

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Applications are now open for the 2026/2027 ETH4D Doctoral Mentorship Program, designed to support doctoral candidates and master’s students from least-developed, low- and lower-middle-income countries. This one-year mentorship program provides funding, guidance, and research opportunities to accelerate high-impact academic work.

Participants will benefit from hands-on mentorship by ETH Zurich faculty, gain international research experience, and develop the skills needed for academic excellence and global collaboration.

Program Overview

The ETH4D Doctoral Mentorship Program 2026/2027 includes:

• Research Stay: A 1–3 month research visit at the mentor’s group at ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
• Guided Mentorship: Continuous support from an ETH professor, senior scientist, or postdoc over one year. Monthly meetings and clear project goals are recommended. Mentors may optionally serve on the mentee’s doctoral committee.

Eligibility

• Mentors: ETH professors eligible to receive funding to host a student. Professors must join ETH4D if not already members.
• Mentees: Doctoral candidates or master’s students enrolled in universities or research institutes from countries listed on the DAC-ODA recipients list (excluding upper-middle-income countries).
• Security Screening: Certain countries may require additional security checks prior to arrival in Switzerland. ETH4D does not manage this process.

Funding & Coverage

The grant provides up to 10,000 CHF to cover:

• Economy roundtrip airfare (up to 1.5 kCHF)
• Accommodation and living allowance (850 CHF/month)
• Visa fees and local transportation in Zurich
• Health insurance (self-organized)
• Research materials and conference attendance, if applicable

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit the following:

• Completed electronic application form
• Detailed budget using the provided template
• Letters of support from authors and hosting ETH professor
• One academic reference letter
• Doctoral or master’s student motivation letter (3,000 characters, Arial 11, line pitch 1.15)
• Project description, work plan, and mentorship timeframe (Gantt Chart)
• University transcripts
• CV of the candidate (max 2 pages, including publications)
• Doctoral project proposal (if available)
• Pre-doc applicants should describe how the research stay supports future doctoral plans

ETH4D mentors must provide a support letter detailing planned activities, financial or in-kind contributions, and the intended role of the candidate within the research group.

Benefits

• One-year structured mentorship with an ETH Zurich expert
• Opportunity to conduct research in a world-class institution
• Financial support for travel, accommodation, and living expenses
• Networking with leading researchers and international peers
• Enhanced academic skills and career development opportunities

Application Deadline: 30 March 2026