Information for potential job applicants
We work in three areas: distributed systems, machine learning, algorithms & theory. We always consider outstanding candidates in all three areas. If you think that you are a good match, please apply for a PhD position!
We usually hire twice per year, in the summer and winter seasons. During the winter there is also the possibility to apply through the ETH AI Center Fellowship program. While you can send a spontaneous email application to wattenhofer@ethz.ch in spring or fall, please be aware that outside our hiring seasons only the most exciting applications will be answered at all. Be aware that the competition for a position is fierce. We usually get hundreds of applications per hiring season, many of them from top students at top universities.
Prior to submitting your application
Applications must include
- a short letter of motivation
- a CV
- the university transcripts (courses taken and grades achieved, both Bachelor and Master)
- Maybe you participated in an Olympiad in Mathematics or Computer Science?
- Maybe you have an excellent track record in a programming contest such as Codeforces?
- Maybe you have done an exciting master thesis or term project? (Please attach the PDF.)
- Maybe you have a fresh idea for research? (Please write about it in your letter of motivation.)
- Maybe you studied one of our publications in detail, and know how to improve our results? Or maybe you know how to solve some open problems in our areas of interest?
- Maybe there is something else? How can you impress?
How to apply online
During hiring season, please use the link to the online application form on our web page.
In the online application form, you have to fill in one page of meta data (hopefully autofill) such as name, address and birth date. Then you get to a second page where you can upload PDFs. Feel free to upload multiple PDFs or simply merge all your documents (motivation, CV, transcripts, supporting documents) in one PDF. Your online application will be reviewed by multiple people, and you will for sure receive an answer after your application.
There is no specific application deadline. We interview applications on a regular basis during the hiring seasons. Once a search ends, a new call starts just about 3 months later.
Terms of employment for Ph.D. students at ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich is considered to be one of the top academic institutions in Europe. It is usually ranked in the top 10 in the world. Sometimes our area is ranked number one in the world. The completion target for a Ph.D. is 3 years, with a major milestone (PhD Aptitude Colloquium) at the end of the first year.
Fixed salary
| First year of employment | CHF 72,000 (CHF > EUR > USD) | |
| Second year of employment | CHF 77,000 | |
| Third year of employment | CHF 82,000 |
Taxes and other deductions
The income tax is currently about 8% for the above mentioned starting salary. The total deduction for social security, pension plan and accident insurance is about 13%. There is no tuition at ETH Zurich.
Paid vacation
Employees are entitled to 25 days of paid vacation per year.
Health insurance
Swiss residents are required to buy their own health insurance. The monthly premium for basic health insurance starts at approximately CHF 120, depending on your insurance plan.
Work visa for foreign citizens
The citizens of most EU-member countries are eligible to an immediate work visa in Switzerland. Citizens of new EU-member countries and candidates of other nationalities have to apply for a temporary work visa before entering Switzerland. ETH Zurich will take care of the due application process.
Room and board, transportation
ETH Zurich does not supply rooms or other housing opportunities on campus. Registered students are eligible for reduced prices at the campus’ cafeterias and special tariffs for public transportation.
More detailed information