CERN (EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH)
CERN Research Fellowship in Theoretical Physics
full · phd
- 24 monthsInitial contract (extendable to 36)
- CHF 6,911-7,326 / monthNet monthly stipend
- ~CHF 7,000 / month (est.)Typical take-home pay
- Full fundingStipend, insurance, pension and travel
- 2.5 days / monthPaid leave entitlement
- PhD / postdocCareer stage
At a glance
full
Funding
€78k
Max amount
Nov 3, 2026
Deadline
CERN Member and Associate Member States
Country
CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Provider
The CERN Research Fellowship in Theoretical Physics is a fully funded postdoctoral position based at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, in Geneva, Switzerland. CERN was founded in 1954 and operates the Large Hadron Collider, the largest particle accelerator in the world, alongside a research community of more than 10,000 scientists. The fellowship runs for an initial 24 months and can be extended up to 36 months. Fellows receive a monthly net stipend in the range of CHF 6,911 to CHF 7,326, comprehensive health insurance for themselves and dependants, membership of the CERN Pension Fund, family, child, infant and installation allowances, reimbursement of travel to and from Geneva, and 2.5 days of paid leave per month. Applicants must hold a PhD in theoretical physics or be scheduled to defend, and have no more than six years of research experience after the PhD. Selection is for nationals of CERN Member and Associate Member States, with a limited number of places under the Non-Member State Postdoc Fellowship Programme. The application requires a CV, the most recent qualification, a statement of research interests and three recommendation letters issued within the past year. Exact stipend bands, allowance values and the current-cycle deadline are set by CERN each year, so confirm the latest figures and dates on the official CERN careers page before you apply.
What's covered
- Monthly stipend — A net monthly salary of CHF 6,911 to CHF 7,326 (around ~CHF 7,000 / month (est.), roughly ~EUR 7,400 / month (est.)), free of CERN-level tax.
- Health insurance — Comprehensive medical cover through the CERN Health Insurance Scheme for the fellow and eligible dependants.
- Pension membership — Membership of the CERN Pension Fund for the duration of the contract.
- Allowances — Family, child, infant and installation allowances where applicable; the installation allowance helps offset relocation to Geneva.
- Travel and leave — Reimbursement of travel to and from Geneva at the start and end of the fellowship, plus 2.5 days of paid leave accrued per month (around 30 days per year).
How to apply
Applications are made online through the CERN careers portal, where candidates upload the required PDF documents and nominate their referees.
- Review the official fellowship page — Read the CERN Research Fellowship guidelines on the official CERN careers site and confirm you meet the PhD, experience and nationality requirements.
- Prepare your documents — Assemble an updated CV, a copy of your most recent qualification and a statement of research interests outlining your fellowship objectives, all in PDF format.
- Submit the online application — Complete and submit the application through the CERN careers portal before the deadline (around 3 November 2026, 23:59 CEST (est.)).
- Arrange recommendation letters — Nominate three referees; after submission they receive a secure link to upload confidential letters issued within the past year.
- Await the selection outcome — Applications are reviewed by CERN's selection committees and outcomes are communicated to candidates after the committee meetings.
Eligibility
QualificationHold a PhD in theoretical physics, or be scheduled to defend the doctoral thesis before taking up the fellowship.
ExperienceNo more than six years of research experience after the PhD at the application deadline.
NationalityOpen to nationals of CERN Member and Associate Member States; a limited number of places are reserved for nationals of Non-Member States under a dedicated programme.
Current statusApplicants must not be current CERN staff members.
Three recommendation letters must have been issued within the past year; referees receive a secure link to upload their letters confidentially after the application is submitted.
Eligible countries
CERN Member and Associate Member States, Limited places for Non-Member States under the Non-Member State Postdoc Fellowship Programme
Deadlines
2026 autumn round~3 November 2026 (est.)
2027 round~November 2027 (est.)
Selection
Candidates are assessed by CERN's Theoretical Physics selection committees on the strength of their PhD research, their statement of research interests, their publication record and the three recommendation letters. Priority is given to early-career researchers within six years of their PhD whose work aligns with CERN's theoretical physics programme.
Verified sources
- CERN Careers - Fellowship Programmecareers.cernofficial
- CERN Careers (official site)careers.cernofficial
About the provider
CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, was founded in 1954 and is based near Geneva on the French-Swiss border. It operates the Large Hadron Collider and other accelerators and hosts a global community of more than 10,000 scientists working on particle and theoretical physics.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
What is the CERN Research Fellowship in Theoretical Physics?
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It is a fully funded postdoctoral fellowship at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, for early-career researchers in theoretical physics, running for an initial 24 months.
Who is eligible to apply?
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Applicants must hold a PhD in theoretical physics (or be scheduled to defend) and have no more than six years of research experience after the PhD.
Is the fellowship fully funded?
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Yes. It covers a monthly net stipend of CHF 6,911 to CHF 7,326, health insurance, pension membership, allowances and travel reimbursement.
How long does the fellowship last?
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The initial contract is 24 months and can be extended up to a total of 36 months.
What is the monthly stipend?
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Fellows receive a net monthly salary in the range of CHF 6,911 to CHF 7,326; confirm the exact current-cycle figure on the official CERN page.
When is the application deadline?
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The autumn round deadline is around 3 November 2026 at 23:59 CEST (est.); always verify the current-cycle date on the CERN careers site.
Which nationalities can apply?
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Nationals of CERN Member and Associate Member States are eligible, with a limited number of places for Non-Member States under a dedicated programme.
Can current CERN staff apply?
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No. Current CERN staff members are not eligible for the Research Fellowship.
What documents are required?
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A CV, a copy of the most recent qualification, a statement of research interests and three recommendation letters issued within the past year, all in PDF format.
How are recommendation letters submitted?
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After you submit the application, your three nominated referees receive a secure link to upload their letters confidentially.
Are dependants covered?
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Yes. Health insurance covers the fellow and eligible dependants, and family, child and infant allowances may apply.
Where do I apply?
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Applications are made online through the official CERN careers portal, where the fellowship guidelines and current deadline are also published.