Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - PSI-FELLOW Programme

Revised March 06, 2012

Before you apply for a PSI postdoctoral fellowship

How many PSI-FELLOW fellowships are available?
30 PSI-FELLOW postdocs will be appointed in 2012 and in 2014.

How do I apply and what is the role of the PSI-FELLOW mentor?
You should apply jointly with the mentor, who is responsible for the theme you are interested in. The project proposal should be elaborated together with the mentor.

What subjects are covered by PSI-FELLOW?
The research areas include natural and engineering sciences. The grand themes are:

• materials and matter,
• human health and life-sciences,
• new accelerator concepts, beam characterization methods, detectors,
• energy and environment,
• multidisciplinary science at the research facilities

Within these grand themes the mentors have opened sub-themes on which you are invited to elaborate together with your mentor the project proposal.

What are the eligibility criteria?
The eligibility criteria are published on: Eligibility Criteria

Can I apply if I work at CERN, Geneva?
If you have worked at CERN for more than 12 months out of the 3 years immediately before the deadline for proposals submission then you would not be eligible for PSI-FELLOW.

How long does a fellowship last? Is a fellowship prolongable?
The duration of a fellowship in PSI-FELLOW is two years and cannot be prolonged over the initial granted funding period. Employment after the initially granted time must be financed from other sources.

Where can I carry out the fellowship?
The PSI-Fellowships can only be carried out at PSI. You need to agree on a research project with one of the mentors.

What criteria are used to assess applications?
Applications will be assessed against criteria both addressing the candidate's aptitude as well as the quality of the proposed research and its potential impact. The criteria pertaining to the candidate's aptitude are based on the CV and the two letters of reference. With respect to the research proposal, the originality, the viability of the scientific approach, the feasibility, the projected impact and the value for the European Research Area will be evaluated.

Is there a biological age limit?
No, there is no biological age limit, but an academic age limit. For the first postdoc the PhD degree must have been awarded no more than two years prior to the application to support excellent early stage researchers at the beginning of their scientific career and to acknowledge that postdoctoral positions should be transient in the career of a researcher. Exceptions are made for documented career breaks which can be well justified. Please contact psifellow@psi.ch in order to clarify the situation.

Submitting your application

What is the "exact" deadline?
The exact submission deadline is on midnight on the day of the submission deadline. Outside of the office hours we cannot provide any assistance in case problems occur with the electronic submission.

How do I submit my application? The whole application must be submitted on the web platform provided under the link job offers
Please find the short guideline how to apply for PSI-FELLOW on: Call for Applications

Can the reference letters be submitted together with the application? How many reference letters are mandatory?
No, the referees (not the applicant) must send the reference letters electronically to the Programme Management Unit, to the following address: psifellow@psi.ch. Two reference letters are mandatory.

What are the structure and the formal requirements for the project description and the CV?
Please use the templates available on: Guidelines & Templates). Please submit the reference-letter-template to two referees of your choice and inform them to submit the filled form to psifellow@psi.ch.

During the evaluation of your application

Can I choose the dates of the interview?
Due to a very tight interviewing schedule, it is impossible to choose an interview date and preferences for a certain day cannot be considered. At the time when the call will be launched the interview dates will be published on the website.

Is it possible to update my application after the submission, e.g. if a paper has been accepted?
No, modifications will not be accepted after the submission deadline.

After the decision

When do you communicate the results?
The results of the written application will be communicated approx. 7 weeks after the application deadline. Applicants who have passed the first step and who have been invited to an interview will be informed within approx. 3 months of the submission deadline whether they will be granted a PSI-Fellow programme Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Is it possible to start sooner/later than indicated in the application?
You may start as soon as the contractual issues are in place. At the latest the contract for PSI-FELLOW has to be signed within 1 month of the funding decision and the fellowship has to be started within four months of the funding decision. Exceptionally, postponed starts of the fellowships can be accepted, but the PMU (psifellow@psi.ch) has to be informed about the reason and the starting date.

Do I have to provide a final report?
Yes, the necessary form will be sent to you six weeks before the end of your fellowship via e-mail. You are expected to return this report at the latest at the date of the end of your fellowship.