ETH Zurich Engineering for Development (E4D) Doctoral Scholarship Programme 2020

It awards two doctoral scholarships per year and promotes innovative projects that are directly relevant for improving the livelihoods of underprivileged people in low-​income countries.

Grant

• The grant sum is 175,000 CHF to cover the salary costs of the doctoral students for three years.

Eligibility

The candidate

• The general entrance requirements for doctoral studies at the ETH Zurich and at the respective department must be fulfilled.
• Experience in the selected research area is required.
• Preference will be given to citizens of Least Developed Countries and other Low-Income Countries according to the OECD DAC-list classification (soft factor).

The supervisor

• The doctoral supervisor must be an ETH Professor and must have a guaranteed ETH position for the entire duration of the proposed project.
• The supervisor confirms his/her commitment to the project by a letter of support, indicating his/her contribution to the project in cash or kind.

The research project

• The proposal is a new doctoral project, not complementary funding to on-going research.
• The research topic is relevant for improving the livelihoods of underprivileged people.
• The ecological, socio-economic and cultural context is taken into account.
• The expected impact of the research is high for the intended target group.

The partnership

• Projects involving research partners from a low-income country have to be based on the KFPE principles.
• All partners are involved in project formulation and development.
• All partners make a substantial in-kind or cash commitment.
• The project is integrated in the general activities of the involved institutions.
• Preference will be given to projects with partners in Least Developed Countries and other Low-Income Countries according to the OECD DAC-list classification.

Application

The application procedure consists of two steps.

• First step: The candidate submits a concept note to the E4D programme office by e-mail to Ms. Patricia Heuberger via patricia.heuberger@sl.ethz.ch. The deadline for submitting concept notes is April 30, 2020. Only concept notes fulfilling all indicated requirements will be taken into consideration and will be evaluated by the ETH4D Committee for Exchanges with regard to their suitability for an E4D Scholarship.
• Second step: Candidates whose concept note is accepted by the ETH4D Committee for Exchanges elaborate a full proposal together with the professor who agreed to supervise the project. If the candidate and the professor do not know each other, they must set up a meeting to discuss the full proposal elaboration. This meeting is either a face-to-face meeting or a skype meeting. Deadline for submission of full proposals is August 31, 2020.

Read the application requirements here.

For more information, visit Engineering for Development.

opportunitydesk.org