EPFL is launching two calls for applications for EPFLeaders4impact, a new postdoctoral fellowship programme funding experienced researchers from all over the world who have the ambition and the potential to provide innovative solutions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Applicants of any nationality can apply, provided they fulfill the eligibility criteria of the programme.

Applicants can freely choose their project topic, which must be included in the research areas of EPFL and address at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They must seek the support of an academic supervisor at EPFL and of a partner from the non-academic sector, which can be a company, an NGO, an international organisation, or a public institution.

Fellowships will be granted for a duration of 12, 18, 24 or 36 months based on the field of research and on the level of development/maturity of the proposed innovation. Depending on the fellowship duration requested by the granted applicants, the programme will fund between 40 and 120 fellowships.

Granted applicants will carry out their project at one of the five EPFL campuses and will benefit from a dedicated training programme to equip them with a comprehensive set of skills to enhance their scientific excellence, their entrepreneurial capacity, and their leadership potential. In addition, they will benefit from intersectoral exposure through the mandatory collaboration with the non-academic partner.

During the programme, the fellows will be able to take steps towards starting a company based on their own research or to have their proposed innovative solution implemented through a technology transfer to an existing company/organisation.