professor in switzerland

You are a senior researcher, post-doc or already professor and you are looking for a professorship in Switzerland. Find below some basic information about how to proceed.

Where?

The 12 official universities have professorships with research and teaching activities. Universities of applied sciences have professor positions as well although with emphasis on teaching activities.

Who?

• To apply for a professor position at a Swiss university, you need a PhD and several years of recognized research experience. 
• In German speaking Switzerland and in Germany, it is usual to make a teaching thesis (Habilitation) after the PhD to become a private lecturer (Privatdozent, PD).  A Habilitation is, contrary to Germany, not required in Switzerland even if it is sometimes considered as an advantage for the application procedere.
• At the Universities of applied sciences, a PhD is not necessarily required. You don't need a eaching thesis (Habilitation). Depending on the field, experience in industry and/or experience in applied sciences is demanded instead.
• Besides research and managing tasks, you will have teaching duties. Having teaching experience is therefore very advantageous.

What?

• Ordinary or extraordinary professor (university): Permanent position and head of a research group at a university.
• Assistant professor, tenure track professor (university): Temporary position: The professor has to work for approximately five years before a decision is made on whether he or she should become an ordinary professor and a permanent position.
• SNSF professorship (university): Grant funding the establishment of an independent team to implement a research project. Each year, 30 – 40 subsidies will be granted. The duration of the subsidy is four years and can be extended by a maximum of two years. To apply, you need a PhD and several years of recognized research experience.
• Professor at Universities of applied sciences: Permanent position with emphasis on teaching.

How long?

Ordinary or extraordinary professorships are usually permanent positions. However, temporary positions have been created recently, e.g. assistant professors, tenure track positions, SNSF professorships etc (see above). Depending on the university, the duration of the contracts and the conditions may vary. 

How much?

The salary varies from place to place: from 8000 CHF for an assistant professor to more than 15000 CHF per month for an ordinary professor (see salary section on myScience.ch). The salary must be indicated in the contract of employment and can be negotiated.

How to proceed?

Open professor positions are announced in national and international newspapers, journals and on job portals (e.g. science job portal of myScience.ch).  The job ad indicates how to apply and which documents (CV, publication list etc.) you have to join. For the SNSF professorship there is one call per year. For professor positions in Germany, you can have a look at the job portal for Germany jobs.myScience.de.

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