The Paul Scherrer Institute doesn’t get mentioned in scholarship conversations as often as ETH Zurich or EPFL.
It should.
PSI belongs to the same Swiss federal research domain as both institutions — the ETH Domain of the Swiss Confederation. It operates some of the most sophisticated large-scale research facilities in Europe, receives researchers from over 60 countries annually, and runs roughly 1,900 experiments per year across approximately 40 measuring stations.
Seven fully funded PhD positions are open there right now. Fields range from electron holography and radiochemistry to aerosol science, bone imaging, and quantum simulations. Deadlines vary — and one closes in just a few weeks.
Also See: ETH Postdoctoral Fellowships
PSI PhD Positions Overview
| Position | Field | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Low-energy electron holography | Physics / Imaging | 31 August 2026 |
| Clay samples and neutron scattering | Materials / Chemistry | 31 August 2026 |
| Radiochemistry — superheavy elements | Nuclear Chemistry | 19 September 2026 |
| Aerosol chemistry | Environmental Science | 5 August 2026 |
| X-ray scattering on mineralized tissues | Biophysics | 16 August 2026 |
| X-ray imaging of bone structure | Biophysics / Imaging | 16 August 2026 |
| Quantum simulations of muons | Computational Physics | Open until filled |
The 7 Open PhD Positions
1. Low-Energy Electron Holography
Deadline: 31 August 2026
This project develops a novel imaging technique for visualizing 2D crystals (including graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides) as well as nanoscale non-crystalline samples such as single proteins and macromolecules.
The work involves:
- Sample preparation and hologram recording
- Numerical reconstruction of sample structures
- Simulation of low-energy electron holograms
- Conference presentations and journal publications
Suited to candidates with a physics or materials science background and interest in cutting-edge imaging methodology.
2. Clay Samples and Neutron Scattering
Deadline: 31 August 2026
A materials chemistry position focused on proton mobility in clay systems, using quasi-elastic neutron scattering at PSI’s SINQ facility.
The work involves:
- Preparing and characterizing clay samples and oriented clay films
- Studying proton mobility with neutron scattering techniques
- Developing experimental setups for radiotracer diffusion studies
- Conducting tracer diffusion and electromigration experiments
- Publishing results and completing a PhD thesis
Candidates with backgrounds in chemistry, materials science, or physical chemistry will find strong alignment here.
3. Radiochemistry — Superheavy Elements
Deadline: 19 September 2026
One of the more unusual positions on this list. The project focuses on superheavy elements — the heaviest known elements on the periodic table — using PSI’s large-scale accelerator infrastructure and international collaborations at leading facilities worldwide.
The work involves:
- Developing new radiochemical methods and instrumentation
- Producing radioisotopes of lighter homologs to test ideas
- Performing chemical experiments at accelerator facilities globally
- Analyzing thermochemical properties of the heaviest elements
- Publishing in leading peer-reviewed journals
This position is genuinely rare. Very few institutes in the world have the infrastructure to conduct superheavy element chemistry. If nuclear or radiochemistry is your field, the September deadline gives you the most preparation time of any position on this list.
4. Aerosol Chemistry Earliest Deadline
Deadline: 5 August 2026
This is the most time-sensitive position. The deadline is August 5 — which may be only weeks away depending on when you’re reading this.
The project focuses on carbon source apportionment in aerosol samples collected from eastern Europe and Asia, with measurements conducted at both PSI and the University of Bern. The PhD degree is awarded through ETH Zurich.
The work involves:
- ¹⁴C and aerosol mass spectrometer analyses on collected filters
- Developing new methanol extraction workflows
- Source apportionment of organics and elemental carbon
- Offline measurements at PSI and University of Bern
- Publishing in high-impact journals
The ETH Zurich degree registration is a significant detail — it means this position carries the academic credential of one of the world’s top universities.
5. X-ray Scattering on Mineralized Tissues
Deadline: 16 August 2026
A biophysics position at the intersection of materials science and biology. The project investigates how mineralized tissues — primarily bone — adapt their nanostructure to different mechanical demands, using SAXS tensor tomography and complementary electron microscopy.
The work involves:
- Developing Python-based analysis tools for SAXS data
- Designing multi-scale analysis pipelines integrating X-ray and electron microscopy data
- Investigating nanostructural adaptation in biological tissues
- Publishing results and presenting at international conferences
Candidates with backgrounds in physics, materials science, biomedical engineering, or biophysics should review this one closely.
6. X-ray Imaging of Bone Structure
Deadline: 16 August 2026
A complementary position to number five above, this project investigates the structure of long bones across different species using synchrotron X-ray imaging — connecting structural findings to mechanical properties.
The work involves:
- Synchrotron X-ray imaging of long bone structures
- Developing Python-based X-ray imaging analysis tools
- Designing and conducting X-ray characterization experiments
- Publishing and presenting findings at conferences
If your background sits in physics, structural biology, or biomedical imaging, both positions five and six are worth reading carefully — they share methodological territory but address different scientific questions.
7. Quantum Simulations of Muons in Materials
Deadline: Open until filled
The most computationally intensive position on the list — and the one with the most flexibility on timing.
This project combines density functional theory (DFT) simulations with automated computational workflows for muon studies in materials. The goal is to develop first-principles methods that account for the quantum nature of the muon, going beyond classical treatment.
The work involves:
- DFT-based calculations of muon stopping sites and migration pathways
- Exploring quantum treatments using path-integral molecular dynamics
- Investigating machine-learned interatomic potentials
- Potentially exploring generative AI approaches for muon prediction
- Building reusable AiiDA-based workflows for the broader research community
“Open until filled” means there’s no hard deadline — but it also means strong candidates can be selected at any point. Waiting doesn’t help.