Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) calls applications for Engineering for Development Scholarships Program 2020 in Switzerland. The E4D Programme is generously funded through the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Summary 

Moreover, 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. Therefore, the doctoral projects have to be innovative and develop a method or product, which is directly relevant for improving the livelihoods of underprivileged people in low-income countries.

Funding

The Engineering for Development Doctoral Scholarships grant sum is 175’000 CHF to cover the salary costs of doctoral students for three years. Out of the scholarship grant, CHF 166’800 is reserved to cover the salary of the E4D Fellow for three years (level of employment: 100%, incl. social security), CHF 8’200 for material costs and/or travels.

Eligible Candidates 

• Candidates must fulfill the general entrance requirements for doctoral studies at the ETH Zurich and at the respective department.
• In addition to that, experience in the selected research area is necessary.
• Furthermore, citizens of the Least Developed Countries and other Low-Income Countries according to the OECD DAC-list classification1 (soft factor) will have priority.

Doctoral 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.

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.

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 with the general activities of the involved institutions.
• Preference will be given to projects with partners in the 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 program office by e-mail to Ms. Patricia Heuberger ([email protected]). The deadline for submitting concept notes is 30 April 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.

The deadline for the submission of full proposals is 31 August 2020.

Read the Eligibility Criteria and Application Requirements for more information.