The SNI PhD School is highly interdisciplinary and international.
The SNI PhD School
In 2012, the Swiss Nanoscience Institute founded a PhD School to promote the education of young researchers in the nanosciences. The research activities address the cutting edge scientific and interdisciplinary approach of nanoscience and technology and root in disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, medicine and engineering.
Each doctoral student is supervised by two scientists from the interdisciplinary SNI network and belongs to the successful SNI PhD School. Within this network, scientific exchange and networking is of great importance. All PhD student participate in these meetings of the network as well as in their Winter School and several courses that are specifically designed to meet the requirements of the doctoral students.
The PhD School is highly international. Currently, PhD students from 15 different countries are enrolled.
Call for project proposals
You can now submit project proposals for new PhD School projects. Please read the flyer carefully and send your applications to Claudia Wirth by 31 March 2025 (new deadline!)
If you have any questions about the SNI PhD School, please contact Andreas Baumgartner.
PhD School projects starting in 2025
Ref. Nr. | Project | Principal Investigator | Co-PI(s) | |
P2401 | Induced quantum dot microscopy of germanium and graphene quantum devices (This position is filled, pleased do not apply anymore) | Andrea Hofmann (University of Basel) | Martino Poggio (University of Basel) | |
P2402 | Spin waves get a twist! (project description) (This position is filled, pleased do not apply anymore) | Valerio Scagnoli (PSI) | Patrick Maletinsky (University of Basel) | |
P2403 | Live recording of functional stimuli in single protein molecules using NV-ODMR (project description) | Sonja Schmid (University of Basel) | Patrick Maletinsky (University of Basel) | |
P2404 | Recruiting synthetic metal oxo nanoclusters as enzyme cofactors (project description) | Florian Seebeck (University of Basel) | Jonathan De Roo (University of Basel) | |
P2405 | Novel mRNA nanotherapeutics against antibiotic-resistant pulmonary infections (project description) (Please don't apply for this project anymore) | Oya Tagit (FHNW) | Scott McNeil (University of Basel) | |
P2406 | Artificial Photosynthesis at Sub-zero Temperatures within Cryo-protective Lipidic Mesophase Nanoconfinement (This position is filled, pleased do not apply anymore) | Yang Yao (University of Basel) | Fanni Juranyi (PSI) | |
Timeline 2025/2026
| 3 March 2025 | Information event for PIs, 11:30 h in the Neuer Hörsaal, Department of Physics |
31 March 2025 | Deadline for project proposal submission to Claudia Wirth |
April - June | Review process |
Mid June | Information about project acceptance |
July - December | Search for candidates, interviews and hiring, online application tool open |
1 January 2026 | Earliest project start |
| 1 July 2026 | Latest project start |
Upcoming events
Annual Event 2025:
10-12 September 2025
From Lab to Startup Workshop (on invitation, participation once while being an SNI PhD student)
16-17 October 2025
"I can recommend the SNI PhD School to everybody who is interested in interdisciplinary science."
Dr. Thomas Mortelmans, former doctoral student at the SNI