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.
Shortly, we will activate the application tool, which you can use to submit your application.
PhD School projects starting in 2027
| Ref. Nr. | Project | Principal Investigator | Co-PI(s) | |
| P2601 | Circuit quantum electrodynamics to probe strongly interacting electronic phases in atomically thin nanoelectronic devices | Andreas. Baumgartner (University of Basel) | Alexander Grimm (PSI), Dominik Zumbühl (University of Basel) | |
| P2602 | Treating neuroblastoma with radiotherapy-enhancing nanoparticles (pdf) | Jonathan De Roo (Univ. of Basel) | Stephanie Gros (UKBB) | |
| P2603 | Rationally engineered hydrogels to control osteogenesis via mechanoregulation (pdf) | Géraldine Guex (UZB) | Zarah Walsh-Korb (Univ. of Basel), David Brückner (University of Basel) | |
| P2604 | Mechano-control of the Nuclear Pore Complex | Roderick Lim (University of Basel) | Benjamin Engel (University of Basel) | |
| P2605 | Nano-photonics with a fibre cavity | Bojan Resan (FHNW Windisch) | Richard Warburton (University of Basel) | |
| P2606 | Nanopore Detection of Metal-Nanocluster Heterogeneity with Single-Molecule Resolution (pdf) | Sonja Schmid (University of Basel) | Florian Seebeck (University of Basel) | |
| P2607 | Strained Germanium Quantum-Well Transistors for Integrated Cryogenic Spin Qubit Readout (pdf) | Ilaria Zardo (University of Basel) | Kirsten Moselund (PSI & EPFL) | |
Timeline 2026/2027
| 9 April 2026 | Information event for PIs, 16.00 h in the Neuer Hörsaal, Department of Physics |
| 26 April 2026 | Deadline for project proposal submission to Claudia Wirth |
| May - June | Review process |
| End of June | Information about project acceptance |
| July - December | Search for candidates, interviews and hiring, online application tool open (A PhD student can be accepted at any point during this period) |
| 1 January 2027 | Earliest project start |
| 1 July 2027 | Latest project start |
Upcoming events
Annual Meeting 2026
02–04 September 2026
Online Info event for new PhD students at the University of Basel 2026
24 September
Startup Workshop (by invitation only, participation once during the doctoral studies)
15-16 October 2026
Synthesizing 2D MOFs at the air-water interface: Great potential for versatile applications
Studiying bacteria with a built-in compass
A toxin with an unexpected property
What makes the SNI PhD School special?
"I can recommend the SNI PhD School to everybody who is interested in interdisciplinary science."
Dr. Thomas Mortelmans, former doctoral student at the SNI