The IOB PhD / MD-PhD Program in details

The program at a glance

Application cycle and start date

We open our call for applications once per year in the fall.

Successful candidates typically start between March and the end of the following year.

Duration

The program is designed for a duration of four to five years.

Employment and salary

IOB offers employment contracts for PhD and MD-PhD students with compensation starting at 50,000 CHF gross per year (as of 1 Jan 2026 and in accordance with the guidelines of the Swiss National Science Foundation), with yearly increases and social benefits.

Tuition and fees

There are no tuition fees for the PhD or MD-PhD Program.

Students enrolled at the University of Basel pay standard semester fees (CHF 350), which can be reimbursed by IOB. Enrollment also provides access to university benefits such as sports facilities, the university library, and subsidised access to cafeterias.

Visa and residency support

Students intending to pursue a PhD in Switzerland need to apply for a visa and/or a residency/work permit, which depends on their nationality.

If accepted into the program, IOB provides full support in the visa and permit application process.

Eligibility and application

Eligibility and application

To join the IOB PhD & MD-PhD Program, applicants should:

  1. Be outstanding candidates aspiring to support IOB’s vision research topics.
  2. Hold (or anticipate having before starting*) a Master’s degree, MD, or equivalent from a recognised university in the field of natural sciences, medicine, or engineering.
  3. Have a strong command of the English language.

*If a degree is not yet awarded at the time of application, it may be submitted later to phd-program@iob.ch. Note that the degree but must be obtained before the start of your PhD project at IOB.

Required application documents

Typical required documents include:

  • Curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Letter of motivation
  • Transcripts, certificates, and diplomas (German, English, French, or Italian; translations accepted; notarised versions not required at this stage)
  • Publication list (if available)
  • Contact details of two referees who will be asked to submit evaluations
    Additional documentation may be necessary and requested case by case.

Referees

Your referees should hold a PhD and have engaged in recent, direct collaborative work with you. They may be from academic or industrial backgrounds, and must meet the same application deadline.

Preparing your application

Applicants are encouraged to collect all required documents well in advance and to ensure that all information entered in the application portal is provided in English.

All application materials must be submitted as a single PDF file, named according to the following format: Name_FamilyName_submission date (DD.MM.YYYY).

As part of the application process, two referees will be asked to submit evaluations via a secure link sent by email. Applicants should inform their referees in advance and note that automated emails may occasionally be filtered into spam folders.

Before submitting an application, candidates are advised to review IOB’s research areas and the publications of the research group they wish to join.

It is not necessary to contact IOB group leaders directly prior to application; applicants can simply indicate their preferred research group in the application portal.

Application deadline and submission

The PhD & MD-PhD Program opens a yearly call for applications, usually for about six weeks.

Applications must be submitted through the official application portal.

As double applications are not allowed, please review your application thoroughly before submitting.

Applications received via email will not be taken into account.

Selection and interview process

Applications undergo a two-step evaluation:

  1. Initial review by the PhD management team to determine eligibility and completeness
  2. Evaluation of selected applicants by IOB group leaders

Interview rounds

Applicants chosen for further consideration based on their submitted applications will receive invitations for:

  1. Online panel interviews: Depending on the group leader’s requirements, you may be asked to prepare a brief presentation (15-20 min) of your ongoing research. The online interviews usually take place in December.
  2. In-person interview days: Top candidates are then invited to in-person interviews, which will take place at IOB (Basel, Switzerland). In-person interviews are generally scheduled in mid-January of the following year. 

Travel and accommodation

For candidates invited to on-site interviews, IOB covers travel and accommodation expenses, with details provided in the invitation.

Notification of admission

If selected, candidates are informed of their admission approximately 2–3 weeks after the on-site interviews.

PhD and MD-PhD tracks

PhD track

The IOB PhD Program requires a degree that formally qualifies the candidate for entry into doctoral studies (e.g., MSc or equivalent) before enrollment.

The PhD Program entails advanced specialised research aligned with IOB’s research themes.

MD-PhD track

The IOB MD-PhD Program is designed for individuals with a medical background who wish to conduct extensive biological research through a PhD thesis while bridging basic and clinical research.

Prospective MD-PhD candidates must possess or expect to obtain a medical degree that qualifies them for formal clinical training before enrolling.

University enrollment and degree

IOB is affiliated with the University of Basel but does not award degrees itself.

All PhD and MD-PhD candidates must enrol with the University of Basel for the formal degree conferral.

Working at IOB and living in Basel

Working location

All our PhD positions are based at IOB in Basel, Switzerland.

Working language

The primary working language of our PhD-Program is English.

Living costs

Living costs in Basel vary significantly depending on personal circumstances. As an employer, IOB can provide basic details and support, and students can find housing information and cost-of-living estimates through the University of Basel and local resources (e.g., Flatfox, the housing market of the University of Basel, or Comparis).

Contact us

If you have any questions, please contact us at phd-program@iob.ch.