ERC Starting Grant Call 2026 – Expression of Interest and Application process

The call for potential candidates for the ERC Starting Grant is now closed. We thank all applicants for their interest and the applications submitted.

Applicants wishing to apply through DEBES must first secure approval from a hosting research group. A DEBES professor must confirm that suitable lab and/or office space is available. 

Once this preliminary step has been completed, candidates are invited to formally express their interest.

Interested applicants should: 

1. Check their eligibility for the respective grant (see link below). 
2. Submit the following documents as one single PDF: 

• A motivation letter summarizing the proposed research, explaining your reasons for choosing DEBES as the hosting institution, and outlining how the proposed research aligns with and complements DEBES' existing research focus. 
• A two-page CV highlighting three major contributions and briefly justifying their choice.  

The application deadline was August 2, 2026.

For further information, please contact Dr. Aynur Erdogan at head@ieu.uzh.ch.

As part of the internal selection process, we plan to organize a symposium for prospective ERC Starting Grant candidates (tentatively on September 1, 2026, in Zurich). 

The internal evaluation will include: 

•     Confirmation of a hosting research group (including space and integration) 
•     Submission of application materials by August 2nd, 2026 
•     Participation in the departmental symposium on September 1st, 2026 
•     Final approval by the DEBES Assembly 

For more details, please visit: https://www.research.uzh.ch/en/funding/postdoc/ERC-Starting-Grant.html