New: UZH.ai Fellowship Track Within the DSI Excellence Program
The Digital Society Initiative and UZH.ai are joining forces to support the next generation of AI researchers at UZH. As of this year, doctoral candidates with an AI focus can apply for the UZH.ai Fellowship — a funded track within the DSI Excellence Program. The application deadline is April 6.
The DSI and UZH.ai have created a new track within the DSI Excellence Program: the UZH.ai Fellowship. It is open to prospective and newly enrolled doctoral students at the University of Zurich whose research strongly engages with Artificial Intelligence (AI) — whether from a technical, legal, ethical, or application-oriented angle.
Participants complete the full interdisciplinary curriculum of the DSI Excellence Program (12 ECTS over two years), which includes the DSI Boot Camp, the DSI Strategy Lab, the Interdisciplinary Reading Seminar and the DSI Summer School. The UZH.ai Fellowship provides tangible additional support: a CHF 47’000 contribution towards the first-year PhD salary and access to the UZH.ai industry network for mentoring and career development. As with all DSI Excellence participants, Fellows also receive a CHF 3’000 personal research budget for conferences, courses, or equipment.
The Fellowship is embedded in the regular DSI Excellence Program call. Applicants submit a CV, academic transcripts, a letter of motivation, a research description, and contact details for two references. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews in late May; the program starts each year in September. Applications are accepted until April 6, 2026.