UZH.ai x DSI Excellence Program
Empowering the Next Generation of AI Pioneers.
The UZH.ai Fellowship is a specialized, funded track within the DSI Excellence Program. It is designed for outstanding doctoral students at the University of Zurich whose research focuses on the development, application, or societal implications of Artificial Intelligence.
While following the full interdisciplinary curriculum of the Digital Society Initiative (DSI), UZH.ai Fellows receive additional financial support, dedicated industry mentoring, and access to a specialized AI research community. The goal is to empower a new generation of researchers to lead UZH’s human-centered approach to AI across all faculties.
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Why Join the UZH.ai Fellowship Program?
At a glance:
- Financial Autonomy: A substantial contribution of CHF 47,000 towards your PhD salary (first year only, awarded to your hosting professor)
- Personal Research Expenses Budget: CHF 3,000 in flexible funding for international conferences, specialized AI courses, or essential re-search equipment.
- Industry Bridge: Exclusive access to the UZH.ai industry network, of-fering mentorship and career pathways beyond academia.
- Interdisciplinary Excellence: Full integration into the DSI Excellence Program (12 ECTS), providing a holistic view of the digital society.
- AI Community: Connection to over 160 affiliated professors and a vi-brant peer network of AI researchers across all seven faculties.
Program Content & Requirements
Fellows are fully integrated into the DSI Excellence Program curriculum. Over the course of two years, participants complete:
- Compulsory Modules: The DSI Boot Camp (3-day kickoff), Strategy Lab, Interdisciplinary Reading Seminar and DSI Summer School.
- AI-Focused Electives: Fellows are encouraged to select elective mod-ules (4 ECTS) with a specific AI focus, such as Data Manage-ment, Algorithms & Machine Learning, Interdisciplinary Data Analysis & Visualization and others.
- Community Engagement: Fellows are expected to spend at least one day per week at the DSI or UZH.ai co-working space to foster cross-faculty collaboration.
Admission & Eligibility
Who can apply? The UZH.ai Fellowship is aimed at future or recently en-rolled (up to the end of their first year at the time of the application dead-line) PhD students at UZH from all disciplines.
Admission Criteria:
- Academic Excellence: An MSc or MA degree with an outstanding track record.
- Research Focus: A PhD project with a clear connection to Artificial In-telligence (technical, legal, ethical, or application-oriented).
- Supervision: Applicants must be enrolled in (or accepted to) a UZH doctoral program and have the support of their supervisor.
- Language: Excellecent command in English Proficiency in English (the program's language of instruction).
Application Process
The application for the UZH.ai Fellowship is handled as part of the general DSI Excellence Program call.
- Application Period: January 15 – April 6.
- Interviews: Selected candidates will be invited for interviews in late May.
- Start of Program: Annually in September (Fall Semester).
Typical application documents include:
- curriculum vitae
- academic transcripts
- letter of motivation
- research description
- list with contact details of 2 references (at this point, a recommendation letter is not required)
Link:
https://www.apply.dsi.uzh.ch/position/47022081
Contact
Nina Cornelius-Malecha
phd-program@dsi.uzh.ch