CCCZ Fellow Program

Open Call

Objectives & Structures

• Physician scientists are given the freedom (protected research time) to conduct a research project in a CCCZ clinical department or research group. The aim is to develop a broad understanding of cancer research and translation.
• Translational scientists (postdoctoral level) are supported to conduct a collaborative research project of a CCCZ research group together with a clinical department.
• Fellows are integrated into the laboratories, meetings and communications of the Zurich cancer research community.
• Fellows are offered mentorship and career development by CCCZ principal investigators and structured programs of the UZH, USZ and Medical Faculty Zurich.
• The program is supported and funded by the University Medicine Zurich (UMZH).

Requirements

Physician Scientists

• The program is aimed at physicians in specialist training in oncology.
• Translational cancer research projects are jointly defined by the potential fellow and the PI of the employing clinical department/research group. The PI must be a CCCZ member. Please click here to find an overview of current CCCZ members.
• The application is submitted jointly by the potential fellow and PI.

Translational Scientists

• The program supports translational scientists (postdoctoral level) to conduct a collaborative, translational cancer research project of one CCCZ research group together with one CCCZ clinical department. Research projects are jointly defined by the potential fellow and the PIs. PIs must be CCCZ members, involving at least one scientist and one physician scientist. Please click here to find an overview of current CCCZ members. Balanced and equal opportunities are strongly encouraged when building the research team.
• The application is either submitted jointly by the potential fellow and PIs OR by the PIs only, if the potential fellow is not known by the time of the application and will be recruited.

All Fellows

• Applicants should be no older than 35 years.
• Fellows must be employed at the UZH or one of the University Hospitals.
• The appointed fellows cannot have worked with one of the PIs for more than 3 years at the time of application.
• PIs must not participate in more than one application as lead PI.
• The proposed research must aim to: (1) Encompass innovative translation of scientific findings into clinical practice and (2) Combine innovative clinical oncology, research and technologies to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic concepts towards precision oncology.
• Eligibility restriction: Fellows who received funding for a fellowship in 2026 cannot apply for a fellowship/grant for 2027.

Evaluation

• Candidates are selected through a competitive call and application process. The selection criteria focus on the best candidates and scientific excellence of the projects.
• The evaluation is carried out by selected CCCZ members who have no conflict of interest (CoI) with the applicants.
• The CCCZ Fellow Program and its review process are chaired by Anne Müller (CCCZ Director Basic Research) and Holger Moch (CCCZ Director Translational Research Programs).

Funding

• Within the frame of the 2026 call five physician scientists and one translational scientist will be funded.
• Physician scientists: Competitive funding is provided to finance protected research time for up to one year. CCCZ will provide up to CHF 58.000 in 2027 (this maximum amount must cover all employees and employer salary costs).
• Translational scientists: Competitive funding is provided to finance a postdoctoral position (1.0 FTE) for up to one year (2027). CCCZ will provide up to CHF 122.000 in 2027 (this maximum amount must cover all employee and employer salary costs).
• Earliest start for project funding is 1.1.2027. Funds must be spent by 31.12.2027 (Jährlichkeitsprinzip).

Timelines

• 18.2.2026 – Call for proposals
• 22.4.2026 – Submission Deadline
• May-Jun 2026: Evaluation and selection process
• July 2026: Communication of evaluation results to all applying fellows and PIs. No feedback is provided on details of funding decisions.
• 1.1.2027: Employment start of fellows

Application

• Submission deadline: 22.4.2026
• Please generate one PDF document of all application files in the following order:
• Completed application form; max. length for chapter 1.-4. is four pages; font: Calibri Light 10 pt; line spacing: 1.15.
• CVs of PIs (max. 2 pages)
• CV of fellow. We recommend that suitable fellows are already identified by the time of the application.
• Save PDF as PS or TS_Last Name Fellow_Last Name PI_CCCZ Fellow Call 2026 (PS for Physician Scientist, TS for Translational Scientist).
• Applications which do not meet the defined formatting will be excluded from review.
• Please submit the application files via Email to maja.zenz.uzh.ch
• CCCZ management will acknowledge receipt of the application.

Funded CCCZ Fellows 2025-2026

Funding Period: 2018-2022

From 2018-2022, the CCCZ Fellow Program supported 18 talented postdoctoral scientists and physician scientists to conduct translational cancer research projects in CCCZ departments. The projects were led by interdisciplinary teams involving one CCCZ basic scientist and one physician scientist as PIs. Competitive funding was provided for 2-year fellowships.  The program integrated the fellows into the laboratories, meetings and communication of the Zurich cancer research community and offered mentorship and career development. The funding period was supported by the University and Medical Faculty of Zurich with CHF 4.9 Mio. for the years 2018-2022.