The application has to be made together with a senior scientist at Empa, who will act as the fellow's mentor.  Empa’s five Research Focus Areas:

• Nanostructured Materials
• Sustainable Built Environment
• Materials for Health and Performance
• Natural Resources and Pollutants
• Energy

and its three sites near Zurich, in St. Gallen and in Thun offer a large degree of freedom in research topics as well as in location to the fellows.

After a rigorous selection process ensuring that the best candidates are selected, Empa Postdocs fellows are offered a two-year contract at Empa. They will have the opportunity to improve their project management skills by leading research projects on their own. Career development plans and educational programmes, which include training in scientific and non-scientific skills, will ensure that the stay at Empa is advancing the fellows' career opportunities for both academic research/engineering and management positions in industry. Empa Postdocs offers a highly competitive salary, and research and education cost contribution package.

The Empa Postdocs programme is co-funded by the FP7: People Marie-Curie action COFUND. The next call for applications will be issued  January 15th 2013; the application deadline is April 14th, 2013, and the estimated starting date for the fellowships is September 1st, 2013. For more information, please have a look at the guide for applicants or contact the programme management by e-mail.