CCCZ Fellow Program

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) with CHF 450.000 (2025-2026).

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.

Funding

• Within the frame of the 2025 call three physician scientists and one translational scientist will be funded.
• Physician scientists: Competitive funding is provided to finance 50% protected research time for up-to one year (max. CHF 55K) in 2026.
• Translational scientist: Competitive funding is provided to finance the position (1 FTE) of a postdoctoral scientist for up-to one year. The salary encompasses up to CHF 110K (including 18% employer`s costs) in 2026.
• Earliest start for project funding is 1.1.2026. Funds must be spent by 31.12.2026 (Jährlichkeitsprinzip).

Timelines for 2025 Call

• Feb 2025 – Call for proposals
• 11.05.2025 – Submission Deadline. Please submit the application files to maja.zenz.uzh.ch
• May-Jun 2025: Evaluation and selection process
• July 2025: Communication of evaluation results to all applying fellows and PIs
• 1.1.2026: Employment start of fellows

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.