The International Space Science Institute (ISSI) in Bern, Switzerland invites applications for the 2026 Johannes Geiss Fellowship (JGF). With this fellowship ISSI honours the memory of Johannes Geiss, the founder of ISSI, and his contributions to the space sciences.
The fellowship was established in 2015 to attract internationally renowned scientists to make a significant contribution to the ISSI mission by pursuing ambitious independent research, in any of the disciplines that are part of ISSI’s core mission: Astrophysics, Heliophysics, Planetary Sciences and Earth Sciences.
The Johannes Geiss Fellow is expected to participate in ISSI activities and actively engage in collaborations with ISSI’s scientific staff and visitors, as well as with research institutes in Switzerland and neighboring countries. The Johannes Geiss Fellow is also invited to participate in outreach activities such as giving public lectures in close collaboration with the Pro ISSI Association.
The JGF provides a stipend covering travel costs and living expenses for a stay at ISSI (Bern) of up to 6 months. ISSI can host JGFs either for a single extended visit (e.g. during a sabbatical) or for several shorter duration visits.
The application (to be submitted as a single pdf-file) should comprise a cover letter (max. 2 pages), a brief outline of the research planned while at ISSI and possible collaborations with Swiss and/or other institutions (max. 3 pages), a curriculum vitae (max. 5 pages) and a list of the 10 most relevant publications.
All applications must be received by ISSI no later than October 10, 2025, through the online submission form below.
The final selection will be communicated no later than November 5, 2025. The earliest possible starting date for the 2026 JGF is January 2026. We encourage applications from female scientists.
Further information may be obtained from Dr. Antonella Nota antonella.nota@issibern.ch.
Call for Johannes Geiss Fellowship 2026
