Entry-Level – University Graduates

Kickstart your career and join us in shaping the future of science and technology by joining our Early Career Professionals Programme Origin.
See open positions by Field of Work

Programme overview

This unique opportunity is designed to launch your career in the fascinating world of particle physics and groundbreaking research empowering the next generation of scientific, technical, and administrative pioneers.

Join a community of innovative thinkers and gain invaluable experience working alongside some of the brightest minds in various fields.

As a recent university graduate, you will have the chance to contribute to cutting-edge experiments, collaborate with international teams, and develop skills that are highly valued in both industry and academia.

What we offer

  • A monthly stipend between 5196-5716 Swiss Francs per month (net of tax) depending on your degree
  • Coverage by CERN’s comprehensive health insurance scheme (for yourself, your partner and children) and contribution to CERN Pension Fund
  • Depending on your individual circumstances: an installation grant, family, child and infant allowances as well as travel expenses to Geneva upon joining CERN
  • 30 days of paid leave per year plus 2 weeks during annual closure of CERN
  • On-the-job and formal training including language classes
  • A contract duration of 6 to 24 months, with a possibility to extend to up to 36 months
Unleash your potential with CERN’s Origin Programme: Where young graduates evolve into innovators and leaders in science, technology, and beyond.

Explore a wide range

of opportunities

Applied Physics

Applied Physics

Applied Physics at CERN plays a vital role in transforming theoretical concepts into tangible technologies that drive both scientific discovery and practical innovation. From developing cutting-edge particle detectors to contributing to global medical advancements, CERN’s applied physicists are at the forefront of technology that changes the world.

Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering

Creating an inspiring and welcoming environment for CERN’s scientific community by managing and developing CERN’s buildings and infrastructures.

Electrical or Electronics Engineering

Electrical or Electronics Engineering

Pivotal in designing, developing, and maintaining the sophisticated systems that power our cutting-edge experiments.

Experimental Physics

Experimental Physics

CERN’s Experimental Physics challenges the limits of our understanding, transforming bold theories into high-energy collisions that reveal the universe’s deepest secrets. From designing experiments to analysing breakthrough data, our physicists push the boundaries of knowledge every day. Ready to turn theory into discovery?

International Relations

International Relations

International Relations drive the Organization’s strategy to build and maintain robust political, financial, and public support for CERN’s scientific and societal missions.

Material and Surface Science

Material and Surface Science

Developing and maintaining advanced materials and surfaces essential for the optimal performance of particle accelerators.

Mathematics

Mathematics

Mathematics at CERN provides the essential language and tools that underpin theoretical models, data analysis, and algorithm development. From simulating high-energy collisions to optimizing detector performance, mathematical methods drive innovation across all areas of particle physics research.

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering at CERN is crucial to advancing technology and enabling cutting-edge scientific discoveries. Our engineers design, build, and maintain sophisticated machinery, complex accelerator systems and experimental facilities that power some of the world’s most complex and impactful experiments.

Software Engineering and IT

Software Engineering and IT

Software is crucial to CERN’s mission of producing particle beams for physics experiments, coordinating thousands of devices through a sophisticated accelerator control system. Our engineers and technicians develop software across all layers, from embedded real-time systems to micro-service-based backend servers and user interfaces. We leverage mainstream, open-source technologies such as Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Java, Python, and Kafka, ensuring our knowledge is broadly applicable beyond CERN.

Theoretical Physics

Theoretical Physics

Theoretical physics at CERN explores the fundamental principles of particles and forces, providing the framework for understanding the universe at its most fundamental level. It transforms abstract concepts into testable predictions, ensuring that CERN remains at the cutting edge of discovery.

Support Services (Finance, HR, Legal, Procurement)

Support Services (Finance, HR, Legal, Procurement)

Support Services at CERN ensure smooth operations across the Organization, from finance, logistics and legal expertise to human resources, administrative support and scientific information management, enabling our scientists to focus on groundbreaking research.

Here is a sneak peek of the eligibility criteria and recruitment process

Eligibility Criteria

  • Nationality
    You are a national of a CERN Member State or Associate Member State.
    Our Member and Associate Member States
  • Specific role requirements
    Pay attention to the criteria and requirements of each specific position within the Origin programme.
  • Educational background & professional experience
    By the application deadline, you have a maximum of 2 years of professional experience since graduation in the respective field and your highest educational qualification is either a bachelor’s or master’s degree. You must have a university degree and can’t hold a PhD.
  • Previous CERN experience
    You have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.

Recruitment process for this programme

  1. Submit application
    Apply with your CV (in English or French) and complete the online application before the deadline.
    Add a copy of your diploma or a certificate of achievement from your school (if you don’t yet have your paper diploma).
  2. Application review and interview
    Your application will be reviewed and you may be invited to take part in an online interview with the hiring manager(s) to discuss your application, CERN and the position, and for you both to determine if it could be a good fit.
  3. Offer and onboarding
    If you are successful, you will receive a job offer. Once you accept, your onboarding journey begin!

They have completed their Entry-Level – University Graduates

Ellen
Civil Engineer
You think CERN, you think physics, not civil engineering! It took some time to navigate the systems and internal processes, but with the help of my team, I was able to find my footing and see just how crucial the civil engineers are to CERN’s success.
Read Ellen’s story

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