Programme overview
Taken a career break? This programme is your opportunity to make a comeback. CERN’s Post Career Break Fellowship is designed to help you seamlessly transition back into science or engineering. Reconnect with your expertise, contribute to innovative projects, and relaunch your career in a supportive, international environment where your skills and passion can thrive.
What we offer
- A monthly stipend between 6287-6911 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
Your pathway back
to science or engineering: reconnect, contribute, and thrive with CERN.
Explore a wide range
of opportunities
Here is a sneak peek of the eligibility criteria and recruitment process
Eligibility Criteria
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NationalityYou are a national of a CERN Member State or Associate Member State.Our Member and Associate Member States
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Specific role requirementYou have interrupted your career for personal reasons (e.g. family or care responsibilities, health problems, etc.). Unemployment or a career change is not considered a career break for the purposes of this programme.
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Educational background & professional experience– For Applied Sciences and Engineering: By the application deadline, you have a master’s degree with 2 to 6 years of professional experience since graduation or a PhD with a maximum of 3 years of professional experience since graduation. You are not eligible with a bachelor’s degree.
– For Theoretical and Experimental Physics: By the application deadline, you have a PhD and up to 6 years of professional experience since graduation. You are not eligible with a master’s or bachelor’s degree.
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Previous CERN experienceYou have never had a CERN fellow or graduate contract before.
Recruitment process for this programme
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Submit applicationApply with your CV (in English or French) and complete the online application before the deadline.
Add a letter explaining your career break + a copy of your diploma or a certificate of achievement from your school (if you don’t yet have your paper diploma). -
Application review and interviewYour 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.
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SelectionHiring managers meet for selection twice a year.
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Offer and onboardingIf you are successful, you will receive a job offer. Once you accept, your onboarding journey begin!
Open positions in the Post-Career Break Fellowship
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