Materials Science, Energy Research, Life Sciences Research (particle therapy)
PSI is the largest research institute for natural and engineering sciences in Switzerland, conducting multidisciplinary research in materials science, energy, and health. While primarily a research institute, it hosts PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, and collaborates closely with ETH Zurich, EPFL, and other universities for academic programs and training.
The Paul Scherrer Institute, PSI, is the largest research institute for natural and engineering sciences in Switzerland. It is located in Villigen, in the canton of Aargau, on both banks of the Aare river, and it belongs to the ETH Domain. It was created in 1988 by merging the Swiss Institute for Nuclear Research and the Federal Institute for Reactor Research. About 2,100 people work at the institute, among them around 300 doctoral students, and about 30 percent come from abroad. It is a research institute and does not award its own degrees.
PSI operates large research facilities that are used by scientists from around the world, about three thousand visitors each year. The Swiss Light Source is a synchrotron that produces intense X-rays for studies of materials and biological molecules, and it was upgraded in recent years. SwissFEL is an X-ray free-electron laser, the neutron source SINQ and the muon source are used to study magnetism and materials, and a powerful proton accelerator feeds several experiments.
Research focuses on matter and materials, energy and the environment, and human health. Teams study batteries, hydrogen, solar fuels, nuclear energy, climate and atmospheric chemistry, as well as structural biology and radiopharmaceuticals. PSI runs the Center for Proton Therapy, which treats cancer patients with proton beams, in cooperation with hospitals. The institute also develops accelerators and detectors for particle physics.
Students do not enrol at PSI for a degree. Doctoral candidates register at ETH Zurich, EPFL or another university and carry out their research at PSI, usually with a salaried contract that is advertised in public calls. The institute also offers internships and summer schools. Check the current calls and the conditions for non-EU candidates. English is the working language.
Villigen is a small village in the countryside, about 30 kilometres from Zurich, and many employees commute by car or by bus from the railway station at Brugg. A shuttle serves the site, and housing is available in neighbouring towns.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Astroscience, Automation, Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, Manufacturing, Materials, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Metrology, Nanotechnologies, Physics, Process Control, Project Management, Quality, Robotics, Signal Processing, Statistics, Structural Engineering, Telecommunications, Thermodynamics
Diplomas*:
Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Extensive national and international collaborations with universities, research institutions, and industry. Operates large-scale research facilities (Swiss Light Source, SINQ, SmuS, SwissFEL) used by researchers worldwide. Crucial role in doctoral and postdoctoral training.
Research:
World-leading research in condensed matter physics, materials science, structural biology, particle physics (muon, neutron), accelerator technology, catalysis, renewable energy, energy storage, nuclear energy and safety, and proton therapy.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
2100
Current students***:
300
Foreign students***:
30%
Cumulative former students***:
1000
Pros
Switzerland’s largest research institute with unique large-scale facilities, conducting cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research. Excellent environment for PhD and postdoctoral research.
Cons
Primarily a research institute; degrees are awarded by partner universities. Access to facilities is competitive.
Best For
PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in physics, chemistry, materials science, energy, or life sciences, seeking to work at world-class large-scale research facilities.
Where this institution leans on metrology, quality and nanotechnologies, Empa - Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt does the same, and it runs the same master's and doctoral programmes and covers civil engineering as well.
For students who like the metrology, quality and bioinformatics focus of this institution but want another option nearby, Eawag - Eidgenössische Anstalt für Wasserversorgung, Abwasserreinigung und Gewässerschutz fits well: it covers marine science and geotechnics as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 150 students against roughly 300 here.
For students who like the metrology, quality and bioinformatics focus of this school but want another option nearby, Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft fits well: it runs the same master's and doctoral programmes and covers marine science and agriculture as well.
On content, EPFL and this school are close, as both teach metrology, bioinformatics and nanotechnologies; it is also a public institution and also offers bachelor's programmes.
Also strong in metrology, astroscience and quality, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich makes a sensible second look at home; it is far larger, with about 24,500 students against roughly 300 here, and is also a public institution.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
ESPCI Paris - PSL (France) works on the same fields as this institution, chiefly bioinformatics, nanotechnologies and signal processing; it runs the same master's and doctoral programmes and covers microbiology and genetics and optics as well.
Looking internationally, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas in Spain is where metrology, astroscience and quality get a comparable treatment; it is also a public institution and runs the same master's and doctoral programmes.
Barcelona Supercomputing Center - Centro Nacional de Supercomputación in Spain is the nearest foreign match on astroscience, bioinformatics and nanotechnologies; it covers agriculture and software engineering as well, and has almost the same size, at about 300 students.
ESBS (France) works on the same fields as this school, chiefly quality, bioinformatics and nanotechnologies; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely master's and doctoral.
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies brings a Japan setting to the same core fields, astroscience, bioinformatics and nanotechnologies, and it is larger, enrolling about 500 students against roughly 300 here, and is also a public institution.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
What is PSI?
The Paul Scherrer Institute, the largest research institute for natural and engineering sciences in Switzerland.
Is it a university?
No. It is a research institute that belongs to the ETH Domain and does not award its own degrees.
Where is it?
At Forschungsstrasse 111 in Villigen, in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland.
When was it created?
In 1988, by merging the Swiss Institute for Nuclear Research and the Federal Institute for Reactor Research.
How large is it?
About 2,100 staff, among them around 300 doctoral students.
Which large facilities does it operate?
The Swiss Light Source, the X-ray free-electron laser SwissFEL, the neutron source SINQ and a muon source.
What does it research?
Matter and materials, energy and the environment, and human health.
What is the Center for Proton Therapy?
A centre at PSI that treats cancer patients with proton beams, in cooperation with hospitals.
How can you do a doctorate there?
You register at ETH Zurich, EPFL or another university and carry out the research at PSI, usually with a salaried contract. Check the current calls.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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