OpenFieldCitizen Science Zurich Seed Grant for Participatory Research
Competitive seed grant funding novel, highly participatory research projects jointly developed by researchers from UZH/ETH Zurich and community citizen scientists.
Citizen Science Zurich: Participatory Science & Open Data Research Guide
Jointly founded and funded by the University of Zurich (UZH) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Citizen Science Zurich (Partizipative Wissenschaftsakademie - CSZ) is a premier European competence centre for participatory research and public engagement. CSZ empowers scientists, civic groups, and citizens to co-create scientific inquiries across environmental monitoring, digital linguistics, urban biodiversity, and digital health.
Verified degree programs and opportunities
Review checked academic pathways and funding options below:
Master of Science in Environmental Sciences (Participatory Ecology Specialization)
Two-year elite graduate degree at ETH Zurich integrating ecosystem dynamics, statistical modeling, remote sensing, and citizen science sensor networks for biodiversity conservation.
Joint UZH-ETH Salaried PhD in Participatory Science & Public Health Informatics
Four-year salaried doctoral research appointment developing open-source digital crowdsensing mobile platforms, data privacy protocols, and citizen validation algorithms.
Zurich Urban Microclimate & Air Quality Mobile Crowdsensing Project
Participatory atmospheric research investigation deploying hundreds of calibrated IoT sensor nodes on citizen bicycles to map fine particulate matter (PM2.5) across metropolitan Zurich.
Citizen Science Zurich Digital Tools & Open Science Internship
Six-month software development internship enhancing the CSZ Project Builder platform, implementing machine-assisted image classification and gamified data annotation workflows.
CSZ Postdoctoral Fellowship in Participatory Research Methodologies
Two-year postdoctoral research appointment evaluating epistemological standards, public engagement impact metrics, and data governance in large-scale participatory science projects.
University of Zurich & ETH Zurich Excellence Grant in Open Science Innovation
Competitive grant supporting early-career scholars developing reproducible open-science workflows, FAIR data repositories, and community-validated knowledge graphs at UZH and ETH Zurich.
Admissions, language requirements & application process
- Master's admission eligibility
- Accredited Bachelor of Science or Arts from an internationally recognized university; enrollment through affiliated degree programs at UZH or ETH Zurich.
- Doctoral admission eligibility
- Master's degree (MSc/MA) with distinction; doctoral researchers enroll at UZH or ETH Zurich doctoral schools and affiliate with CSZ participatory research groups.
- Language proficiency
- German or English proficiency at C1 level (IELTS 7.0+ or TOEFL iBT 100) according to doctoral program guidelines.
- Research statement / Proposal
- Required for CSZ seed grants and doctoral affiliations: 2,500-word participatory research proposal co-designed with citizen partners and academic co-investigators.
- Application fee
- CHF 100 application fee for matriculation at University of Zurich / ETH Zurich.
- Required documentation
- Bachelor's and Master's degree diplomas, transcripts with grading scale, CV, letters of academic and community reference, and research proposal.
Tuition fees and verified scholarship systems
Doctoral students affiliated with Citizen Science Zurich hold fully salaried academic appointments under Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and Canton of Zurich guidelines (annual PhD salaries range from CHF 48,000 to CHF 55,000). Postdoctoral fellows earn between CHF 85,000 and CHF 100,000 per year. Standard semester matriculation fees at UZH / ETH Zurich are approximately CHF 720 to CHF 730.
Verified faculty profiles and research leaders
Distinguished researchers and laboratory heads at Citizen Science Zurich:
Dr. Maria Santos
Professor of Earth System Science & Director of Citizen Science Zurich · Earth System Science, Biodiversity Monitoring, Spatial Ecology, Participatory Remote Sensing
Dr. Mike Martin
Professor of Gerontopsychology & Co-Founder of Citizen Science Zurich · Healthy Ageing, Everyday Behavioral Dynamics, Participatory Health, Real-World Data Science
Dr. Rosy Mondardini
Managing Director, Citizen Science Zurich (UZH / ETH Zurich) · Participatory Research Methodologies, Citizen Science Ethics, Public Engagement with Science, Open Innovation
Important verification note
Facts reflect official Citizen Science Zurich documentation reviewed 2026-10-15. Degree admissions, scholarship awards, and employment positions are subject to formal university review. OpenField does not charge students application fees.
Reviewed 2026-10-15 · Editorial standards · Report an issue