The Roche Postdoctoral Fellowship programme was established within Roche to build and maintain the Scientific Leadership of the future. The programme provides leading internal scientists with the opportunity to collaborate with talented postdoctoral researchers, and leading academic research groups, from around the world.
More specifically, the RPF Programme aims to:
Foster creative science as a basis for innovation.
Seek and develop new scientific knowledge; exploiting emerging science, technologies and methods.
Collaborate and partner with leading academic research groups, for a defined period of time, on a specific RPF R&D project of strategic value.
Develop scientific talents with a Roche Postdoctoral Fellowship for 2 to 4 years. RPFs are mentored by both an excellent internal scientist, at Roche, and a world class Academic researcher .
One of the key aims is to advance basic science and technologies that will be published in top-rated, peer-reviewed scientific journals, if necessary preceded by priority patent applications.
Current Roche Postdoctoral Fellows
Currently we have approximately 80 ongoing RPF collaborations covering an exciting range of innovative, intellectually stimulating, research programmes which encompass and focus on cutting-edge scientific endeavors on a world-wide stage.
Once a year we host a unique event where we invite the Roche Postdoctoral Fellows to one of our global pRED research sites: Basel, Zurich, Munich, Copenhagen, London, New York and Shanghai. The symposium is a major success where vibrant scientific debate, both through poster sessions and oral presentations, between Roche Postdoctoral Fellows, Roche employees and academic mentors, allows a plethora of new ideas to be generated.
The application process
Unique aspects of research applications to the Roche Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme are that they can be submitted by any Roche scientist and get approved from within the pRED organization through a demanding scientific research proposal review process. One of the key requirements for fellowships is that the Roche mentor can identify a leading academic collaboration partner and extremely talented postdoctoral researcher.
If you have the skills, passion, and commitment to innovate healthcare through our Roche Postdoc Fellowship Programme explore the currenlty open position in theCareer portal. How to look for RPF Job Ads: Add "postdoc" in the search field, and select "Research & Development" as Function, and "Entry Level" as the job level.
Please check that the RPF Programme is mentioned in the job description, to be sure that the Postdoc position is within the Fellowship.
If you want to know how the RPF programme is impacting individuals and offering outstanding researchers the opportunity to collaborate with scientific and medical impact, read the collection of impressions from some of the RPF participants.
Where do you come from and where and what did you study?
I come from Münster, Germany where I graduated in Molecular Biomedicine.
Why did you decide to join the Roche RPF programme?
In my opinion, the RPF offered the perfect transition from Academia into Industry. The collaboration with internal Roche scientists and researchers from the University College London gave me the opportunity to take the most from both parts.
In which DTA function are you currently working and where is it located?
My laboratory is in the Ophthalmology department, called NORD, and it is located in pRED Innovation Center of Basel.
What are the all day activities assigned to your role?
My current assignment is a typical postdoctoral research project. We study the retinal endothelial barrier function and conduct experiments using cutting-edge technologies in phosphor-proteomics and bioinformatics. My day to day activities are diverse methods in the lab, ranging from planning and evaluation of experiments, to participation at meetings and international conferences. In addition, I am responsible for the training of master students.
"A program with external mentors where you have the academic and the industry side gives you the opportunity to take the most from both parts." - Verena K
The collaboration between Roche and academic affiliation is the prominent characteristic of the programme. To what extent does this collaboration contribute to the progress of your project?
The main advantage of the programme is the exchange with different mentors. In my case, the academic and the industrial approaches gave me the opportunity to deepen my scientific expertise. In addition, it might facilitate the publication in high-impact journals. Both my internal and external mentors were very supportive. Tele conferences and meetings were organized on a regular basis to review the outcomes and to discuss the future direction of the project.
How did the RPF help you advance in your career?
Thanks to this experience I was able to build a broad network with top scientists in Roche and other companies. The programme offered an insight into the pharmaceutical company. I know now in which direction I would like to develop professionally.
What would you advise Post-doc seekers who would like to join us?
I would definitely recommend this programme. Apply for the projects you feel passionate about and take advantage of the expertise of both your internal and external mentors. The programme is limited to two years, but you can still rely on an extension if the project develops in a promising way.
Where do you come from and what did you study?
After receiving my PhD from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee (WI, USA), I moved to San Diego (CA, USA) where I now study Alzheimer’s Disease at the University of California- San Diego.
What convinced you to join the Roche RPF programme?
By joining the RPF programme I was able to network with additional mentors outside of my University and to gain an inside perspective of the industry while working in an academic laboratory.
Where do your mentors reside?
My academic mentor, Prof. Lawrence Goldstein, is the leader of my research group and my Roche Mentors reside in the pRED Roche Innovation Center of Basel in the Neuroscience department, known as NORD.
What are the all day activities assigned to your role?
My post-doctoral position in Lawrence Goldstein’s Laboratory entails the in-depth analyses of Alzheimer’s disease risk factors. I design and perform experiments, present data at the lab meetings, department seminar series and professional meetings. Moreover, my position allows me to partake in career and professional development programs, and to mentor undergraduate students.
"I had the opportunity to attend the RFP symposium in Basel to network with other postdoctoral researchers and see inside view of a pharmaceutical company."
The collaboration between Roche and academic affiliation is the prominent characteristic of the programme. To what extent does this collaboration contribute to the progress of your project?
The close collaboration with Roche and academic scientists permitted me to develop a deep and comprehensive understanding of the disease area. Additionally, I had the opportunity to attend the annual RFP Symposium in Basel and therefore to network with other postdoctoral researchers gaining an insight into the pharmaceutical company.
How has the RPF helped you in your career?
The RPF programme has influenced my career path by allowing me to travel to their Basel facility to experience a career in a biotech/pharmaceutical company.
What would you advise Post-doc seekers who would like to join us?
