PhD Circle is an association and global network of PhD professionals from around the world, spanning academia, research, startups, and business. Based in Zurich and founded in 2025, our goal is to encourage collaboration across disciplines, particularly between life sciences and artificial intelligence.

What started as a dream to bring together scholars from across the globe has grown into a thriving community of 177 members from 24 countries, including PhDs and postdocs from institutions such as ETH Zurich, Oxford, Yale, MIT, and UC Berkeley.

A commitment to mentorship and knowledge sharing lies at the heart of our community. We are proud to have a network of 66 active mentors who are experienced scientists, professors, and business people. They help early-career researchers and students with their academic or business journeys in a structured way.

We’ve launched Digital Labs to help people collaborate across borders. These virtual workspaces bring together experts from specific or diverse fields to work jointly across time zones. The labs enable real-time feedback, project co-development, and mentorship for writing research proposals, improving scientific publications, or preparing for startup pitches.

PhD Circle also hosts monthly scientific talks, themed webinars, and in-person retreats that foster both intellectual growth and a strong sense of community. These gatherings are more than events – they are opportunities to reconnect and reflect.

Curiosity, mutual support, and the belief that research can and should make a difference in the real world are what make our community strong. PhD Circle is a place to grow, give back, and connect with like-minded people; whether you are pursuing your PhD, mentoring others, or leading innovation in your field.