Faculty / program leadership: Project-specific ARI program and focus-area leader
Profile completeness88%
Comprehensive · Missing funding
✓ Primary programme source linked✓ Dated source review current✓ Current cycle evidenced✓ Faculty identity sourced✓ Institution mark verified
DECISION SUMMARY
What matters before you keep reading.
Eligibility
Requirements published
Funding
Not published
Deadline
30 September 2026 for the 2028 fellowship intake
Duration
12 months; exceptionally 6 months when sufficiently justified in the application
Hands-on
No hands-on role indicated
Last checked
15 Aug 2026
Duration · published12 months; exceptionally 6 months when sufficiently justified in the application
Clinical exposureFull-time, on-site preclinical and translational musculoskeletal R&D in Regenerative Orthopaedics, Biomedical Development or Preclinical Services; the fellowship is non-clinical and has no patient interaction
Funding · not publishedA stipend covering living costs in Davos for one person is provided; the amount is not published. Self-financed applications with external institutional, society, foundation or government funding are also encouraged.
DestinationSwitzerland
Participation levelNon-clinical research role; no patient interaction is described.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT CHECK
What the official evidence currently supports
Decision-critical fields are separated into confirmed facts, partial information and points requiring direct confirmation.
—Not published
International applicant eligibility
The cited source does not explicitly confirm international-applicant eligibility.
✓Published by official source
Required training level
Surgeon or scientist able to undertake a full-time on-site research project in Davos · State preferred ARI focus areas in order of priority · Select an AO specialty connection: AO CMF, AO Spine, AO Trauma or AO VET · Successful selection and eligibility for the required Swiss work visa
✓Published by official source
Programme classification
Research-only or non-clinical participation is described.
?Confirm directly with host
Hands-on restrictions
Hands-on participation and operative restrictions are not explicitly published.
≈Partially published
Medical registration
This is not a clinical fellowship and does not include patient interaction; Swiss clinical registration is therefore not presented as part of the programme.
?Confirm directly with host
Licensing examinations
Any examination requirement must be confirmed with the relevant regulator and host.
✓Published by official source
Language requirements
The official programme page does not publish a formal language-test requirement.
≈Partially published
Visa or work authorisation
The appointment can start only after successful approval of the required Swiss work visa. The official page does not offer visa assistance for accompanying relatives.
✓Published by official source
Funding availability
A stipend covering living costs in Davos for one person is provided; the amount is not published. Self-financed applications with external institutional, society, foundation or government funding are also encouraged.
DATA QUALITY & AVAILABILITY
86% of core application fields verified
Checked 15 Aug 2026. Next scheduled editorial review: 2027-02-11. Every unresolved field keeps its exact evidence state—unpublished, not yet researched, historical, conflicting, inaccessible or not applicable—so an absence is never converted into a fact.
✓ programme title✓ institution / department✓ city and country✓ programme classification✓ subspecialty✓ current status evidence✓ duration✓ commencement / intake✓ benefits✓ accommodation / relocation✓ eligibility✓ registration✓ visa / work authorisation✓ deadline✓ application process✓ required documents✓ application portal✓ official contact✓ faculty✓ verified faculty photograph✓ verified institution logo✓ official source✓ institutional source✓ accreditation / organisation source✓ verification date— positions · queued for source review— Funding information not published · queued for source review— international eligibility · queued for source review— Language requirement not published · queued for source review
APPLICATION TIMELINE & CONTACT
Plan the application
Application deadline30 September 2026 for the 2028 fellowship intake
Commencing date2028; the exact start date is arranged after selection, contract and Swiss work-visa approval
Application route / cycleNo places remain for 2026 or 2027. Applications for 2028 close 30 September 2026, with decisions communicated by January 2027.
Official contactClaudia Barblan · Manager Administrative Services, AO Research Institute Davos+41 81 414 21 11
Deadlines and intake dates can change between cycles. The data-quality ledger above explicitly labels application fields that the cited official source does not publish.
ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS
Published entry requirements
Clinical / academic eligibility
Surgeon or scientist able to undertake a full-time on-site research project in Davos
State preferred ARI focus areas in order of priority
Select an AO specialty connection: AO CMF, AO Spine, AO Trauma or AO VET
Successful selection and eligibility for the required Swiss work visa
Registration, licence & examinations
This is not a clinical fellowship and does not include patient interaction; Swiss clinical registration is therefore not presented as part of the programme.
Visa / work authorisation
The appointment can start only after successful approval of the required Swiss work visa. The official page does not offer visa assistance for accompanying relatives.
Application documents
Completed ARI fellowship application form
Curriculum vitae
Cover letter explaining motivation, preferred ARI focus areas and requested AO specialty connection
Two signed recommendation letters with referee contact details
Electronic copies of all certificates
Licensing, visa and document rules depend on the individual programme and application cycle. OrthoFellow does not infer USMLE, AHPRA, ECFMG, recommendation-letter or visa requirements from the country alone.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What this program offers
A non-clinical, on-site AO research fellowship for surgeons and scientists. Fellows are assigned to a project according to their ranked ARI focus-area interests and select a connection to AO CMF, AO Spine, AO Trauma or AO VET. The programme offers research training and a single-person living stipend but no patient care.
BENEFITS & SUPPORT
Published benefits and support
Project-based research training, tangible research outputs, possible publication co-authorship depending on duration and contribution, an ARI fellowship certificate, one AO book, one year of appropriate AO clinical-division membership and access to an international multidisciplinary R&D network.
Benefits may depend on appointment type, training level, visa status and the active academic year. OrthoFellow keeps stipend and benefits separate so a salary figure is not mistaken for the full package.
ACCOMMODATION & RELOCATION
Published housing information
✓ Official source mentions accommodation
⌂
The stipend is designed for one person. AO refers to single-room tenant agreements, but does not publish the rental price or guarantee. Family members must use separate accommodation; no family, relative-visa or pet support is provided.
Housing availability, rent, deposits, utilities and relocation support can change by intake and appointment type. OrthoFellow does not estimate living costs unless an official source publishes them.
HOST INSTITUTION
About AO Research Institute Davos
AO Research Institute Davos is the AO Foundation's multidisciplinary R&D institute in Davos. Its three published program areas are Regenerative Orthopaedics, Biomedical Development and Preclinical Services.
Director, AO Research Institute DavosOfficial profile & photo verified
Current position
Fellowship supervisor / program leadership
Affiliation
AO Research Institute Davos
Clinical focus
Research training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
R Geoff Richards is listed in the cited programme evidence as director, ao research institute davos for AO Research Institute Davos Medical Research Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Research training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
AO lists Prof R Geoff Richards as Director of the institute overseeing its multidisciplinary orthopaedic research structure.
Vice Director · Program Leader, Regenerative OrthopaedicsOfficial profile & photo verified
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
AO Research Institute Davos
Clinical focus
Progenitor-cell biology, mechanoregulation and musculoskeletal tissue regeneration
Qualifications
PhD, Professor, FRSB, FIOR
Martin Stoddart is listed in the cited programme evidence as vice director · program leader, regenerative orthopaedics for AO Research Institute Davos Medical Research Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Progenitor-cell biology, mechanoregulation and musculoskeletal tissue regeneration. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Prof Stoddart has led ARI's Regenerative Orthopaedics program since 2020. His official profile describes research in progenitor-cell fate and musculoskeletal tissue repair, more than 150 papers and book chapters, and academic appointments in European institutions.
Program Leader, Biomedical DevelopmentOfficial profile & photo verified
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
AO Research Institute Davos
Clinical focus
Biomechanical testing, computational analysis and biomedical technology development
Qualifications
PD, PhD
Peter Varga is listed in the cited programme evidence as program leader, biomedical development for AO Research Institute Davos Medical Research Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Biomechanical testing, computational analysis and biomedical technology development. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Peter Varga is listed by the official programme source as program leader, biomedical development. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Program Leader, Preclinical Services · Focus Area Leader, SurgeryOfficial profile & photo verified
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
AO Research Institute Davos
Clinical focus
Preclinical surgery and translational study services
Qualifications
Dr med vet, PhD
Stephan Zeiter is listed in the cited programme evidence as program leader, preclinical services · focus area leader, surgery for AO Research Institute Davos Medical Research Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Preclinical surgery and translational study services. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Stephan Zeiter is listed by the official programme source as program leader, preclinical services · focus area leader, surgery. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Names and fellowship roles come from the cited programme source. A green “individual profile verified” label means the position, qualifications and biography were also checked against an official personal or institutional profile. OrthoFellow displays a portrait only when it can be tied to an official profile or faculty source; otherwise the host institution brandmark is shown, with initials retained only when neither image is available. Faculty rosters may change.
PROGRAM HISTORY
Published fellowship history
The official page publishes current and former international medical research fellows and their projects. It currently states that the 2026 and 2027 cohorts are full and that the next available intake is 2028.
APPLICANT PROFILE
Motivated surgeons and scientists seeking on-site research training in clinically relevant orthopaedic R&D
