To increase the number of women in research, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) annually awards a limited number of Marie Heim-Vögtlin* (MHV) grants.
MHV grants are geared at female doctoral and postdoctoral candidates within all disciplines funded by the SNSF and aim to facilitate the grantee's research project. The MHV grants support the grantee's integration in a host institution at a Swiss university or ETH. The MHV programme preferably offers support where no other means of re-integration exist.
In order to achieve sustained re-integration, the host institution has to provide not only a written declaration of acceptance and job confirmation, but also a continuing financial commitment following the expiry of the MHV grant (cf. MHV Regulations, Article 4/2).
Conditions of participation
- For women scientists, whose scientific career was delayed or interrupted due to family obligations (children) or a change of residence as a result
of their partner’s career development
- Licentiate, diploma/master or doctorate
- Continuation of research activity at a university in Switzerland. Universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education: an affiliation of the applicant to a Swiss university is obligatory
- Work-time percentage: at least 50%
- Duration: maximum of two years (in well-founded cases: maximum prolongation of one year)
- No age limit
Selection procedure
The selection procedure takes place in two phases:
In the first phase, the National Research Council resp. the evaluation commissions assess all applications that fulfill the formal criteria, and select the candidates (approx. 50%) to be invited for an interview during which they will also give a Powerpoint presentation (phase 2).
With a success rate of around 37%, approx. 35-40 new MHV grants are awarded per year.
Call for applications and submission
Applications may only be submitted during an open call. The application, to be submitted via mySNF only, must include a research and career plan, a detailed CV, a publication list, the above-mentioned letter of acceptance from the host institution and a letter of recommendation.
Next call for applications: 2 May 2012
Next submission deadline: 2 August 2012
Start of the grant: 1 February 2013 at the earliest
mySNF: To meet the submission deadline, a mySNF user account must be requested two weeks before the submission deadline at the latest.
Guidelines for the preparation and submission of proposals will be available on the internet as of May 2012 by the opening of the next call for proposals. Please consult our website again then.
Follow-up applications
Follow-up applications must be submitted via mySNF 5 months before the end of the current MHV grant at the latest.
Childbirth and maternity leave during the MHV grant period
If a child is born during the MHV grant period, the MHV grant holder must report the birth and claim four months' maternity leave without delay in writing from the SNSF.
If the grant holder wishes to extend the four-month period with an unpaid maternity leave, she must submit a written request, accompanied by a letter of support from the host institution.
*) In memory of the first Swiss female doctor in Medical Sciences, Marie Heim-Vögtlin (1845-1916)