The SNSF professorships of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) enable junior researchers with several years of recognised research experience to make a significant step forward in their academic careers. An SNSF professorship funds the establishment of an independent team to implement a research project. In addition, it also enables researchers to resume their careers at a Swiss higher education institution on returning from a stay abroad.
SNSF professorships are awarded for all SNSF-supported disciplines. The funding covers the salary of the applicant (at assistant professor level), a contribution to research costs (incl. collaborators) and a contribution to infrastructure costs.
The duration of this grant is four years and can be extended by a maximum of two years. Women are especially encouraged to submit applications. Part-time professorships and exceptions from the academic age may be considered.
Conditions of participation
- Doctorate
- Publications in high-level journals
- Postdoctoral research experience of no less than two years and no more than nine years
- Several years of research activities at institutions other than where the candidate obtained the doctorate, generally including at least one year abroad
- Swiss university degree or at least two years of activity at a Swiss university at the time of the submission deadline
In addition, the following qualifications are desirable:
- Experience in teaching and project management
- Collaborative experience with researchers and institutions in Switzerland and abroad
Specific conditions for young researchers in the fields of clinical orientated research
The SNSF has specific conditions in place to promote young researchers in the fields of clinical orientated research: 50% of the working time are reserved for research, 50% are available for clinical activities.
Selection procedure
A personal dossier, including a project outline, has to be submitted by the deadline for the ongoing call for applications (Stage 1). The Research Council of the SNSF uses these documents to produce a shortlist. The shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit a detailed application and to present their research plans at an interview (Stage 2). Each year, 30 – 40 grants will be awarded. The earliest possible date for the release of funding is 1 March of the year after the call for applications was announced.
Please note, that the host institution will need some time to examine whether it may accept you as a guest. Therefore, please contact the host institution as soon as possible.
Call for applications and submission
All application documents should be submitted electronically via the web platform mySNF. Documents submitted as hard-copy can only be accepted in exceptional cases if agreed with the SNSF prior to submission.
Applications for these grants may only be submitted in response to a specific call. Any documents submitted outside this period cannot be processed until after the submission deadline for the next call for applications.
Next call for applications: 2 February 2013
Next submission deadline: 2 May 2013
Start of the grant: 1 March 2014 at earliest
mySNF: To meet the submission deadline a mySNF user account must be requested two weeks before the submission deadline at the latest.