(Situation on 26 May 2020; first version: 11 March 2020: in addition to stays abroad under a mobility fellowship, this communication also concerns any
conferences planned in the context of a fellowship).
Researchers planning or conducting a stay abroad must follow the advice issued by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), as well as by the responsible authorities in the countries in question.
Fellowship holders who are already in an affected region must respect the directives issued by the local authorities. In the event that they need to return to Switzerland, they must inform the responsible cantonal authorities in Switzerland and follow their instructions, including with regard to quarantine measures.
Besides respecting the recommendations issued by the responsible authorities, the fellowship holder should monitor the situation in the areas in question and take appropriate measures should the risk level go up or their personal safety be threatened. The SNSF must be informed without delay.
Options to be weighed by researchers
We all know that conditions in Switzerland and abroad could change rapidly. Therefore, fellowship holders and candidates - whose personal situations may vary - should take into consideration the following possibilities with a view to finding a solution:
- They can ask the SNSF to postpone the start date of the stay if this is manageable for them and does not breach any of the travel guidelines issued by the authorities in Switzerland and abroad. Furthermore, regarding the start of the grant which has to take place within 12 months after the decision letter, they can extend the deadline for another 6 months; this will give them 18 months since the project was approved to request payment of the grant and to start their project; in such a case, they have to inform the SNSF about the extension by email or at a later stage via the "Request for release of funds" form in mySNF; the message will be sufficient, they don’t need to submit an application;
- They can find another research location, while respecting the travel guidelines issued by the authorities in Switzerland and in the country in question, and ask the SNSF to change their file accordingly (please include a letter of invitation from the new host institution in your request);
- They may ask the SNSF for permission to remain in Switzerland for a certain period of time (for example, 2-4 months) in order to find a solution, i.e. primarily to find a host institution in Switzerland. Regarding the duration, the SNSF will take account of each individual case to ensure that researchers are able to find a solution during this exceptional period. We will also ensure that the duration in Switzerland and the stay abroad are proportionate, with in principle a maximum of one third to be conducted in Switzerland. For any such period conducted in Switzerland, researchers could consider continuing their research work using teleworking technology, provided their host institution (abroad) approves. Fellowship holders who can’t start their fellowship, for example by teleworking or linking with an institute in Switzerland, should contact the SNSF to discuss their situation if they have no other source of income to cover their living costs and do not qualify for any social insurance benefits.
- Researchers already based abroad who must interrupt their research are requested to contact the SNSF directly in order to establish to what extent a) a temporary suspension of their fellowship or b) teleworking (given the approval of the host institution) might be an option for them, or c) an extension is necessary (see below).
Extension of mobility fellowships
There are two types of extension: a cost-neutral extension and, if necessary, an extension with a supplementary grant.
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Cost-neutral extensions: as far as possible, the research activity should be organised in a way that enables you to keep to the schedule and the budget of the SNSF grant. Should your project nevertheless be delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, you can apply for an extension. Researchers whose project ends before 31 December 2020 can extend it cost-neutrally by a maximum of 6 months. All they need to do is inform the SNSF about the extension by writing to
fellowships@snf.ch. Fellowship holders whose project ends after 31 December 2020 are requested to ask for a cost-neutral extension 2 to 4 months before the end of their project.
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Extension with additional funding, if necessary, for fellowships that end by 31 December 2020: around 400 researchers will conclude their mobility fellowship between 30 April and 31 December 2020. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, many researchers cannot do their work or are limited in what they can achieve. The SNSF is therefore introducing a special measure that will allow those affected to extend their fellowship by two months. To cover the costs, it will make available 4 million francs. Researchers can apply for this extension on mySNF as a supplementary grant with the reference "Covid-19". Researchers need to submit their applications before the end of the project on the mySNF platform using the form "Supplementary grants". We will approve these applications at speed and with minimal paperwork. For the time being, the supplementary grant will provide a maximum extension of 2 months. If this unprecedented situation persists, the SNSF will reassess the deadlines.
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Extension with additional funding, if necessary, for fellowships ending after 31 December 2020: if your project ends after 31 December 2020, you should first of all organise and modify your research activity in a way that allows you to finish the project on time. If you should later require additional funding in spite of such changes, you can request a supplementary grant based on the delay caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. You will need to submit this request 2 to 4 months before the end of your fellowship.
For holders of a
Postdoc.Mobility return grant, duly engaged in Switzerland, the general provisions of the SNSF apply. These holders have to refer to the
FAQ valid for the other SNSF funding schemes.
For the time being, fellowship holders may extend the deadline for submission of
scientific and financial reports by a maximum of 2 months by sending a corresponding request to
fellowships@snf.ch. If this exceptional situation persists, the SNSF will reassess the deadlines. If necessary, fellowship holders may adapt their research plan at their own discretion to accommodate the special circumstances created by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, these changes must be mentioned in the scientific report.
For
conferences, researchers should take account the following points:
If their conference is cancelled because of the coronavirus, or if they are not able to help organise or take part in the conference under the rules issued by the country in question or because they belong to a group of people who are particularly at risk, the SNSF will cover the costs, provided that:
a) the latter are not reimbursed by the organiser, the hotel, the airline, etc.
b) the damage is not covered by the researcher's travel insurance.
SNSF fellowship holders should keep all supporting documents and receipts so that they can submit them at the end of their fellowship together with the final financial report.
A grant for participation in another conference may be requested at a later date when the situation has improved. We will take note of the fact that any further conferences will have to take place during the funding period of the fellowship or, should this not be possible, no more than four months after the end of the fellowship.
Any questions? Problems?
In case of questions or problems, fellowship holders and candidates can contact fellowships@snf.ch.
fellowships@snf.ch
The SNSF aims to facilitate early independence for researchers as it is expected to increase their chances of pursuing of a research career. To this end, the SNSF has modified its career funding schemes and, in particular, reduced the eligibility windows for Postdoc.Mobility, Ambizione and Eccellenza. When choosing between an Early Postdoc.Mobility and a Postdoc.Mobility application, applicants should consider the following points: their own interest in expediting their careers (the eligibility windows of Ambizione and Eccellenza have been reduced)), the date of the exam or viva voce and their planning for these events, their personal situation and the special features of the relevant discipline. Researchers who opt for an Early Postdoc.Mobility application and expect to continue their stay abroad at a later stage under a Postdoc.Mobility fellowship should ensure that they meet the formal requirements for the submission of Postdoc.Mobility applications, particularly with regard to the reduced time windows. An important difference between the two schemes is that only Postdoc.Mobility offers researchers the option of a return grant covering a period of research in Switzerland. The SNSF plans to apply similar success rates to the two schemes. Furthermore, the Early Postdoc.Mobility and Postdoc.Mobility fellowships rates are the same.
Postdoc.Mobility grants can only be requested for periods where no other funding has been awarded by the SNSF or third parties and no other career grants have been applied for. However, it is possible to apply for funding or for a return grant starting after expiry of the Postdoc.Mobility fellowship. During the evaluation process for a return grant, it is also possible to submit a parallel application for an Ambizione, PRIMA, orEccellenza.
Please check that you fulfill all participation requirements on the date of the submission deadline for Postdoc.Mobility. If this is the case, you need to create a new Postdoc.Mobility application in mySNF. In the container "Link to other SNSF projects", please enter the number of your Early Postdoc.Mobility fellowship. Please indicate (under "type of relationship") if the Postdoc.Mobility project is a scientific follow-up of the Early Postdoc.Mobility project or if it is a new project. Please also mention how you will be financed if there is gap between the end of the Early Postdoc.Mobility fellowship and the possible start of the Postdoc.Mobility fellowship.
Yes, foreign candidates who are already funded by an Early Postdoc.Mobility fellowship and who therefore do not hold a valid Swiss permanent residence or residence permit anymore may submit an application for a Postdoc.Mobility fellowship in order to extend their research stay abroad (min 12 months; the funding period of 36 months abroad comprising mobility fellowships for Early Postdoc.Mobility and Postdoc.Moblity may not be exceeded), as long as they fulfill the requirements according to the Postdoc.Mobility Regulations. The beginning of the Postdoc.Mobility fellowship must start directly after the end of the Early Postdoc.Mobility fellowship. Exceptions can be considered if the Postdoc.Mobility application is submitted while the Early Postdoc.Mobility fellowship is still ongoing and the beginning of the Postdoc.Mobility fellowship starts at the latest 6 months after the end of the Early Postdoc.Mobility fellowship. In these cases the candidate must be financed by the host institute after the end of the Early Postdoc.Mobility fellowship (the institute confirms in a letter the duration of its own financing). In other cases, the situation must be clarified before the submission of the application with the SNSF.
According to current practice, the funding period of 36 months comprising EPM und PM /APM fellowships may generally not be exceeded. As holder of an EPM fellowship lasting 18 months, you would therefore have the option to request a Postdoc.Mobility fellowship for at the most another 18 months.
Yes, candidates (Swiss nationals or foreigners) who are already funded by an Advanced Postdoc.Mobility fellowship may submit a follow-up application. The funding period of 36 months abroad comprising mobility fellowships for Advanced Postdoc.Mobility and Postdoc.Moblity may not be exceeded. The beginning of the Postdoc.Mobility fellowship must in principle start directly after the end of the Advanced Postdoc.Mobility fellowship but at the latest 6 months after the end of the Advanced Postdoc.Mobility fellowship. However, no follow-up applications will be possible under the Postdoc.Mobility funding scheme.
A further stay or return at the institution of education, where the bachelor's or master's degree (or equivalent) or the PhD was obtained, is formally not possible. However, a research stay at the same geographic location (e.g. city) but at a different institution (other than the institution of education) is formally possible. In this context, it should nevertheless be noted that the expected extent of mobility represents an important evaluation criterion. It is a primary aim of the mobility fellowships to promote the mobility and related aspects (promotion of the scientific independence, improvement of the scientific/academic profile).
Concerning the return period, the regulations do not formally exclude the possibility to return to the place of education. However, such a choice could be critically evaluated with regard to the increasing independence expected from Postdoc.Mobility fellowship holders and with regard to the chances to pursue an academic career. The return period must be conducted at a Swiss higher education research center.
No, there is no
age limit. However, the scientific track record and the prospects of achieving
an academic career are part of the evaluation criteria and the age of the
candidate can play a role in this
context.
You should clarify as early as possible whether a stay at the host institution is subject to any conditions. For example, some host institutions ask fellowship holders to contribute a sum of money towards the institution's overhead. The SNSF does not cover any overhead costs incurred at host institutions abroad, however. The host institution may also ask for funds to cover the research costs. The SNSF can contribute a maximum of CHF 3,000 per year towards research costs if certain requirements are met. Fellowship holders who bring their own financial contribution for covering living costs should generally receive adequate support from their host institution; this support should encompass, among other things, infrastructure as well as any consumables. In this context, please take note of the "Information set SNSF mobility fellowships". Please also clarify your status at the host institution. Some host institutes, especially in France, demand that fellowship holders be officially employed at the institution and that the SNSF directly transfers the fellowship to the host institution. In such cases, it is possible that a large portion of the fellowship is spent on social security contributions. The amount that ought to be available to the fellowship holders to cover their living costs is therefore reduced. Another solution, which may enable to keep the fellowship’s amount unchanged, would be that the beneficiary of the fellowship considers with the host institution the possibilities of signing a “hosting agreement for volunteer researchers” (“convention d’accueil pour chercheur/chercheuse bénévole”, similar status as for Researchers Emeritus).
Some host institutes, especially in the USA, also require minimum rates for their researchers, which may depend on the academic age after the PhD. Please clarify this with the responsible offices at the host institute as early as possible. The fellowship rates defined by the SNSF are binding for the year of approval. If the host institution increases the financial requirements, the SNSF will not be able to adjust the fellowship accordingly. In such a case, the SNSF expects the host institution to cover any financial gap.
The mobility fellowship must be started no later than twelve months after the date of the ruling. Upon request, it may be possible to postpone the beginning for a further twelve months in case of important reasons such as an illness, an accident or family duties. The grantee must submit with her/his justified request a new confirmation letter from the host institute and eventually an updated research plan. Other funds received, for example another fellowship, do not represent a valid reason to postpone the beginning for more than twelve months.