The SNSF awards Practice-to-Science grants to qualified experts with proven practical experience who wish to join a university of applied sciences or a university of teacher education as a professor, and to newly appointed professors at a university of applied sciences or a university of teacher education who wish to strengthen the academic component of their dual scientific-practical skill profile. The time-limited positions offer the opportunity of obtaining higher qualifications and converting to a permanent position.
The PtS grants are available in all disciplines taught at universities of higher education and universities of teacher education. They are expected to contribute towards making use-inspired research more competitive.
The PtS grants comprise an amount of maximum 200,000 francs per year for a maximum duration of three years. They cover part of the project costs and/or part of the grantee's salary up to a maximum work-time percentage of 50% (or 0.5 FTE).
Introduced by the SNSF as a pilot project in 2020, the Practice-to-Science scheme has now been extended by a year.
Participation requirements
The main participation requirements are listed below.
Please read the Practice-to-Science Regulations or contact the SNSF if you are not sure whether you meet the participation requirements.
The precise periods are calculated on the basis of the submission deadline for Practice-to-Science grants.
- Applicants must have a doctorate or an equivalent qualification (i.e. three years conducting research as their main source of income since their higher education degree).
- Applicants must have three years of practical experience (full-time) that is relevant to the research field and the proposed research project.
- For the duration of the PtS grant, grant holders must be able to devote at least 0.5 FTE (50%) to their research work.
- Applicants must be able to show that they are employed as a professor at a university of applied sciences or a university of teacher education for the duration of the requested PtS grant (first day of employment at the earliest 24 months before the day of the submission deadline) or prove that they have been assured of such a position as of the date start date of the PtS grant at the latest.
How To
Application
How to submit an application
Applications must be submitted via the mySNF platform.
Evaluation procedure
PtS applications are evaluated in two phases.
Evaluation procedure of the SNSF
Documents
Forms, regulations and guidelines
Members of the evaluation bodies
The list contains the names of the members of the Practice-to-Science evaluation body. This core panel can be expanded depending on the number of applications submitted. For the SNSF, interaction between applicants and members of evaluation bodies over applications is not compatible with academic best practices.
Evaluation Commission Practice-to-Science
Supplementary measures
FAQ
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No, exceptions are not envisaged.
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You may not hold any other career grants of the SNSF for the duration of the PtS grant. However, there are no restrictions regarding the funding schemes of other divisions.
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A PtS grant runs for between one and three years. The duration needs to be fixed when the application is submitted. Once the grant has been awarded, in principle no extensions are granted (exceptions to this rule are specified in paragraph 5.4 of the General implementation regulations for the Funding Regulations).
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You don't have to be employed as an assistant professor at a university of applied sciences or university of teacher education at the time of submission. However, you need to submit a written confirmation guaranteeing that you will be employed as an assistant professor by the start date of the PtS grant at the latest.
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The Practice-to-Science grant can cover salary costs up to a maximum work-time percentage of 50%.
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The university of applied sciences or the university of teacher education where you are employed must allow you to devote at least 50% of your work-time (or 0.5 FTE) to your own independent research work.
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The costs covered under the PtS budget are set out in Article 8 of the Practice-to-Science Regulations. Some of the costs covered are: a share of the salary costs of the grantee (see above) and certain project costs (see Clause 2 of the General implementation regulations for the Funding Regulations).
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Detailed information can be found in the guidelines for submitting a proposal (see Documents section)
News
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15.04.2021
Practice-to-Science grants are awarded in all disciplines taught at universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education. Their primary aim is to make use-inspired research more competitive.
Practice-to-Science: Details
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31.03.2021
After a pilot phase, the SNSF is introducing the drawing of lots as a potential tie-breaker in all funding schemes. It may be used in cases where equally good proposals cannot be further differentiated objectively.
Drawing lots as a tie-breaker: Details
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14.01.2021
The SNSF is investing 6 million francs in eleven grants of its Practice-to-Science scheme. In view of the successful first call, the SNSF has decided to launch another call in 2021.
Practice-to-Science: 11 grants approved: Details
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05.08.2020
The new Practice-to-Science funding scheme has attracted great interest among experts who wish to return to academia at universities of applied science or universities of teacher education.
104 applications for Practice-to-Science grants: Details
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04.11.2019
The SNSF is launching a new career funding scheme that allows proven experts to return to academia as professors at selected universities.
New Practice-to-Science scheme: Details
Statistics