120% support grant now also for postdocs with Ambizione grants

The SNSF awards support grants to postdocs with family commitments who receive their salary via SNSF project grants. As of 1 July 2014, Ambizione grantees are also eligible for the 120% support grant.

In order to encourage young researchers and increase the appeal of an academic career, the SNSF is upgrading its "120% support grant" to include the Ambizione funding scheme. The upgrade, which entered into force on 1 July 2014, will make it easier for young researchers to find the right balance between their academic career and family commitments.

Contribution towards childcare costs

The support grants are open to postdocs in SNSF-funded projects who are striving to pursue an academic career while looking after family members at the same time. Besides the reduction in working hours and the employment of a support person with the freed-up work-time, it is also possible to apply for a grant towards childcare costs. In view of the inclusion of Ambizione, the regulations have been amended accordingly. Additions have also been made in the guidelines: now the postdoc needs to send a statement of the gross annual household income by e-mail to the responsible division. The updated documents enter into force on 1 July 2014.

Information online as of July

Further information on the 120% support grant and the submission procedure can be found in the relevant regulations and in the guidelines. Both updated documents are available on the SNSF website as of 1 July 2014.