Ambizione: a boost for research careers

The SNSF has been supporting promising early-career researchers from Switzerland and abroad through the Ambizione funding scheme since 2008. Academic staff at all higher education institutions can apply. Researchers whose salaries are fully covered by their institution may apply for project funds only.

Evaluation

In November 2025, 803 researchers submitted an Ambizione proposal. Of these applicants, 230 were selected for the second phase of evaluation. Following the two-step evaluation process, the SNSF is supporting 91 early-career researchers with a total of 64.2 million francs. Two additional projects are financed by bequests that the SNSF received to support research in robotics and cancer research.

The target of 35 percent female awardees was clearly exceeded with 41 grants (44.1 percent) going to women. Of the 41 female researchers supported, ten are funded by the supplementary budget of 7.2 million francs earmarked for excellent female candidates.

Thanks to their Ambizione grants, each of the 93 researchers will be able to conduct, manage and lead their first independent project at a higher education institution or other research institution in Switzerland. On average, they will receive 705,000 Swiss francs. The SNSF is providing them with the opportunity to advance their careers decisively while also making an important contribution to the promotion of early-career researchers.

Wide range of research topics

Of the selected projects, 39 percent are in the fields of mathematics, informatics, natural sciences and technology, 32 percent in the social sciences and humanities and 29 percent in life sciences. The topics funded are correspondingly diverse, as illustrated by the following examples.

• Robert Nissler (University of Zurich) aims to develop a rapid, AI-assisted nanosensor platform that detects sepsis and identifies pathogens directly from blood by recognising disease-specific metabolic fingerprints. This will enable faster and more targeted treatment.

• Sabrina Stallone (University of Zurich) will investigate how planned but incomplete or unbuilt infrastructure shapes social, political, economic and environmental realities in Sicily, using the proposed Strait of Messina Bridge to understand the power of anticipation, resistance and alternative visions of the future.

• Ellen Martin (University of Neuchâtel) will develop a global framework to evaluate whether protected areas effectively conserve migratory species. The project aims to safeguard the demographic processes and life stages that are most critical for long-term population persistence.

Most of the projects will begin in autumn 2026 and generally have a duration of four years.

The final Ambizione call is already open. The submission deadline for new proposals is 3 November 2026.