Besides its main career funding instruments, SNSF offers several lesser-known measures that support mobility, or help young researchers balance professional and personal life. EPFL also offers its own instruments to support young parents and to support mobility:
Mobility Funding
SNSF, part of the Scientific Exchanges instrument
Aim: Funds 1 to 6 months research visits for Swiss-based researchers going abroad (or researchers based abroad coming to Switzerland).
Eligibility: Researchers with a PhD employed at a Swiss institution (PhD students are not eligible). Some restrictions apply to researchers funded by SNSF research projects*
Who can apply: Researchers with a PhD employed at a Swiss institution (PhD students are not eligible). Some restrictions apply to researchers funded by SNSF research projects*
Funding: Travel expenses, accommodation and meals of participants are covered.
Timeline: Submission allowed any time, at least 4 months before the planned travel date.
*Eligible programs: See guidelines.
SNSF, see SNSF page
Aim: Funding for travel, living, and conference costs for 6–12 months at a single institution abroad.
Eligibility: For doctoral students employed on an SNSF research project*.
Who can apply: The head of the SNSF-funded research project applies on behalf of the PhD candidate.
Funding: Up to CHF 20,000.
Timeline: Submission any time, at least 2 months before the planned travel date and no less than 8 months before the end of the grant.
*Eligible funding schemes: Please read the document “implementation regulations” carefully.
Aim: Financial support to doctoral candidates seeking to strengthen their scientific and professional profile through a research stay of 3 to 6 months at an academic institution abroad. Funding can include personal living expenses, travel costs, conference participation, tuition fees, and family-related expenses.
Eligibility: EPFL PhD candidates who are not funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)
Who can apply: PhD candidates apply directly via Selectus
Funding: Financial support for travel expenses up to CHF 2’000, participation in conferences up to CHF 2’000, Personal living expenses up to CHF 800/month, Tuition fees up to 75% (max. CHF 15’000 per stay), as well as family allowances of CHF 1’000 per month per child, up to CHF 6’000 per stay.
Timeline: Submission once per year, generally in spring (March or April). For the exact application deadline, check the program website.
Support Measures
SNSF, See SNSF page
Aim: Support with childcare costs or salary support for reduced work quotas.
Eligibility: Postdocs and doctoral students employed in a SNSF research project*
Who can apply: The head of the SNSF-funded research project applies on behalf of the doctoral/ postdoctoral researcher.
Funding: Financial contribution towards external childcare costs, and/or contribution towards the salary of a support person, which is meant to allow researchers to reduce their work quota, depending on the research program*
Timeline: Submission any time.
*Eligible programs: See guidelines.
SNSF, See SNSF page
Aim: Additional individualized and flexible support for the career development of young women researchers such as mentoring, coaching, courses and workshops, and networking events.
Eligibility: Women researchers employed in SNSF projects / career funding schemes, or beneficiaries of career funding schemes, at the doctoral or postdoctoral level
Who can apply: Fellowship grant holders must apply for the gender equality grant. For all other project types, there is no need to apply — the grant is automatically covered as an eligible cost.
Funding: CHF 1000/year, to be used for career support measures.
Timeline: Fellowships: requests may be made as of the start of the fellowships, until two months prior to its expiry at the latest. For all other project types, no specific timeline.
*Eligible programs : See guidelines.
EPFL is committed to promoting a healthy work-life balance for all students and employees. A family-friendly environment and support measures for parents are central to this. Parental rights and support include maternity and paternity leaves, family allowances, “stop the clock” principles, childcare offers, and other support measures, such as the PhD and postdoc parent network, and financial support for conference attendance with a small child as well as the “Robert Gnehm Grant”, supporting flexibility arrangements for young parents.