Guidelines "How do I enter the research team?"

1. Number of applicants: two or more applicants can jointly submit a proposal if necessary to achieve the targets set for the planned research. If two or more applicants jointly submit a proposal, each has to meet the eligibility requirements for submission of proposals and each is personally responsible for the project.
2. Applicants abroad: In collaborative projects with at least three applicants, an applicant may be employed at a research institution outside Switzerland if their expertise is required for the project. However, this does not apply to applications where – due to agreements between the SNSF and other funding organisations – an applicant outside Switzerland has to be involved (e.g. WEAVE projects or EU consortium projects).
3. Experience in the organisation and implementation of research projects: Applicants must have adequate experience as a consortium in organizing and conucting projects. Applicants must be able to conduct research projects under their own responsibility and manage the staff employed in the projects.
4. Qualifications: All applicants must have held a doctorate (PhD) for at least four years or must have equivalent research experience.
5. Employment: For the duration of the research project, applicants must be employed at least 50% (0.5 FTE) at a research institution that is eligible for SNSF research funding. Applicants cannot charge their own salaries to the grant.
6. Scienific contribution: All applicants must make a substantial contribution to the research project. The necessary research infrastructure must be available to the applicants.

Restrictions

• In principle, applicants can have three ongoing projects under the project funding scheme. Three grants are possible when at least one of these is approved for a Lead Agency/Weave project, or as part of the International Co-Investigator Scheme, or for an EU Consortium project The SNSF may approve parallel projects provided that projects with overlapping funding periods clearly differ thematically from the projects already in progress and if the applicant can show that they are able to make a substantial contribution to the planned project as well. Overlaps of a few months are permitted.
• Researchers may submit a maximum of one proposal per call.

Contact person

All applicants are represented by a single applicant, who is the SNSF’s contact person. This applicant must work at an institution in Switzerland. This institution manages the project grants from the SNSF and is responsible for forwarding funding to the other applicants and to project partners.

• They contribute to the research project by collaborating with the consortium, but are not responsible for the project.
• Their role must be clearly defined in the proposal.
• They can benefit from the project funds (max. 20% of the total budget), but their own salaries are not covered by the grant.

• Purpose: Doctoral students make a scientific contribution to the project while pursuing their PhD.
• Supervision: Doctoral students are supervised by an applicant or a project partner.
• Workload: The goal for doctoral students is rapid completion of the dissertation within four years. This generally corresponds to a workload of 80-100% (0.8-1.0 FTE). A workload of less than 80% is only permitted if the following requirements are cumulatively met: a. The dissertation can be completed within 4 years, b. the lower workload is chosen by the doctoral student and c. the implementation of the project is guaranteed.
• Salary: The salaries of doctoral students must lie within the relevant salary ranges defined by the SNSF. Applicants or project partners can top up the SNSF's salary contribution with their own funds.
• Duration of employment: The SNSF finances the positions of doctoral students for a maximum of 4 years. The relevant date for calculating the 4-year period is the actual start date of the dissertation; the 4-year time window begins no later than one year after this start date.

• Purpose: Postdocs are researchers who aspire to become scientifically independent after completing their doctorate. The postdoctoral phase serves as a qualification for developing and heading research projects.
• Contribution to the project: Postdocs must make a specific contribution to the research project and work primarily towards enhancing their scientific qualifications.
• Salary: The salaries of postdocs must lie within the relevant salary ranges set by the SNSF.
• Duration of employment: The SNSF supports postdocs for a period of up to five years after the doctorate, with the date of the thesis defence or viva voce being the relevant date. In the event of a justified delay due to parental leave, incapacity, care duties, military service or other mandatory services, internships or clinical work, this period may be extended by one year.

• Purpose: Other employees make a specific contribution to the research project. They include employees with a degree who do not intend to do a doctorate; employees with a doctorate who do not meet the requirements for the postdoc category in terms of employment duration and time window; technicians and auxiliary staff.
• Salary: Research institutions may apply their normals salary rates, provided they comply with the defined minimum rate. The SNSF reserves the right to lower unreasonably high salaries.