201 Mobility fellowships for postdoctoral researchers
For research projects abroad or for their return to Switzerland, 201 postdoctoral researchers will benefit from financial support from the SNSF. They will receive a total of 24.8 million francs in funding.
Is Jupiter's moon Europa habitable? Caroline Haslebacher is investigating this question by studying the geological history of the icy moon and its subterranean ocean. For her planned research project in Colorado, USA, she will focus on the development of tides on Europa and their influence on its habitability. To this end, she will utilise innovative methods, such as modern statistical calculations and mapping using artificial intelligence. The results will be useful for upcoming missions such as Europa Clipper, which is scheduled to reach Jupiter in 2030.
Caroline Haslebacher is one of 201 postdoctoral researchers who will benefit from an SNSF fellowship to support their research abroad or their return to Switzerland. The SNSF has awarded a total of 24.8 million francs for these fellowships.
The SNSF received a record-breaking 462 applications for the Postdoc.Mobility call that closed on 1 February 2024. 201 applications (44%) were approved for funding. A total of 90 female and 111 male researchers will benefit from support for their planned research projects. The postdoctoral researchers will finance part of their living costs with these fellowships. They are also paid a flat rate for travel expenses and, if applicable, research and conference costs.
Postdoc.Mobility to go abroad and a return grant to come back to Switzerland
Julia Kunz will return to Switzerland after two years in Montpellier, France, and continue her Postdoc.Mobility research at the University of Zurich thanks to a return grant. She is investigating forms of sexual violence in various primate species, including humans. Among other questions, she is interested in how ecological, demographic and cultural factors influence the occurrence of different forms of sexual violence. The project includes empirical studies, phylogenetic analyses and systematic literature reviews. Combined with her successfully completed project in France, Julia Kunz's planned research will provide important insights into whether sexual violence is a selection factor for the emergence of mating systems and social structures. In relation to human society, her research could help identify risk factors to develop new strategies for combatting sexual violence.
Pauline Meyer will be travelling to Dublin, Ireland. She is investigating cyber security at ICT service providers and examining both EU and Swiss regulations. The study aims to compare the two legal frameworks to identify the most suitable security measures. Through legal analysis and collaboration with local institutions and stakeholders, the project aims to have a positive influence on political and legislative decisions and to improve cyber security practices. The objective is to deliver significant academic contributions and facilitate practical advances in cyber security that could potentially shape future regulatory standards.