SCIEX: Scientific Exchanges between Switzerland and Bulgaria
This new funding programme is aimed at PhD students and postdoctoral researchers affiliated with a Bulgarian institute who wish to do a research secondment in a non-commercial research institute in Switzerland.
SCIEX is one of the three funding programmes offered by the SNSF as part of the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states. The mandate for the implementation of SCIEX was given by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and is co-financed by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science.
This funding programme offers PhD students and postdoctoral researchers the possibility of carrying out research projects on topics of their choice across all disciplines. The objectives of SCIEX are to further scientific knowledge and development, to improve and deepen these researchers’ scientific skills, to foster research collaborations and to strengthen scientific networking between Switzerland and Bulgaria.
The SCIEX fellowships cover the grantee’s salary, including social security contributions and research funds (e.g. conference costs, etc.).
The participation requirements are detailed in the call document, which is already available via the link at the bottom of the page. The call opens on 1 November 2024 and closes on 3 February 2025.
Participation requirements
Proposals for the SCIEX Fellowships 2025 may be submitted by PhD students and postdoctoral researchers from all disciplines.
For PhD students, a SCIEX Fellowship is awarded for a minimum of six months and a maximum of twenty-four months, and for postdoctoral researchers it is awarded for a minimum of six months and a maximum of eighteen months.
More information about the participation requirements can be found in the SCIEX Call Document (PDF).
Application submission
Prepare your SCIEX application in accordance with the guidelines and submit it using the mySNF platform. We recommend starting your application as early as possible to familiarise yourself with the requirements. We open the application page three months before the submission deadline. Please note the conditions and requirements specified in the call document.
Important: Please create your CV according to the format provided on the SNSF Portal well before the submission deadline. For your first login, you will need a SWITCH-edu ID and an ORCID ID, which may take a few days to obtain.
mySNF user account
If you are submitting an application to the SNSF for the first time, you must first register on mySNF and request a user account. We will then send you your login information by email. Please note that you must request your user account at least one month before the submission deadline. Otherwise, we cannot guarantee timely access to mySNF. The user account will remain available to you for all future applications and for the lifetime management of approved projects.
Evaluation procedure
You can find more information on the evaluation procedure at the following links:
Please also consult the Funding Regulations and the Organisational Regulations of the National Research Council:
Administration of the grants
Detailed information about the administration of the grants can be found in the SCIEX Call Document (Art. 6) (PDF).
SCIEX grantees may be eligible for additional SNSF measures that promote equality. Detailed information can be found at the following link:
FAQ
What is covered by the SCIEX Fellowships?
The SCIEX Fellowships cover the grantee’s salary, including social security contributions. More information concerning the guidelines on the salaries for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers can be found in the following document:
Annex 12: Salary ranges, guidelines for employees in SNSF-funded projects (PDF)
In addition to the grantee’s salary, the SCIEX Fellowships cover project funds, including research costs directly linked to the implementation of the project as well as expenses for open research data, training, networking, conferences and travel. In addition, the costs of short-term research visits (STV) by the supervisors are covered. A maximum of three total short-term research visits by either the Swiss or Bulgarian supervisors can be requested.
Under the SCIEX Fellowships, is it possible to conduct short research stays at other universities abroad?
One of the overarching goals of SCIEX is to strengthen the scientific networks between Switzerland and Bulgaria, thus the duration of the SCIEX Fellowships should be dedicated to achieving this objective. Consequently, under the SCIEX Fellowships, it is not possible to conduct short research stays at other universities abroad.
Is it possible to conduct part of the SCIEX Fellowship at the home university in Bulgaria?
SCIEX Fellowships are deemed to be conducted in Switzerland at higher education institutions or at non-commercial research institutes outside the higher education sector that are domiciled in Switzerland and whose basic financing is predominantly Swiss, in accordance with the SNSF Funding Regulations (PDF).
Can researchers of any nationality apply to SCIEX Fellowships?
Researchers of any nationality are eligible to apply for SCIEX Fellowships as long as they are permanent residents in Bulgaria and meet the eligibility criteria specified in the call document.
How many short-term research visits (STV) can be conducted by the Swiss and Bulgarian supervisors?
A maximum of three total short-term research visits by either the Swiss or Bulgarian supervisors can be requested to the Bulgarian and Swiss institutes, respectively.
The researcher exceeds the eligibility window of 8 years after the obtainment of the PhD degree with respect to the submission deadline. Can the researcher still apply for an SCIEX Fellowship?
In the case that researchers exceed the eligibility window, an extension may be requested. Researchers must explain their reasons for applying for an extension to the SNSF. Maternity (see below) and the following reasons for delays are acceptable (see Article 1.11 para. 2 of the General implementation regulations for the Funding Regulations (PDF)):
a. paternity, adoption or parental leave
b. inability to work due to illness or accident
c. care duties
d. services that benefit the general public, particularly military or civilian service
e. continuing education in connection with the applicant’s research activities, particularly internships or clinical work
f. preparatory activities connected to the dissertation, e.g. participation in classes at a doctoral school
The weeks during which the research activity was interrupted, reduced or not increased for an acceptable reason (as defined in the list above) will be considered for the extension. The difference in percentage between the actual work-time percentage and 100% is recognised. If the research work is interrupted, the relevant weeks will be recognised for the extension in full (100%).
In the event of maternity, the relevant period is extended by 18 months per child. If the applicant can prove that the delay exceeded 18 months, the additional time will be added to the said period.
Important note: The SNSF will only perform the eligibility assessment after the submission deadline based on the whole dossier. In other words, an eligibility check prior to the call deadline is not possible.
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