Seed Money

The faculty supports the preparation of project applications at the SNF or other institutions with 84 personal points per year. PhD-students and postdocs who will be supported if the e.g. SNF-project is granted and who have a significant role in writing the SNF application can apply. The committee grants normally 12 personal points to successful applications. The appointment is "assistant III", e.g. 50% for three months. HR counts these months as part of the maximum qualification/PhD period.

The committee for research and postgraduate academics support decides on the applications once every semester. If your application is denied, you can hand it in again in the following semester. Please hand in well-structured applications; the SNF will only support elaborate projects.

In the follow-up we distinguish between the project application ("project application") and the application to get Seed Money ("Seed Money application").

Seed Money application

She or he who wants to get Seed Money does apply for it.

Funded persons

meet the following requirements:

  • Master or comparable degree from the Bern University or another University.
  • Last degree (Master or PhD) was awarded at least a 5,0 (good; magna cum laude). The degree is not mandatory at the time of the Seed Money application. If there is no degree, the committee awards grants conditionally. If you have a PhD, it should not be older than 24 months.
  • Swiss work permit and willingness to work at Bern University during the supported time.
  • The project application provides a job for you.
  • During the Seed Money funded period, you are hired maximum 30% at Bern University and do not use this time to write the project application.
  • Hand in an application at the SNF or other third party fund organizations, meets all formal requirements of the chosen third party organization.

Positive criteria are:

  • Good performance (CV and certificates).
  • Good and promising project idea/draft.
  • Depending on the number of applications, the committee will prioritise persons who are not funded otherwise or have insufficient other funds.
  • Evicende that the person is capable and willing to contribute substantially to the application.

The funds applied for in the project application must be managed at Bern University.

Application

Please hand in the application form at korbinian.seitz@unibe.ch. Please also hand in:

  • CV including list of publications, held seminars, and other running jobs at Bern University
  • Title and abstract of MA or PhD thesis, if applicable,  max. ½ page
  • MA diploma or PhD diploma, if applicable (scanned)
  • Confirmation of a supervisor, that she/he will supervise the thesis that will be written for the project

Please inform the committee if you are already funded elsewhere or have applied for other funds.

The SNF decision must be forwarded to the dean's office for quality management.

Application deadlines: April 1st, October 1st.