Career support and funding
Are you looking for structured programmes and funding sources to help you develop your research career? Browse through local programmes and funding options as well as national funding possibilities from the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
Three-week training programme in research
Integrated in the master's of medicine curriculum
Includes a simulated congress with abstract submission, abstract peer review, and oral presentations based on participants' master's thesis work
PhD curriculum in clinical research
Open individuals planning a research curriculum in drug development, nursing sciences, public health/epidemiology, and sports sciences
Seed money/temporary funding support for the preparation of a major grant proposal as principal investigator (NCCR, ERC, Horizon 2020)
Can support the realisation of a promising interdisciplinary project idea (e.g. SNSF Sinergia application)
Open to physicians in internal medicine
Supports researchers returning from experience abroad
Funds salary complement for SNSF Ambizione fellows, Eccellenza professors, junior PIs, and MD-PhDs
For further information, get in touch with the Medical Faculty, Vizerektorat Forschung
Supports local senior registrars
Bridging fund for research team (temporary salaries, PhD student salaries, consumables)
Includes protected time for principal investigator (PI)
For further information, get in touch with the Medical Faculty, Vizerektorat Forschung
MD-PhD curriculum in experimental biomedical research, public health research, or clinical research
More information concerning the (MD-)PhD Clinical Research programme can be found here
Candidates can apply for a national MD-PhD grant as long as dedicated research time is 80% or more
Supports local senior registrars or advanced residents in the field of internal medicine, ideally after an experience abroad
Covers 50% salary (protected time) to be devoted to a high-quality research project
Can include limited funds for research team salaries and consumables
Funding released upon completion of federal postgraduate qualification (FMH)
Can be started during master's of medicine curriculum
Can build upon master's thesis project
Name stands for "Wissenschaftliche Kompetenz flexibel" (flexible scientific competencies)
Modular and flexible training of scientific competencies allowing tailored support for master's thesis
Integrated in the medical studies curriculum
To be completed between 3rd and 5th year of medical studies
Supports young physicians or residents working on an MD thesis at the University of Basel
Applications must be submitted within three years of completing a master's degree
Funds primarily allocated to protected time (12 months at 100% or 24 months at 50%); limited project funds possible
Supports local postdoctoral researchers, advanced residents, or young senior registrars
Applicants may also apply for mobility fellowship funds for a research stay abroad
Can support researcher returning from abroad
Minimal consumable costs (10% of total funds) essential for the execution of the project can also be applied for
PhD curriculum in clinical research
Candidates can combine clinical work (50% position) and research (dedicate remaining time to a patient-oriented research project)
Programme open to physicians, psychologists, physiotherapists, etc.
MD-PhD curriculum in basic sciences, public health sciences, clinical sciences, or biomedical ethics
MD-PhD programme open to physicians, veterinarians, and dentists
Candidates can apply for a national MD-PhD grant as long as dedicated research time is 80% or more
Supports clinicians before their habilitation
Funding can be allocated to protected time, salaries of collaborators, or consumables (max. 10% of total funding)
Early career support for researchers in the preparation of third-party funding applications
Can fund a pilot project
Start-up funding for group leaders intending to submit an application for interdisciplinary project funding (e.g. SNSF Sinergia grant)
Project needs to involve at least two faculties of the University of Bern
Funding primarily intended to finance a doctoral student or postdoctoral fellow
Funds protected time for clinical research projects or laboratory research as long as a link to patients is clearly presented
Can fund 25% protected time for four years for a PhD student in clinical sciences as long as the matching funds are provided by the institution
Can fund 20% protected time for two years for a resident or senior registrar as long as the matching funds are provided by the institution
Can build upon master's thesis project
Supports residents
Candidates with an MD-PhD or a PhD are usually favoured
MD-PhD curriculum in fundamental or clinical research
Candidates can apply for a national MD-PhD grant as long as dedicated research time is 80% or more
Supports senior registrars
Includes mentoring
Doctoral degree is mandatory
Candidates with an MD-PhD or a PhD are usually favoured
Partial funding of a specific project can be requested in the application
Fundamental or clinical research internship during semester holidays
Aims at preparing students for a potential MD-PhD later on
Allows students to mention "research" on their master's degree
Possibility to perform a second internship abroad
Small grant provided (CHF 300/week in Switzerland or up to CHF 2000/month for an internship abroad)
Includes mentoring opportunity until the end of studies
Mobility fellowships for clinical and research stays abroad
Supports small-scale pilot projects
Priority given to translational research projects promoting collaboration between fundamental and clinical research teams
Further information can be found here
Supports biomedical research projects (except oncology)
Supports junior researchers with an MD and/or a PhD
Supports medical research on children and adolescents
Supports medical research in oncology and related fields of research in Switzerland or abroad
Supports doctoral students or junior researchers from the University of Geneva or Geneva University Hospitals (HUG)
MD-PhD curriculum in fundamental and clinical research
Includes a joint programme of the Faculty of Biology and Medicine and the EPFL
Candidates can apply for a national MD-PhD grant as long as dedicated research time is 80% or more
For some more insights, watch this video (in French)
A grant facilitating the reintegration of a physician with an MD-PhD or a PhD into clinical training
Enables a physician to continue a research activity while pursuing a clinical specialisation
Covers the salary of a resident (20-25% for two years or 50% for one year)
Supports young clinical researchers who already have an experience in clinical or fundamental research
Covers the salary of applicant (50% for one year or 100% for six months)
Submissions from young group leaders are encouraged
Supports new interdisciplinary collaborations within the Faculty of Biology and Medicine that could not be performed by a single research group
Funding is primarily foreseen for the project although protected time for the applicant can also be requested
Supports precision medicine project
Candidates with an MD-PhD or a PhD are usually favoured
For residents, senior registrars or senior consultant researchers without an academic title at the time of submission
Funding is primarily foreseen for the project although protected time for the applicant can also be requested
Supports precision medicine project in the humanities domain (e.g. history of medicine, ethical issues)
Candidates with an MD-PhD or a PhD are usually favoured
For residents, senior registrars or senior consultant researchers without an academic title at the time of submission
Funding is primarily foreseen for the project although protected time for the applicant can also be requested
Supports innovative projects in precision medicine
Applicants hold a PhD or an MD
For health researchers of the fundamental research section of the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of the University of Lausanne
Supports projects in precision medicine
To foster collaboration of a CHUV-FBM-affiliated researcher with another institution in the region around Lake Geneva (EPFL, UNIGE)
Supports clinical research projects in precision medicine
Dedicated to women holding a PhD or an MD
To foster career development
Builds on an independent project already initiated
Can include training funds
Can cover costs of a stay abroad (academic project or training)
Supports young physicians interested in pursuing an MD thesis
Matching funds to be provided by the medical service where an MD thesis will be pursued
Holding an MD degree allows access to certain hospital management positions or to an academic career
MD thesis can build upon master's thesis
Supports senior registrars
For candidates without an academic title (e.g. privat-docent)
There is no weblink for this funding instrument and a direct application is not possible. For more information, contact your head of service.
Research project can be performed in the natural sciences, public health sciences, clinical research, or biomedical ethics
The MD-PhD programme is a joint effort of the SAMS and SNSF
Link to SNSF website
Supports residents engaging in patient-oriented research involving humans beings (patients and healthy volunteers) as well as material of human origin and health-related personal data
Research must take place in Switzerland
Supports small, patient-oriented research projects
Can only be requested by recipients of a YTCR beginner grant
Supports highly qualified researchers who aspire to a permanent professorship
Physicians can devote up to 50% of work time to clinical activities
Funding includes salary/protected time
Supports outstanding women researchers showing high potential for obtaining a professorship
Physicians can devote up to 50% of work time to clinical activities
Funding includes salary/protected time
Fellowship for a research stay abroad
Physicians can devote up to 20% of work time to clinical activities
Supports young researchers who wish to conduct and lead an independent research project in Switzerland
Researchers can apply for an Ambizione grant with or without salary/protected time
Physicians can devote up to 20% of work time to clinical activities (minimum 10%)
Supports the preparation of an MD thesis
Starting funds for a new research group leader
Generally linked to a job advertisement for a research group leader
An MD thesis is a minimal requirement to pursue an academic career in clinical research
Can be started during a master's of medicine curriculum
Can build upon a master's thesis project
MD-PhD curriculum in basic natural science education and research
Candidates can apply for a national MD-PhD grant as long as dedicated research time is 80% or more
PhD curriculum in clinical research in a clinical setting
Candidates must hold a university master's degree in medicine, biomedicine, biology or psychology
PhD curriculum for graduates in healthcare professions as regulated in the Swiss Healthcare Occupations Act (GesBG) or in academic health science disciplines in health care (including nursing sciences) from universities of applied sciences or universities
Enables doctoral students to conduct part of their dissertation at a research institute abroad
Funds primarily protected time; limited project funds are possible
Supports postdoctoral fellows of all genders whose research activities have been interrupted or delayed to balance career and family
Supports talented physician scientists before a professorship so they can remain clinically active throughout the funding period
Includes a mentoring programme
An extension for 6-12 months is possible upon approval of the evaluation committee