Postdoctoral training

The NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials offers career development measures to its postdoctoral and senior researchers, namely through its Independence Grant Program, organizing training sessions for effective mentoring and offering support in grant writing.

Funding programs for postdoctoral researchers

Research Fellowship Program for Women in Science

The program of the NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials supports the professional development of outstanding female researchers who demonstrated excellence at an early stage of their careers and wish to pursue an academic career. The grant funds original research ideas of applicants not previously affiliated to the NCCR. The grant supports the residency of successful researchers in the laboratory of one of the research groups of the NCCR for a period of 24 months. Further information can be found here.

Mobility grant

The mobility grant supports stays at research institutions abroad for six to twelve months. The grant covers travel and living costs abroad (e.g. accommodation) and may also cover participation in conferences (if costs cannot be covered by the research project). The grant does not cover research costs. Postdoctoral researchers employed in a research project of the NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials with an activity rate of 50% or higher (irrespective of source of funding) are eligible to apply to a mobility grant. The monthly salary must be continued to be paid by the home institution during the whole stay abroad. If you are interested in applying, please contact the Scientific Coordinator.

Independence grant

The NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials Independence grant aims at helping its talented young researchers in their pursuit of an independent academic career. It supports activities that go beyond their work as participants of the Center, such as for example: travel to establish new contacts, preliminary experiments (related to application for own project / grant), writing of independent publications and own grant writing. Postdoctoral researchers and senior scientist with a contribution to the NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials at an activity rate of 50% or higher for a minimum duration of 6 months (reference is date of submission of application), are eligible to apply. For further information and to apply, please contact the Scientific Coordinator.

Grants supporting postdoctoral researchers with family care duties

Flexibility grant

The grant provides more flexibility to postdoctoral researchers needing to take care of their children by allowing them to reduce their work-time percentage and hire a support person for the same period, to minimize delays in their research work. The grant may also be used to cover child care costs. Postdoctoral researchers working and contributing to the NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials at a work time percentage of 80% or higher (irrespective of source of funding) are eligible to apply to this grant. For further details and to apply, please contact the Scientific Coordinator. 

Childcare support during travel

The NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials awards financial support to cover extra childcare expenses resulting from traveling to a professional event (i.e. project meeting, academic conference or workshop, professional training). Further details can be found here.

For information on schools and crèches, click here.

Advanced training

The NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials organizes and/or supports workshops and other events supporting the training of transferable skills, typically also open to the participation of postdoctoral researchers. Further details can be found here.

Media training courses

The SNSF regularly offers postdoctoral researchers media training courses in French and German. Please note that the NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials only covers the costs of fees for NCCR-funded postdocs. To confirm your eligibility, please contact the Scientific Coordinator before registering.