The mechanisms of career and project funding of ETH Zurich in relation to the Swiss research system Wendy Altherr, Scientific Coordinator, Office of Research, VPFW
Embedding the ETH Zurich in the Swiss System The VPFW, the office of research and important commissions Mechanisms of career funding at ETH Zurich Mechanisms project funding at ETH Zurich Structure of the talk
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Typical characteristics of the Swiss Education, Research and Innovationssystem // and at ETH Zurich? A high diversity A small scale environment A high degree of internationalization A relatively generous funding provided A long standing tradition of bottom-up research, and only well concentrated top-down initiatives at ETH Zürich SWIR Schrift 3/2015 Wendy Altherr / Stab Forschung
Funding structure of the ETH Zurich, Annual Report 2014 Wendy Altherr / Stab Forschung 04.03.2016 5
Focus in Supporting Research at ETH Zurich Internal Research funding as a unique selling point for attracting and keeping faculty Maintaining research diversity at ETH Zurich Intrinsic motivated fundamental research projects Enable new high risk research ideas with ETH Grants Support bottom up initiatives Interdisciplinary research projects Support young talents Wendy Altherr / Stab Forschung VPFW/Detlef Günther 04.03.2016 6
Addressing Grand Challenges Through Main Focus Areas While Maintaining Diversity Architecture Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Sciences Physics Health Science & Technology Biology Chemistry and Applied Biosciences Main focus areas of ETH Zurich Biosystems Science and Engineering Mathematics Management, Technology and Economics Earth Sciences Environmental Sciences Energy, Environment & Sustainability Materials Sciences Materials and Processes Mechanical and Process Engineering Science & Technology for Health Risk & Information Processing Information Technology and Electrical Engineering Talents & Innovation Humanities, Social and Political Sciences Computer Sciences Wendy Altherr / Stab Forschung 04.03.2016 7
Supporting Research and Innovation at ETH Zurich Vice President Research and Corporate Relations ETH transfer Focus: Industry Office of Research Focus: internal and national EU GrantsAccess Focus: international -Research agreements and cooperations with industry -Inventions, patents and software of ETH associates -Licensing opportunities -Spin-Off foundations support -Industry Relations -Funding program Pioneer Fellowships -ielabs - Funding programs for: Research projects Scientific equipment Career support - Coordinating initiatives at internal/ national level (Competence Centers, NCCR) - Ethics/integrity in research - Secretariat for Ethics, Research and Equipment Commissions - Advise on research funding and policy -Pre- and post-award support for all international research programmes: -EU Framework Programmes, COST, US Grants (NIH, NSF and others), Eurostars etc -Administrative, financial and legal support -Advise about funding opportunities -Idea checking and proposal prescreening -Individual coaching -Information events 8 04.03.2016
Main categories when talking about research support Scientific career funding (covers own salary / fellowship) Project funding (covers mainly the salaries of PhD students or Postdocs, but not the PI s salary) Program funding (mostly for salaries) Prizes for major achievements and excellence (research, teaching, tech-transfer) Ethical approval for research projects Infrastructure funding (for expensive equipment) Wendy Altherr 04.03.2016 9
Management of main categories at the Office of Research Fellowship funding (Incoming, outgoing, other) Dr. W. Altherr & J. Köpfli Project funding (ETH Grants) Dr. S. Negovetic & N. Landis Program funding (National & other Competence Centers Dr. S. Regel Infrastructure funding (Scientific Equipment Program Dr. L. Reinhard & N. Landis Prizes for major scientific achievements Dr. Martine Vernooij Ethical approval of applications in general Dr. R. Iturrizaga & J. Köpfli & N. Landis 04.03.2016 10
Evaluation bodies for main categories / Link to faculty to guarantee for consistent and transparent procedures Research Commision (26 members from faculty) President: Prof. Uwe Sauer divided in three subcommissions (SKs) SKI (engineering, earth sciences, social & human sciences) SK II (life and system sciences) SK III (natural sciences) Scientific Equipment Commission (4 members from SL, faculty) VPFW, VPPR, VPFC and RC-President Ethic comission ( 7 members from faculty) President Prof. Lutz Wingert Scientific Careers Project funding Supports the VPFW in strategic decision on research Research Infrastructure Ethical issues Wendy Altherr 04.03.2016 11
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Mechanisms in career and project funding Wendy Altherr 04.03.2016 13
Challenges for young researchers in the individual career planning Mobility is important a research career within the ETH Zurich is not possible, a research career without mobility is almost impossible. Time of employment in non-permanent working contracts at the ETH Zurich is limited: Six years as scientific assistant (Phd Student and/or Postdoc) Six years as an «Oberassistent» Twelve years maximum in total Age Limit for Assistant Professor at ETH: ~35 year Often dual career situation, becomes the new standard CAREER PLANNING IS KEY! Wendy Altherr 04.03.2016 14
Challenge for young investigators in the current political context Numbers: Following the latest report from the WBK*, the number of professors has increased with 60 % since 1990, in the same time frame, the number of scientific personal (including PhDs has increased by 110 %) changes to become professor in Switzerland have decreased Political awareness: the report from the WBK has risen common awareness for the situation of the postdoctoral researchers and several measures are planned nationally and at the Universities, at the same time, budget restrictions are very likely to be imposed nationally ETH Zurich key objective is to prepare its scientific staff for a national or international career in academia, industry, or administration. WBK*-Bericht: Massnahmen zur Förderung des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses in der Schweiz Wendy Altherr 04.03.2016 15
Measures of ETH Zurich to face this challenge for young investigators ETH Zurich provides a wide range of support, adapted to the different stages of a career of researchers The support ranges from personal consultations (e.g. in housing, child care, career counselling, funding opportunities) to legal assistance in patenting issues. research promotion instruments, unique in Switzerland (Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants and Prizes), based on bi-annual or yearly calls. ETH Zurich facilitates the exchange of knowledge within the institution in the Forum Nachwuchsförderung this should lead to the identification of gaps and needs for young investigators builds up a monitoring on further career steps of researchers from ETH Zurich from the Postdoc- Phase. Wendy Altherr 04.03.2016 16
Web platform on career advancement www.ethz.ch/support-services-studies-careers Wendy Altherr 04.03.2016 17
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400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 Submitted fellowship applications from 2008 till 2015 with input of RC and/or VPFW, managed by the Office of Research Axa Research Fund Postdoctoral Fellowships SSSTC exchange fellowships SCIEX fellowships SNSF Doc.CH Grants SNSF APM Fellowships SNSF EPM & Doc.Mob Fellowships* Pioneer Fellowship (ETH) 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowships from 2015 onwards, the Pioneer Fellows are managed by ETH transfer 04.03.2016 20
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Career Funding at ETH ETH Fellows ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowships Program www.ethfellows.ethz.ch, since 2008 Deadlines: March 1 and Sep 1, decision within 4 months Goal: Attraction of excellent young scientists and engineers at the beginning of their careers to the ETH Zurich Conditions Candidates must have obtained their doctorate outside of the ETH and UZH and move from outside to the ETH not longer than 6 months ago. Fellow numbers: 120 ETH Fellows selected from 2011-2014 Access to competitive funding for postdocs with new input from outside Support young talents Wendy Altherr 04.03.2016 22
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Pioneer Fellowships Programm www.pioneerfellows.ethz.ch, since 2010 Deadlines: March 1 and September 1, decision within 4 months Goal and Conditions: Support of individual or groups of individuals who intend to independently develop a highly innovative product or service to be exploited commercially and/or for the benefit of society. The fellowships are not awarded for basic research, but must be based on the applicants own, previous research from the master, PhD or, in exceptional cases, postdoctoral work. ielab crucial for success, bring entrepreneurial peers together SNSF plans a very similar funding instrument in the new funding period 2017-04.03.2016 2020 (within BRIDGE) Wendy Altherr 24
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Society in Science - The Branco Weiss Fellowship http://www.society-in-science.org/, since 2003 Deadlines: January 15, decision within 5 months Goal: Supporting postdocs from sciences, engineering or social sciences willing to engage in a dialogue on relevant social, cultural, political or economic issues across the frontiers of their particular discipline. Duration and Funding: Financial support (CHF 100 000 / year) for up to five years and opportunity to work at any academic institution of their choice throughout the world. Fellow numbers: 40 fellows selected since 2003 Identification of new research areas Wendy Altherr 04.03.2016 26
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ETH Zurich Career Seed Grants www.seedprojects.ethz.ch, since 2016 Deadlines: March 1 and Sep 1, decision within 4 months Goal: Offer a pragmatic funding opportunity for small postdoctoral projects and thus to provide support to young researchers at the ETH Zurich in establishing their own record of independent research - a valuable step forward in their research careers. Conditions Researchers eligible to apply must hold a doctoral/ PhD degree and an academic, non-permanent position at the ETH Zurich for the intended duration of the project Funding: 50 000 CHF for 1 year Wendy Altherr 04.03.2016 28
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ETH Grants: internal research funding program www.ethgrants.ethz.ch, since 1975 Calls and decision: 2 Calls a year, decision within 4 months Goals and Conditions: Not a substitute for external funding - should complement external funding in the area of high-risk / high reward research Focus on single-phd projects, around 250 running grants Identification of interesting research topics for the VPFW Unique and very attractive for the recruitment of new faculty Wendy Altherr 04.03.2016 30
Thank you for your attention any questions? All pictures from the research day on November 26, 2014 / ETH Zürich/Giulia Marthaler Wendy Altherr 04.03.2016 31