How to apply at USI to career grants requiring institutional support

Call deadline: 12 January 2027, at 17:00 (Swiss time).

ERC Consolidator Grants support individual researchers with and excellent track-record that are consolidating their own independent research team or programme.

Candidates must meet both the ERC call requirements as well as the USI internal criteria listed below:

ERC criteria

• Applicants must hold a PhD defended >5 and ≤ 15 years prior to 1 January 2027. Cut-off dates: defence from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2021 (inclusive);
• Applicants have demonstrated evidence of the potential for creative and original thinking and contributed to impactful research in their field;
• Applicants must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their proposal;
• Applicants should have already shown evidence of research independence.

USI criteria

• An excellent academic track-record, especially in terms of publications, scientific independence and firm ambitions to consolidate their academic career at USI;
• They demonstrate a strong interest in scientific domains represented at USI;
• Excellent fit within USI scientific profile.

Dossier – deadline 4 September 2026

Interested candidates fulfilling all these requirements should send the following documents to the Research Service ([email protected]) by the 4th of September 2026:

• Filled eligibility form (final version to use is in attachments section);
• A complete CV, including publication list;
• A cover letter, indicating their specific research interests, the project idea, how they fit into USI scientific profile, the institute in which they expect to be integrated;
• Letter(s) of support from USI professor(s). At least one should be from a professor of the faculty/institute where the candidate expects to be integrated.

Internal assessment procedure

• Applications will be first subject to a formal verification of the call’s eligibility criteria. Applications are then sent to the Research Pro-Rector for in-depth assessment;
• In the event of a preliminary favorable assessment, the candidate will be invited to an online interview, with the members of the rectorate, selected faculty/institute, aiming to assess the quality of the candidate and the strategic interest for USI on his/her profile;
• The final support decision is taken by the USI Rectorate;
• Should a positive decision be reached, the candidate will receive the confirmation letter needed for the ERC application and will benefit of administrative support for the proposal preparation.

The internal assessment procedure last around 2 months in total.

USI guarantees to successful candidates a position equivalent to that of USI assistant professor without tenure track, limited to the duration of the ERC grant.

Application process at a glance:

Submission of the dossier > Formal check + scientific match > Online interview > Support decision by the Rectorate > ERC Application > Evaluation by the ERC

For clarifications concerning the call or the internal procedure and for administrative support for the proposal’s preparation, do not hesitate to contact the Research Service (Sara Caspani) at [email protected].

Call deadline: 05 May 2026 at 17:00 (Swiss time).

The SNSF Starting Grants is the highest level of career funding offered by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).

With up to CHF 1 million in funding (plus the applicant’s salary) over 5 years, SNSF Starting Grants allow researchers to lead and manage their own research project and team in Switzerland. The call is intended for researchers who have demonstrated scientific independence from their PhD supervisor and produced impactful contributions to their field.

Candidates must meet both the SNSF call requirements and USI internal criteria listed below:

SNSF criteria

• Have obtained their PhD between 2 and 8 years as of 1 February 2026 (or between 5 and 12 years in the case of a medical degree);
• Have at least 2 years of research experience (or at least 3 years of clinical work and 2 years of research experience for MD holders);
• Provide evidence of creative and original thinking, and the potential to make a significant impact in their field;
• Have several major research outputs that are independent of their work as a PhD student and the associated PhD project;
• Show a link with Switzerland in the form of one of the following:
  • a Swiss Master’s or PhD degree;
  • at least 2 years of employment at a Swiss institution; or
  • Swiss nationality;
• Applicants holding a professorship title or with a group leading position must not have received significant research fundings (e.g., a SNSF project grant, or a Starting Grant, Consolidator Grant, Advanced Grant from the ERC or the SNSF) before submitting this application. An Ambizione Grant is not considered significant funding.

USI criteria

• Show an excellent academic track record, particularly in terms of publications, scientific independence, and clear ambition to consolidate their academic career at USI;
• Demonstrate a strong interest in the scientific domains represented at USI;
• Display a strong match with the research objectives of the USI host institution;
• Preference will be given to candidates who have not completed their entire education and research path at USI.

Dossier – deadline 7 January 2026

Potential candidates fulfilling all these requirements should send the following documents to the Research Service ([email protected]) by the 7th of January 2026:

• Filled eligibility form (final version to use is in attachments section);
• A complete CV, including publication list;
• A cover letter, indicating their specific research interests, the project idea, how they fit into USI scientific profile, the institute in which they expect to be integrated;
• Letter(s) of support from USI professor(s). At least one should be from a professor of the faculty/institute where the candidate expects to be integrated.

Internal assessment procedure

• Applications will be first subject to a formal verification of the call’s eligibility criteria. Applications are then sent to the Research Pro-Rector for in-depth assessment;
• In the event of a preliminary favorable assessment, the candidate will be invited to an online interview, with the members of the rectorate, selected faculty/institute, aiming to assess the quality of the candidate and the strategic interest for USI on his/her profile;
• The final support decision is taken by the USI Rectorate;
• Should a positive decision be reached, the candidate will receive the confirmation letter needed for the SNSF application and will benefit of administrative support for the proposal preparation.

The internal assessment procedure last around 2 months in total.

USI guarantees to successful candidates a position equivalent to that of USI assistant professor without tenure track, limited to the duration of the SNSF grant.

Application process at a glance:

Submission of the dossier > Formal check + scientific match > Online interview > Support decision by the Rectorate > SNSF Application > Evaluation by the SNSF

For clarifications concerning the call or the internal procedure and for help in the application process, do not hesitate to contact the Research Service (Margot Carcuro) at [email protected].

Useful Links:

• SNSF website with an overview about the Starting Grants
• Call document
• Regulations and Guidelines
• Previously approved Starting Grants
• Application portal mySNF

Call deadline: 14 October, 2026

ERC Starting Grants support early-stage researchers on their way to become independent.

Candidates must meet both the ERC call requirements as well as the USI internal criteria listed below:

ERC criteria

• Researchers can apply from the moment they defend thier PhD and up to 10 years later (t.b.c);
• Applicants have demonstrated evidence of the potential for creative and original thinking and contributed to impactful research in their field;
• Applicants must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their proposal;
• Applicants should have already shown evidence of the potential for research independence, for example by having produced at least one publication as main author or without the participation of their PhD supervisor.

USI criteria

• An excellent academic track-record, especially in terms of publications, scientific independence and firm ambitions to consolidate their academic career at USI;
• They demonstrate a strong interest in scientific domains represented at USI;
• Excellent fit within USI scientific profile.

Dossier – deadline 30 April 2026

Interested candidates fulfilling all these requirements should send the following documents to the Research Service ([email protected]) by the 30th of April 2026:

• Filled eligibility form (final version to use is in attachments section);
• A complete CV, including publication list;
• A cover letter, indicating their specific research interests, the project idea, how they fit into USI scientific profile, the institute in which they expect to be integrated;
• Letter(s) of support from USI professor(s). At least one should be from a professor of the faculty/institute where the candidate expects to be integrated.

Internal assessment procedure

• Applications will be first subject to a formal verification of the call’s eligibility criteria. Applications are then sent to the Research Pro-Rector for in-depth assessment;
• In the event of a preliminary favorable assessment, the candidate will be invited to an online interview, with the members of the rectorate, selected faculty/institute, aiming to assess the quality of the candidate and the strategic interest for USI on his/her profile;
• The final support decision is taken by the USI Rectorate;
• Should a positive decision be reached, the candidate will receive the confirmation letter needed for the ERC application and will benefit of administrative support for the proposal preparation.

The internal assessment procedure last around 2 months in total.

USI guarantees to successful candidates a position equivalent to that of USI assistant professor without tenure track, limited to the duration of the ERC grant.

Application process at a glance:

Submission of the dossier > Formal check + scientific match > Online interview > Support decision by the Rectorate > ERC Application > Evaluation by the ERC

For clarifications concerning the call or the internal procedure and for administrative support for the proposal’s preparation, do not hesitate to contact the Research Service (Sara Caspani) at [email protected].

Call deadline: 3 November 2026 at 17:00 (Swiss time).

Ambizione grants are aimed at young researchers who wish to conduct, manage and lead an independent 4-years-project at a Swiss higher education institution.

SNSF criteria

• Max. 4 years since PhD + min. 12 months of postdoc, or max. 9 years since medical degree (MD) + min. 3 years clinical work.
• NEW: be CH national, or hold CH degree, or min. 12 months of research/clinical work at a CH research institution after PhD/MD.
• You can resubmit once.

USI criteria

• They have an excellent academic early-stage track record, especially in terms of publications;
• Strong interest in scientific domains represented at USI.

Documentation

Potential candidates fulfilling all these requirements should send the following documents to the Research Service ([email protected]) by the 28 August 2026:

• Filled eligibility form (final version to use is in attachments section);
• A complete CV including publication list;
• A cover letter indicating their specific research interests, the project idea, how they fit into USI scientific profile, the match with the institute in which they expect to be integrated;
• Letter(s) of support from USI professor(s) interested in supporting the application.

Procedure

• Applications will be first subject to a verification of the call’s eligibility criteria, then sent for assessment to the Research Pro-Rector;
• Should a positive support decision be reached, the applicant will receive the two confirmation letters needed for the SNSF application and will benefit of administrative support for the proposal preparation.

As per SNSF regulations, USI guarantees to successful candidates a position equivalent to that of USI scientific collaborators for the duration of the grant. 

Application process at a glance:

Formal check eligibility criteria + scientific match > Evaluation by the Research Pro-Rector > Support decision > SNSF Application > Evaluation by the SNSF

For clarifications concerning the call or the internal procedure and for help in the application process, do not hesitate to contact the Research Service  at [email protected].

We underline that this procedure aims at identifying good candidates, which deserve support from USI when submitting their application to the SNSF; USI has no influence on the selection process at the SNSF, which is solely based on the scientific quality of applicants and projects.

Call deadline: 09 September 2026 at 17:00 (Brussels time)

The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship – European fellowship is open to early-stage researchers of any nationality who wish to pursue their research and training stay in a selected beneficiary institution, in EU Member States or Associated Country (Switzerland included), with a project in any discipline. The fellowship covers the research’s salary + max. Euro 39,600.00 for up to 24 months.

Applications will be made jointly by the researcher and the beneficiary institution.

MSCA Eligibility

• Researchers should have a PhD at the call deadline and have no more than 8 years of research experience after PhD.
• Researchers must not have lived, worked, or studied in the country of the future beneficiary institution for more than 12 months during the 3 years prior to call deadline (Mobility Rule).

Internal procedure

Internal deadline: 22 May 2026
Applicants, who have identified a USI professor who is willing to host them and their project at USI, must send the following documents to [email protected] by 22 May 2026:

• Filled eligibility form (final version to use is in attachments section)
• CV
• a confirmation of support from USI supervisor.

For clarifications concerning the call or the internal procedure and for help in the application process, do not hesitate to contact the Research Service (Sara Caspani) at [email protected].