Q&A Early Career Researchers

A set of questions and answers regarding employment, support, events, funding, career advice etc. compiled at the Postdoc events organized by GRC:

Check out researchprofessional.com.
Write a mail to the EUGrantsAccess team: grantsaccess@research.uzh.ch

The most important options are listed on this website.

Answered by: Research Development UZH

The Graduate Campus offers GRC Travel Grants for Postdocs and advanced doctoral researchers of UZH to support them in situations where academic mobility can make a decisive contribution to a promising academic career. Please consult the FAQ before completing an application.

Answered by: Graduate Campus UZH

Applications to GRC Travel Grants are limited to one per funding period and call. However, it is possible to apply for other funding instruments from GRC at the same time.

Please check the rules applying for “mobile work” at UZH, especially the PDF “Guidelines of mobile working at UZH.” Basically, there is no entitlement to mobile working, and employees need to make a request for mobile working with their direct superior, who needs to agree on mobile working. Mobile work from abroad is only permissible when compatible with the operational requirements of UZH. If an employees works abroad for more than four weeks, there might be implications in terms of social insurance obligations. Please read the above mentioned guidelines carefully
Answered by: Graduate Campus UZH

VAUZ organizes monthly happy hours (depending on the capacities), a Christmas event and the summer party "Mittelbaufest" jointly with the GRC. Graduate Campus events can be found here.
If you have a good idea and want to organize something get in touch with us!
Answered by: Association of Junior Researchers of the University of Zurich

No, the VAUZ is the association for PhDs, Assisstants and Postdocs together (everyone on a qualification position).
If you have problems, questions or input, don't hesitate to reach out via mail to VAUZ or GRC.
Answered by: Association of Junior Researchers of the University of Zurich

VAUZ is an association and represents the concerns of doctoral students, assistants and scientific staff on qualification positions within and outside the University of Zurich. VAUZ is the abbreviation for Association of Junior Researchers of the University of Zurich. More Info can be found here.

You can go on the VAUZ website where you find all commissions we have delegates in as well as the names of the delegates currently in office.
Answered by: Association of Junior Researchers of the University of Zurich

Yes, you can become active as a delegate on the Institute/Faculty/University wide level or just join for Board meetings to stay informed.
Answered by: Association of Junior Researchers of the University of Zurich

In an institute with double-affiliation (eg MeF and MNF) your primary institution is the one you vote for and can join committees as a delegate. If you want to change that you need to contact both faculties to arrange a faculty change.
Answered by: Association of Junior Researchers of the University of Zurich

Yes, depending on the faculty, it is between 6-9 years (+possibility of extension). If you have questions on the specific rules of your faculty, ask your PI or HR representative or get in touch with us and we can figure it out with you.
Answered by: Association of Junior Researchers of the University of Zurich

Acquired third-party funds do count towards the maximum duration of employment of limited contracts (e.g. 6 or 9 years, respectively). It is not the source of funding that matters for the maximum duration of employment, but the years of employment at UZH.

https://www.staff.uzh.ch/en/personal/employment-staff/temporary-employment-.html

This depends highly on what you want to do. If you want to become a professor, the usual step is through an assistant professor position followed by a full professorship (either by application or through an ad personam Berufung). There are also (few) permanent research or teaching positions above the postdoc level. Or you could move into industry if you do not want to stay in academia.
Answered by: Association of Junior Researchers of the University of Zurich

"In 2015, some 2800 persons started a post-doctorate in Switzerland or abroad following the award of a mobility grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). Six years later, 27% were employed at Swiss higher education institutions. Almost half of post-doctoral researchers had left Switzerland, while half of those who had received a mobility grant to go abroad had returned to Switzerland. Departures from academia are often final, but 40% of those employed outside higher education work in a sector with a high degree of research and development."
Quoted from: The pathways of post-doctoral researchers. Federal Statistics Office (BfS), June 2023.

Appointments for individual career counseling, CV checks and mock interviews can be made free of charge with the team of the UZH Career Services.

As an UZH employee you have the right to take five working weeks (or 25 full days if you are employed full time).

Answered by: Graduate Campus UZH

•    From an administrative point of view, neither the European Commission nor SERI requires researchers participating in an EU project to hold a permanent position or a professorship to join a consortium.
•    According to UZH internal regulations, when conducting research in the frame of an EU project, a budget-owner must be defined for its entire duration. Budget-ownership can be given to postdoctoral researchers for the duration of the project. Professors can also bear the responsibility of the EU budget while giving full research and management freedom to the postdoc involved in the project.
•    UZH as an institution commits to the research tasks described in the project to be performed (not the postdoctoral researcher). If the postdoctoral fellow cannot stay for the entire duration of the EU project, a solution should be discussed in advance (e.g. partial transfer of tasks to their new institution, or to another person within UZH).
•    The funding received can only serve for the conduction of the EU project as described in the proposal
•    A good strategy is to align your research priorities with the one of your lab and professor, and for a first attempt not to be too ambitious in terms of commitment towards the EU project (rather be a task leader than responsible for an entire Work Package and its reporting).

Answered by: EU GrantsAccess

Eligibility criteria: As a rule, applicants must do scientific work for at least 50% at an eligible research institution in Switzerland and must be employed for at least the duration of the project.
Eligibility window: After obtaining the PhD, applicants must have conducted scientific research for at least four years.
Applicants must be able to carry out a research project in their own responsibility and to lead the staff involved.
https://www.research.uzh.ch/en/funding/researchers/snf-projekte.html

Each career grant has different eligibility criteria and eligibility windows.
First and foremost, please consult the SNSF website of the respective funding instrument.
Here you will find an overview and a link collection. For a visualisation of the eligibility windows, please download the Research Funding Pathways.
 
Usually, the eligibility window starts with the date of the PhD examination (defense). The eligibility window can be extended at the applicant’s request for accepted reasons. Accepted reasons are (c.f. SNSF Implementation Regulation 1.11):
    •    Maternity, paternity, adoption or parental leave;
    •    inability to work due to illness or accident;
    •    care duties;
    •    services that benefit the general public, particularly military or civilian service;
    •    continuing education in connection with the applicant’s research activities, particularly internships or clinical work;
    •    preparatory activities connected to the dissertation, e.g. participation in classes at a doctoral school

Answered by: Research Development UZH