Activity funds for junior researchers

24 Novembre 2022
NCCR Automation provides junior researchers with the means for funding activities related to research or NCCR structure-related activities (Communication, Education, Equal Opportunity and KTT).
Research collaboration

 

Who can apply:

PhD students and postgraduate researchers, with at least one NCCR-funded member making the application. The applicable PIs must agree on their group members taking part in this call.

Example of activities that can be funded (Non-exhaustive)

  • Technical retreat: small group retreat to discuss or test a new idea for a few days
  • Activity aiming at networking with other junior researchers, such as junior retreat
  • Summer/Winter school on a topic relevant to the NCCR
  • Seminar or conference workshop
  • Small conference or panel discussion on current debates regarding the promotion of the academic career
  • Design/development/implementation of activities for outreach and/or education purposes, e.g. workshops, videos, podcast, etc.
  • Peer-mentoring activities
  • Other suitable activities within the NCCR Automation research areas and goals

What can funds be used for?

  • Travel costs
  • Rental of a small venue (e.g. chalet in the Alps)
  • Catering
  • Travel costs of invited speakers
  • Expenses of non-NCCR-funded participants (travel costs and overnight stay)

Application process:

  • No submission deadline
  • Applicants will fill in a form with a description of their activity and its aim, a rough schedule, the list of participants, a budget outline, how they plan to share the knowledge gained
  • Requirements:
    • Involvement of at least one person funded by the NCCR
    • Support of at least one NCCR PI

Assessment process: the applications will be reviewed by the NCCR Automation Executive Committee. The assessment criteria are:

  • Quality of the application, especially in terms of objectives and program
  • Relevance of the activity with the NCCR Automation goals
  • Composition of the group (in terms of academic experience, plurality of method)
  • Qualification of the applicants
  • Budget (i.e. the use of funds requested is appropriate, targeted and sufficiently reasoned)
  • Quality assurance (in the case of a follow-up application)
  • Knowledge transfer to the rest of the NCCR members, the general public or any other relevant stakeholder
  • Active involvement of the group members in the activities

Financing and reporting:

  • Presentation of the activity and its outcome to the NCCR Automation consortium
  • Provide a financial report