FAQ

SNSF Information event for the Ambizione call for proposals : 16.08.2024 

Answer: Yes, it is possible that a Spark grant overlaps with an Ambizione funding period.

Question: After having submitted an Ambizione application, is it correct that you can not apply to SNF project funding nor NCCR scheme as a PI? For how long are you prevented to do so? 

Answer: Yes, indeed. If you have submitted an Ambizione proposal, you cannot apply for the same duration of support for an SNSF project funding or NCCR in the role of an applicant or further applicant. This is only possible again for a funding duration, which would start after the end of your Ambizione grant.

 

CV

Question: Can major output be justified by something else than publications, eg. grants, conferences organisation, invited talks, what is acceptable? 

Answer: Yes you can opt to put whatever you like as major scientific achievement as long as you follow the formal regulations (like max. number of citation, etc).

Collaboration

Question: Can we have collaborations with other  institutions ? For example, can we say that some data will be provided from another center with which we collaborate?

Answer: Yes, that is possible.

 

Research plan 

Question:  About the research plan, can we use figures/diagrams in the research plan? Like showing the work packages and experimental plan details? This’s not clarified in the guideline. The figures will be counted into the 15 page limit? but will not be counted into 60000 characters, is this right? Thanks.

Answer: Yes, you can include as many figures / diagrams / tables as you wish, as long as your research plan is not longer than 15 pages and does not include more than 60'000 characters.

Salary

Question: For the project grant, can the salary also be covered by university funding?

Answer: Yes, this is possible. Important is that your position/salary is covered for the whole duration of the potential Ambizione grant.

Resubmission

Question: If a proposal is rejected after the first step, does it have to be resubmitted exclusively to the next call, or can it be resubmitted again afterwards?

Answer: You can resubmit in whichever year you like, as long as you still fulfill all eligibility criteria. Also as a reminder, it is only possible to apply two times to Ambizione.

Hosting institution fund 

Question: Is it true that the hosting institution must fund 20% of the expenses? Is it possible for the host institution not to contribute with any funding?

Answer: It is expected that the research institution contributes a commensurate share of the funding of research expenses (e.g. material, equipment, personnel, travel, etc.) and access rights to infrastructures, equipment, and other services as necessary for conducting the research, but there is no specific prescription on how this has to be done.

Question: Are people rated higher in the evaluation process if they request to supervise PhD candidate and rated lower if they decide not to?

Answer It does not have an influence on the assessment of the application. 

Question: In the Ambizione regulations it is mentioned that "The average gross salary will be around CHF 120'000 per annum". However, after having asked to 4-5 different universities in Switzerland only one really approaches that average salary. Where is this 120k figure coming from? Do universities need to comply with it to some extent? Thanks. 

Answer: This is an approximate figure we suggest in view of our experience, bot not all universities pay the same salaries. In case you are invited for phase 2 of the evaluation, we will verify your actual salary with the planned research institution based on your experience and their salary brackets for Ambizione grantees.

Question: In the Ambizione regulations it is mentioned that "The average gross salary will be around CHF 120'000 per annum". However, after having asked to 4-5 different universities in Switzerland only one really approaches that average salary. Where is this 120k figure coming from? Do universities need to comply with it to some extent? Thanks.

Answer: It is expected that the research institution contributes a commensurate share of the funding of research expenses (e.g. material, equipment, personnel, travel, etc.) and access rights to infrastructures, equipment, and other services as necessary for conducting the research, but there is no specific prescription on how this has to be done. This is an approximate figure we suggest in view of our experience, bot not all universities pay the same salaries. In case you are invited for phase 2 of the evaluation, we will verify your actual salary with the planned research institution based on your experience and their salary brackets for Ambizione grantees.

Question: Are people rated higher in the evaluation process if they request to supervise PhD candidate and rated lower if they decide not to?

AnswerBudget: It does not have an influence on the assessment of the application. 

Question: Can you add a General Abonnment (GA) to the budget if you intend to carry out research in different parts of Switzerland and cannot specify all the travels you will have to take?

Answer: In principle this is not possible.

Question: Can weMust havethe collaborationsplanned withpublications otherduring institutionsthe ?Ambizione For example, can we say that some data willProject be providedopen fromaccess? anotherShould centerthe withpublication whichcosts webe collaborate?part of the planned budget? 

Answer: Yes, thatthis is possiblea requirement for SNSF funded projects. The publication costs can however not be applied for via the Ambizione budget itself, but can be requested later on during the ongoing grant via a separate funding possibility. cf. Home EN - Open Access (snf.ch)

 

Hosting institution fund 

Question: CanIs majorit outputtrue bethat justifiedthe byhosting somethinginstitution elsemust thanfund publications,20% eg.of grants,the conferencesexpenses? organisation,Is invitedit talks,possible whatfor isthe acceptable?host institution not to contribute with any funding?

Answer: YesIt youis canexpected optthat the research institution contributes a commensurate share of the funding of research expenses (e.g. material, equipment, personnel, travel, etc.) and access rights to putinfrastructures, whateverequipment, youand likeother services as majornecessary scientificfor achievement as long as you followconducting the formalresearch, regulationsbut (likethere max.is numberno ofspecific citation,prescription etc).on how this has to be done.

 

Evaluation

Question: Hello,Are canpeople researchrated assistantshigher bein employedthe insteadevaluation process if they request to supervise PhD candidate and rated lower if they decide not to?

Answer It does not have an influence on the assessment of PhDsthe withinapplication. 

Question: Are people rated higher in the project?evaluation process if they request to supervise PhD candidate and rated lower if they decide not to?

Answer: Yes,It itdoes isnot possible to hire other personnel than PhD students viahave an Ambizioneinfluence Grant

Question:  Are candidates considered eligible if they have completed their PhD and postdoctoral work outsideon the Swiss university system and have never been partassessment of the Swissapplication. academic system before?

Answer: Yes, if they fulfil all other participation requirements, they are eligible. There is no requirements in terms of nationality or residence permit.

Question: Does the fact that SNF receive very few application for 'Ambizione research project only (no salary') increases the success chance for this 2nd option? Are the 2 options evaluated separately?

Answer: No, they are evaluated together with the other Ambizione proposals and are treated the same way.

Question:  About the research plan, can we use figures/diagrams in the research plan? Like showing the work packages and experimental plan details? This’s not clarified in the guideline. The figures will be counted into the 15 page limit? but will not be counted into 60000 characters, is this right? Thanks.

Answer: Yes, you can include as many figures / diagrams / tables as you wish, as long as your research plan is not longer than 15 pages and does not include more than 60'000 characters

Question:  Is it possible for two researchers in the same department of an institute to get the Ambizione grant during the same application period? Or does SNF only give one grant to a department in any given year? 

Answer: If both proposals are evaluated positively, it is possible. There are no restrictions in terms of how many ambizione grants can be submitted per host institution.

Question: If you have already submitted your proposal once (say 2024), do you have to resubmit in the very next year if it’s rejected or can you apply in 2 years (e.g. in 2026)

Answer: You can resubmit in whichever year you like, as long as you still fulfill all eligibility criteria. Also as a reminder, it is only possible to apply two times to Ambizione

Question:  Is it a problem if an applicant also has aspirations for a non-academic career after the Ambizione? Will this been seen in a negative way?

Answer: Yes that is possible. The aim after the grant is that applicants will be ready for a related extra-academic or academic career.

 

Resubmission

Question: If Musta proposal is rejected after the plannedfirst publicationsstep, duringdoes it have to be resubmitted exclusively to the Ambizionenext Projectcall, or can it be openresubmitted access?again Should the publication costs be part of the planned budget? afterwards?

Answer: Yes, this is a requirement for SNSF funded projects. The publication costsYou can howeverresubmit notin bewhichever applied for via the Ambizione budget itself, but can be requested later on during the ongoing grant via a separate funding possibility. cf. Home EN - Open Access (snf.ch)

Question: Can the Spark grant overlap with the Ambizione grant? Or should I let the Ambizione grant start after the enddate of the Spark? 

Answer: Yes, it is possible that a Spark grant overlaps with an Ambizione funding period.

Question: After having submitted an Ambizione application, is it correct thatyear you canlike, notas applylong toas SNFyou projectstill fundingfulfill norall NCCReligibility schemecriteria. Also as a PI?reminder, For how long are you prevented to do so? 

Answer: Yes, indeed. If you have submitted an Ambizione proposal, you cannot apply for the same duration of support for an SNSF project funding or NCCR in the role of an applicant or further applicant. Thisit is only possible againto forapply atwo fundingtimes duration, which would start after the end of yourto Ambizione grant..