published: February 9, 2011
Take Your Chance and Apply for a Mobility Grant!
The SPSW provides mobility grants to PhD students, who have to cover travel and accomodation costs during visits at other research groups in Switzerland.
If ever you apply for a mobility grant, your application will end up on Natacha Gassmans desk. Currently high quality applications have a good chance for approval, says Natacha Gassmann.
Franziska Humair (fh) - How much of the travel and housing cost is covered by the mobility grant?
Natacha Gassmann (ng) - All the travel and housing costs are covered by the grant (2nd class train ticket, accommodation costs, metro or bus tickets from the train station to the university).
fh - The mobility grant also covers accommodation: what standard is meant?
ng - For a short stay of a few days, a hotel is a solution (average standard, reasonable price). For a longer stay, we expect the student to find another solution (a student home, studio or room rental).
fh - How many times is a PhD student allowed to apply for mobility grants during his / her PhD career?
ng - A PhD student can apply for a grant several times, but not more than once a year.
fh - Who actually decides on the allocation the grants?
ng - The decision is made by the professor in charge for each network. For Zürich-Basel PSC, it is Prof. Thomas Boller in Basel, for BeNeFri, it is Prof. Ted Turlings in Neuchâtel, and for Arc Lémanique PS, it is Prof. Yves Poirier in Lausanne.
fh - What is the acceptance rate for these applications?
ng - If the application is made by an SPSW PhD student and the mobility concerns plant sciences, the chances of a positive answer are very high, as long as the added value is clear, the budget is reasonable and the funds are available.
fh - What are your experiences on the actual use of the mobility grants?
ng - So far, there have not been many requests for mobility grants, and we have been able to be relatively generous. We expect that as soon as more doctoral students become aware of this possibility, the number of applications will increase and we will have to be more selective. Applications for research stays [DOC / 30 Ko] or courses [DOC / 30 Ko] can be sent at any time.
