15 Nov 2025
Appel à candidatures
LIVES visitor grant for scholars at the Universities of Lausanne & Geneva
Goal
The LIVES Centre offers Visitor Grants to scholars from outside Switzerland who wish to visit and conduct joint research with members of the LIVES Centre at the University of Lausanne or the University of Geneva. The aim is to foster the exchange of ideas and promote collaborative research.
Eligibility
- Scholars at any stage of their academic career, including doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, lecturers, and professors, are eligible to apply.
- Applicants must plan an on-site research stay of at least two months in Lausanne or Geneva (longer stays are possible). Please note that visits cannot take place in July or August.
- Visitor Grants cannot be awarded for visits to PhD supervisors (including co-supervisors).
Requirements
Recipients of a Visitor Grant must work on-site in Lausanne or Geneva, participate in LIVES activities, and present their research at a scientific exchange seminar organized by LIVES.
Finances
The visitor grant covers travel and accommodation costs up to CHF 3,000 (higher amounts may be considered for particular needs or longer stays). It does not cover other expenses, such as local transportation, meals, or insurance. Grants are paid after the visit, upon submission of valid receipts. Only expenses incurred during the 2026 calendar year are eligible for reimbursement.
Submission
Applications must be submitted by November 15, 2025 to Caroline.Jeanneret@unil.ch (for employees of the University of Lausanne) or Aurelie.Cailleaud@unige.ch (for employees of the University of Geneva). Please submit the following documents in English as a single PDF file (including your last name in the file name)[1]:
- A brief cover letter explaining the purpose of the visit, including the planned dates
- A one-page research plan outlining the work to be carried out at the host university
- For doctoral students: an abstract of the PhD thesis (maximum 250 words)
- A support letter (or email) from the LIVES member who will serve as the visitor’s local contact
- A CV with a list of publications
For questions about the call, please contact Nicolas.Sommet@unil.ch (University of Lausanne) or Charikleia.Lampraki@unige.ch (University of Geneva). For questions about cost calculations, contact Caroline.Jeanneret@unil.ch (University of Lausanne) or Aurelie.Cailleaud@unige.ch (University of Geneva).
Assessment Criteria
Visitor Grants will be awarded based on the following criteria:
- Collaborative dimension and added value of the research stay for the LIVES Centre
- Quality, potential, and topical fit of the planned research with the LIVES Centre
- Scientific qualifications of the applicant
Preference will be given to applicants who have not received the grant in previous years.
Note that Visitor Grants are competitive, the number of applications generally exceeding the available funding.
Timeline
Decisions (acceptance or non-selection) will be communicated by December 15, 2025.
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[1] Please note that obtaining visitor status involves some administrative procedures, particularly for non-EU/EFTA citizens, who may need to wait at least three months to obtain a visa.