Application Form

We kindly ask you to read the FAQ carefully before preparing your application. To complete the submission, please send the following documents compiled as a single pdf file to research@samw.ch.

 

NB: Please make sure that the submitted PDF is not protected against editing since standardized information will be added to the application documents by the SAMS.

 

• Motivation letter of the applicant (max. 1.5 page) with:
  • Career plan
  • Description of the education in clinical research planned during the supported period (type of courses and expected degree).
  • If applicable, the reasons for requesting an extension of the eligibility window must be explained and documented.
     
• CV of the applicant (max. 3 pages), including previous scientific activities, if applicable. Please indicate clearly (all dates must include month and year)
  • 1) the period of your undergraduate medical studies;
  • 2) the period of your MD thesis (if not completed yet, specify when this is planned), including the title of your thesis and the name of your thesis supervisor;
  • 3) the period of your postgraduate training.
  • If applicable, the list of your publications and other scientific output must be structured in the three aforementioned periods. NB: The period during which the work leading to the publication took place, not the date of publication, is relevant for proper attribution.

 

• Project summary (max. 1 page) with background, aims, design and methods.

 

• Detailed research plan, elaborated with the mentor (max. 6 pages including tables and figures, excluding bibliographic references. Min. font size 11, min. single line spacing), with:
  • Current state of research
  • Hypotheses
  • Aims
  • Relevance of the proposed research
  • Role of the applicant in the project
  • NB: For projects that are embedded in or closely related to a larger research project (for instance, the mentor's SNSF project), the relationship between the two projects must be described and the output expected from the YTCR grant described (e.g., a first-author paper).
  • Detailed methodology
  • Planned experiments
  • Milestones, pitfalls and timetable in which the requested grant period must be clearly indicated.
  • NB: For Project Grants, the expected broadening and consolidation of the research skills acquired during the Beginner Grant period must be explicit.

 

• Budget for Beginner Grant specifying:
  • The working time reserved for research (in percentage) during the grant period (in months)
  • The corresponding requested salary (in CHF)
  • Requested and available third-party funds (if applicable).
  • NB: The amount granted to cover the salary of the grantee for his or her research activities depends on the local salary range of the host institution and must include the employer's social security contributions. It needs to be clarified by the applicant before submitting the application.
  • Consumables, equipment, and fees for trainings, conferences, and publications cannot be covered by a YTCR Beginner Grant.

 

• Budget for Project Grant specifying:
  • The detailed requested budget in annual instalments (1 instalment per grant year)
  • All requested and available third-party funds (if available)
  • The working time reserved for research during the grant period, covered by the host institution (percentage and corresponding salary).

 

• Confirmation from the mentor guaranteeing, for the entire duration of the grant:
  • Personal supervision of the grantee
  • Integration into the research activities of the host institution
  • Access to the necessary infrastructure
  • Amount of financial support offered (consumables, etc.)
  • The mentor is expected to accompany the grantee until completion of the project and to provide a position or funding options for his or her next career steps.

 

• Confirmation from the clinic director guaranteeing, for the entire duration of the grant:
  • That the requested research time will be freed up from clinical activities.
  • For Project Grants, the corresponding salary must be covered by the host institution and guaranteed in writing.

 

• Max. 2 reference letters (optional) (to be integrated in the application documents submitted by the applicant to the SAMS).

 

• NB: The confirmation letters from the mentor and clinic director, and the reference letters, must be written on paper with official letterhead and signed.

 

• Copies of all relevant diplomas
  • NB: If the medical degree was obtained outside of Switzerland, a copy of the original diploma(s) must be submitted with a transcript in English, German, French or Italian. Please add a copy of the full MEBEKO recognition decision if available. 
  • For Project Grants: only necessary for new diplomas obtained since the application for the Beginner Grant.

 

• If applicable, copy of ethics committee’s decision and other authorisations.

 

Incomplete submissions will not be considered.