Optimum support for women researchers

Since 1991, the SNSF has significantly improved the career prospects of 616 women researchers by awarding them Marie Heim-Vögtlin grants (MHV). But the gender equality measures introduced by the SNSF during the same period have led to many special features of the MHV scheme being integrated into schemes that are open to all researchers. These include, for example, replacement of the biological age with the academic age, the option to work part-time, contributions towards childcare costs, or consideration of the applicant’s background during evaluation. “The MHV grant has had a brilliant run, but parts of it have become redundant,” says Susan Gasser, president of the Gender Equality Commission of the SNSF. “The research funds that come with it are also rather limited and the funding period lasts only two years.”

As part of its innovations for 2017, the SNSF is therefore replacing MHV with a more generously funded and flexible scheme for women researchers at postdoctoral level: PRIMA (Promoting Women in Academia). The new scheme focuses more strongly on the researcher’s potential for an academic career. PRIMA will offer the best female researchers optimum support and prepare them for an independent academic post. Susan Gasser highlights the scheme’s ambitious main goal: “We hope that PRIMA will help to increase the low number of female professors at Swiss higher education institutions.” The new scheme will create more flexible conditions for talented women scientists, thus giving them better chances of overcoming the institutional barriers that still persist.