What does the Research Office do?
Our core mission is to offer services designed to support researchers at the Institute in their research-related activities. We are here to advise on identifying the most suitable competitive funding instruments, support researchers during the submission process, and provide initial guidance on setting up the project. Researchers can access a wealth of useful resources on our dedicated intranet page and explore funding opportunities through our Funding Insight newsletter. We also assist in disseminating the Institute’s research outcomes within the academic community and to the wider public, particularly through our Research Bulletin, Global Challenges webzine, research multimedia, digital collections, and International Development Policy. Furthermore, we offer guidance on research ethics-related matters and coordinate the ethics approval process in collaboration with the Ethics Committee. We also administer seed money grants to help faculty members initiate research projects by conducting preparatory work and exploring potential collaborations (more info on this page). Last but not least, we organise workshops and training sessions designed to help researchers enhance their research and team management competencies.
What are its objectives and what is its strategy?
Our objectives are closely aligned with our mission and the activities mentioned above. They can be divided into four main areas: assisting with competitive research project submissions, communicating about research projects and their results, supporting the development of research-related policies, and developing researchers’ competencies.
Regarding our strategy, we strive to continuously improve our services and tailor them to the needs of our key stakeholders. We evaluate our results in relation to these objectives using both quantitative and qualitative indicators. At the core of our work is a strong team spirit, where mutual support drives our achievements.
In the past year, we facilitated 109 competitive research proposal submissions, requesting over CHF 61 million. Our Research Bulletin receives approximately 1,500 unique views per issue, while the Global Challenges series garners over 100,000 views annually. In 2024, our online publications (journals and books) accumulated more than 900,000 views in total. In collaboration with the Institute’s Sustainability Initiative, we developed a policy that outlines the reimbursement of travel expenses for Institute employees, while adhering to sustainability principles. Additionally, we organised eight training blocks and information sessions for our researchers. Building close relationships with researchers at the Institute is a key priority for us. These connections enable us to gather valuable feedback and continuously enhance our work.
What training do you organise for the Institute’s researchers and what are your plans in this area?
In 2024, we organised a variety of training and information sessions, either independently or in collaboration with partners. In particular, we hosted five information sessions for the Institute’s researchers: one on Research Career & Research Funding, two on SNSF Postdoc Mobility, one on Doc.Mobility, and one on Euresearch.
Additionally, we offered three specialised training blocks: Research Team Management Training, Research Data Management Training, and Ambizione Grant Writing Group.
We also collaborate with CUSO, an organisation that facilitates joint activities for doctoral students in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Together, we hosted a one-day Active Listening Workshop for doctoral students.
In 2025, we aim to enrich our current training offers with workshops on artificial intelligence in research and fieldwork research practices.