Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in Project Funding at the SNSF

On 14 November 2024, USI hosted the event ‘Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in Project Funding’, an initiative aimed at raising awareness of the reconciliation measures proposed at USI and by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) within academic research funding processes to support women's careers and other underrepresented groups in research.  

The event, organised by USI's Equal Opportunities Service and Research Service in collaboration with the Swiss National Science Foundation, brought together PhDs, Postdocs, female researchers and researchers to explore the challenges and opportunities related to fair and inclusive access to academia and research funding.

Speakers during the day included Francesca Scalici, Head of the Equality Service, Anna Lazzarinetti, Co-Head of the Research Service and Jasmine Lorenzini, Head of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Office of the SNSF.  

The initiative explored, USI's Work-life balance measures; Supplementary measures from the Swiss National Science Foundation that can be applied for by recipients of SNSF funding if certain conditions are met; Mobility grants for PhD students whose salary is paid by the SNSF and who wish to spend a research period abroad; Flexibility grants that allow SNSF-funded postdocs and PhD students who have to care for their children to benefit from greater flexibility; and Gender Equality Grants that offer young female researchers funded by the SNSF additional support for their career development.

Beneficiaries of the SNSF supplementary measures accepted to share their testimonial: Prof. Silvia dalla Fontana, Assistant Professor, ESCP Business School, Dr. Daniele Grattarola, Senior ML scientist, Isomorphic Labs, Prof. Bareerah Hafeez Hoorani, Assistant Professor, Radbound University, Dr. Ilaria Fregno, Scientist, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) and Dr. Giulia Scotto, Postdoc, Academy of Architecture, USI.