LIVES Visitor Grants 2027

LIVES Visitor Grants for scholars visiting the Universities of Lausanne & Geneva 

Goal

The LIVES Centre offers Visitor Grants to scholars affiliated with an institution outside Switzerland who wish to undertake a research 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 collaborative research.

Eligibility

• Scholars at different stages of their academic careers, including doctoral students in their third year or later, postdoctoral researchers, lecturers, and professors, are eligible to apply.
• Applicants must plan an on-site research stay of at least two consecutive months in Lausanne or Geneva (longer stays are possible). No part of the visit may take place in July or August.
• Doctoral students cannot apply for funding to visit their current PhD supervisor or co-supervisor.

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 a combined total of CHF 3,000 (higher amounts may be considered in exceptional, well-justified cases or for longer stays). It does not cover other expenses, such as local transportation, meals, or insurance. Reimbursements are issued after the visit, upon submission of valid receipts. Only expenses incurred during the 2027 calendar year are eligible for reimbursement.

Submission

Applications must be submitted by November 15, 2026 to Caroline.Jeanneret@unil.ch (for visits hosted at the University of Lausanne) or Aurelie.Cailleaud@unige.ch (for visits hosted at the University of Geneva). Each LIVES member may host only one application. Please submit the following documents in English as a single PDF file (with your last name included in the filename) [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 letter (or email) of support from the LIVES member who will host the visitor
• 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 estimates, 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:

• Strength of the proposed collaboration and added value of the research stay for the LIVES Centre
• Scientific quality, feasibility, expected contribution, and fit of the planned research with the LIVES Centre
• Scientific qualifications and track record, assessed in light of the applicant’s career stage.

Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously received a LIVES Visitor Grant.

Note that Visitor Grants are competitive. The number of applications generally exceeds the available funding.

Timeline

Applicants will be notified of the outcome by December 15, 2026.

[1] Please note that obtaining visitor status involves some administrative procedures. For non-EU/EFTA nationals, visa or processing may take three months or longer. Applicants should take this into account when proposing their visit dates.