Postdoctoral formation in Switzerland Augustin McEvoy, EPFL, Lausanne

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Postdoctoral formation in SwitzerlandAugustin
McEvoy, EPFL, Lausanne
Background - why me? Teaching - Ireland, USA,
Trinidad, Germany, Switzerland. Research -
University and Research Institute (JRC Ispra,
Italy). Research management - IEA fuel cells
programme - evaluator, EU postdoctoral
support programme Marie Curie Research
area Materials for Energy - PV, fuel cells,
batteries.
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Whats a Postdoc?

• From the Postdocs perspective
• escape from the student level
• experience and contacts
• professional recognition to consolidate a CV -
  the publications demand
• teaching experience? -compatibility with
  research obligations?
• From the Universitys perspective - a necessary
  evil?
• training doctoral students is an academic
  engagement, clearly part of the University
  mission, within a defined timeframe and
  committment
• postdocs are not recognised as academics, butmay
  have academic ambitions, begin to have family
  obligations, are in a parking orbit in
  expectation of a definitive career option.
  Consequence - instability for the individual and
  for the institution.

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The Swiss situation

• The decentralised structure of the country -
• impact on the University and research system
• Cantonal Universities and (new) Technical
  Universities
• Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale / Eidg. Technische
  Hochschule
• Funding Cantons
• Confederation, e.g. Federal Office of Energy
• Swiss National Fund for Scientific Research
• International programmes - European Union
• Result diversity of status for postdocs,
  improvisation!!

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ETH Board and the ETH domain
Welcome to the ETH Board and the ETH domain For
over 150 years, the Swiss Federal government has
played an active role in Swiss science policy,
primarily through the ETH domain. The two Swiss
Federal Institutes of Technology in Zurich (ETH
Zurich) and Lausanne (EPF Lausanne) and the
research institutions PSI, WSL, EMPA and EAWAG
ensure that the ETH domain plays a leading part
in basic and applied research, in teaching,
innovation and services in the public sector.
These institutions also achieve world-class
results in the promising, future-oriented
disciplines of life sciences, nanotechnology and
communications technology.
For over 150 years, the Swiss Federal government
has played an active role in Swiss science
policy, primarily through the ETH domain. The
two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology in
Zurich (ETH Zurich) and Lausanne (EPF Lausanne)
and the research institutions PSI, WSL (land
management), EMPA and EAWAG (hydro-geology)
ensure that the ETH domain plays a leading part
in basic and applied research, in teaching,
innovation and services in the public sector.
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The Swiss National Science Foundationfor the
promotion of scientific research
Acting on a mandate issued by the Swiss Federal
Government, the Swiss National Science Foundation
(SNSF) supports research undertaken inside and
outside universities and fosters young scientific
talent. The Foundation Council is the governing
body of the SNSF, which was founded in 1952. The
Foundation Council has representatives of the
scientific and research communities, the Federal
Government and the cantons as well as economic
and cultural institutions. The Research Council,
which is divided into four Divisions, evaluates
research projects and makes decisions about
awarding grants. The Local Research Commissions
award fellowships for prospective researchers and
assist the SNSF with the evaluation of grant
applications. The Secretariat, based in Berne,
does the groundwork for the business of the
Foundation and Research Councils and is
responsible for administrative and financial
duties.
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FNS/SNF Structure

• Presidency
• Div. I, Humanities and Social Sciences
• - Expert Commission DORE
• Div. II, Mathematics, Natural and Engineering
  Sciences
• Div. III, Biology and Medicine
• - Section A, Biology and Experimental Medicine
• - Section B, Clinical, Social and Preventive
  Medicine
• - Expert Commission Aids
• Div. IV, Targeted Research
• - National Research Programmes NRP
• National Centres of Competence in Research NCCR
• ? Research Commissions at Swiss Universities
  / Institutions of Higher Education

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Swiss National Research Fund -non-technicalacti
ons

• SNFinfo March 2005 New NCCRs - from global
  commerce to emotions
• The six newly launched National Centres of
  Competence in Research cover a large spectrum of
  themes from the humanities and social sciences.
  In the March edition of SNFinfo we present those
  NCCRs that have been accepted by the FDI.
• Framework conditions for international
  commerce.
• Iconics - the power and sense of images
• Transformations, changes and recognition of
  media - historic perspectives
• Emotions in individual behaviour and social
  processes
• Requirements for democracy in the 21st. Century
• Swiss etiological study of adjustment and mental
  health.

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An individual viewpoint

• 1. Career planning and support -widen experience
  in
• teaching and administration, not just research.
• 2. Equity - postdocs must be convinced that they
• receive just and equitable treatment -
  particularly when
• The University sets up a  Science Park  or
  encourages
•  Campus Companies . Terms and conditions will
  be
• compared by  university  and  company 
  researchers.
• Encourage initiative and sense of achievement -
  its
• not just implementing the Profs ideas and the
  contract
• Targets.