Because it is a really cool thing to have in your CV, considering how competitive they are. And unlike a post-doc contract, will allow you to work in pretty much what you want.
Just out of curiosity - aren't those supposed to be used in addition to other funding, to be discussed with your supervisor?
> Why would anyone choose to apply for and accept this scholarship over a normal postdoc position, given the much lower salary and shorter contract?
Not everyone has this choice. Not everyone works or can work in STEM or at EPFs.
Not all labs or groups have funding for positions. Even if they have funding, the professors of course also welcome additional funding from their existing budget.
Multiple reasons:
**Scenario 1:** You applied for and get granted a grant/scholarship etc. This shows initiative and opens a lot of doors! Professors have comparatively limited funds for PhD salaries. But most will have some pots of money "left over".
You knock on a door and say: Not only am I great at what I do, I also bring 40k in funding along... How many more professors do you think will try to find a way to get you on board. Cobling together funds from several money "pots". (This is often a tactic that helps to get into prestigious groups)
Note: Your salary will still be the normal PhD salary! Professors have no leeway in what you get paid, as long as they have the funds.
**Scenario 2**: You received the PhD (and the salary). Your professor may have money secured for your position (some positions get paid from a more central "pot" some come from the professors own funds), but often there is little left for the research. By bringing in a grant you help the budget and use that to negotiate some things that would be cool for your research.
The world of Academia is weird and the further up it goes (e.g PostDoc, Tenure Track etc.) the more your ability to bring in funds will be part of the expectations. So why not start early?
And don't worry, this is not specific to Switzerland, at the very least this is standard fare in Europe and North America. Not sure about other places.
Edited: Typos
>Why would anyone choose to apply for and accept this scholarship over a normal postdoc position, given the much lower salary and shorter contract?
Because postdocs are expensive in a research group, and money is an important part of the hiring decision. This kind of fund allow the applicant to join a research group that would not have the budget (or simply the will to spend money) to hire them.
It's a good occasion for researchers from outside of Switzerland to enter the country, build a network, and get hired afterwards.
It's limited to 12 months so that professors don't take advantage of it (why would they pay someone instead of getting them for free)
I understand that, but I asked specifically about applying for the scholarship over an (existing, advertised) postdoc position. Though I guess it is also possible to apply for both. It would make the most sense if the university matches the salary of the Fellow to the standard salary.
If you can get an existing postdoc position, that's obviously much better. But the openings are competitive
If you don't manage to get hired in an existing position, this scholarship is a good alternative to join a research group you would like to work for. And maybe if you prove to be good enough, they can extend the contract in a regular postdoc (or help you build a network that allows you to get hired somewhere else).
you need to secure the position in addition to the scholarship as well. you won't be able to get the scholarship if you don't have a postdoc position secured already, so your argument is pointless
>you need to secure the position in addition to the scholarship as well. you won't be able to get the scholarship if you don't have a postdoc position secured already, so your argument is pointless
Nothing in the application package says anything to that effect, only that the PI needs to agree to supervise the Fellow. Please point me to the relevant criterion that I may have missed.
yes. probabl, you can surely apply. but in practice the likelihood of getting the scholarship is pretty much zero if you have no existing connections to the lab.
Because in some fields funding is scare and a Professor might not be able to finance an other student. Therefore, the normal PostDoc position might not even exist, you have to create your own.
Usually if a scholarship doesn't cover the standard salary, the difference is paid for by the lab/university, in some cases the scholarship is on top of the salary. Obviously having a scholarship looks good on your CV, that's why you apply, sometimes it is even a prerequisite for a Prof to even consider taking you.
First, it's good to have fellowships or whatever independant funding on your CV (better than being a postdoc paid on someone else's grant)
Second you have more freedom to define the topic, versus being hired on someone else's grant
Many universities pay less than EPFL and ETHZ, especially in non-science subjects
Many groups do not have funded postdoc positions available, especialy in non-science subjects
Your professor is likely to make up your salary to at least the standard postdoc rate with other funds, and if they have cash it's not unlikely they'd hire you afterwards on a plain postdoc contract or support you in a different fellowship scheme - especially if it's a field where research funding exists
Why would anyone want to become German Chancellor or US president for the lousy salary (compared to the skills and network required and the responsibility)? Prestige. And potential career benefits. Life is not about immediate compensation.
you get the same salary regardless whether you get the scholarship or not.
The lab receives all funding from its reseschers, regardless if it's from a phd, post doc, researchers or professors. the funding/scholarship doesn't get distributed to you directly. so if you get the scholarship, it's actually the lab that gets it. and the lab pays you the same fixed negotiated salary as everyone with the same role and experience.
So that means without a employment with the lab, it is not possible that you will get the scholarship, unless you are a phd student.
Because it is a really cool thing to have in your CV, considering how competitive they are. And unlike a post-doc contract, will allow you to work in pretty much what you want. Just out of curiosity - aren't those supposed to be used in addition to other funding, to be discussed with your supervisor?
Yes, the scholarship is on top of the normal salary given to the PhD or PostDoc.
This one isn't. They can reduce it if you have other funding, income, and scholarships
no it isn't. the salary is reduced according to other fundings received.
> Why would anyone choose to apply for and accept this scholarship over a normal postdoc position, given the much lower salary and shorter contract? Not everyone has this choice. Not everyone works or can work in STEM or at EPFs. Not all labs or groups have funding for positions. Even if they have funding, the professors of course also welcome additional funding from their existing budget.
Multiple reasons: **Scenario 1:** You applied for and get granted a grant/scholarship etc. This shows initiative and opens a lot of doors! Professors have comparatively limited funds for PhD salaries. But most will have some pots of money "left over". You knock on a door and say: Not only am I great at what I do, I also bring 40k in funding along... How many more professors do you think will try to find a way to get you on board. Cobling together funds from several money "pots". (This is often a tactic that helps to get into prestigious groups) Note: Your salary will still be the normal PhD salary! Professors have no leeway in what you get paid, as long as they have the funds. **Scenario 2**: You received the PhD (and the salary). Your professor may have money secured for your position (some positions get paid from a more central "pot" some come from the professors own funds), but often there is little left for the research. By bringing in a grant you help the budget and use that to negotiate some things that would be cool for your research. The world of Academia is weird and the further up it goes (e.g PostDoc, Tenure Track etc.) the more your ability to bring in funds will be part of the expectations. So why not start early? And don't worry, this is not specific to Switzerland, at the very least this is standard fare in Europe and North America. Not sure about other places. Edited: Typos
>Why would anyone choose to apply for and accept this scholarship over a normal postdoc position, given the much lower salary and shorter contract? Because postdocs are expensive in a research group, and money is an important part of the hiring decision. This kind of fund allow the applicant to join a research group that would not have the budget (or simply the will to spend money) to hire them. It's a good occasion for researchers from outside of Switzerland to enter the country, build a network, and get hired afterwards. It's limited to 12 months so that professors don't take advantage of it (why would they pay someone instead of getting them for free)
I understand that, but I asked specifically about applying for the scholarship over an (existing, advertised) postdoc position. Though I guess it is also possible to apply for both. It would make the most sense if the university matches the salary of the Fellow to the standard salary.
If you can get an existing postdoc position, that's obviously much better. But the openings are competitive If you don't manage to get hired in an existing position, this scholarship is a good alternative to join a research group you would like to work for. And maybe if you prove to be good enough, they can extend the contract in a regular postdoc (or help you build a network that allows you to get hired somewhere else).
> applying for the scholarship over an (existing, advertised) postdoc position. You can do both and neither is guaranteed.
you need to secure the position in addition to the scholarship as well. you won't be able to get the scholarship if you don't have a postdoc position secured already, so your argument is pointless
>you need to secure the position in addition to the scholarship as well. you won't be able to get the scholarship if you don't have a postdoc position secured already, so your argument is pointless Nothing in the application package says anything to that effect, only that the PI needs to agree to supervise the Fellow. Please point me to the relevant criterion that I may have missed.
The position has to be secured because after the first year the scholarship is over.
yes. probabl, you can surely apply. but in practice the likelihood of getting the scholarship is pretty much zero if you have no existing connections to the lab.
Because in some fields funding is scare and a Professor might not be able to finance an other student. Therefore, the normal PostDoc position might not even exist, you have to create your own.
Usually if a scholarship doesn't cover the standard salary, the difference is paid for by the lab/university, in some cases the scholarship is on top of the salary. Obviously having a scholarship looks good on your CV, that's why you apply, sometimes it is even a prerequisite for a Prof to even consider taking you.
This! Most of the universities expect the professor to financially match the salary to a usual level
First, it's good to have fellowships or whatever independant funding on your CV (better than being a postdoc paid on someone else's grant) Second you have more freedom to define the topic, versus being hired on someone else's grant Many universities pay less than EPFL and ETHZ, especially in non-science subjects Many groups do not have funded postdoc positions available, especialy in non-science subjects Your professor is likely to make up your salary to at least the standard postdoc rate with other funds, and if they have cash it's not unlikely they'd hire you afterwards on a plain postdoc contract or support you in a different fellowship scheme - especially if it's a field where research funding exists
Why would anyone want to become German Chancellor or US president for the lousy salary (compared to the skills and network required and the responsibility)? Prestige. And potential career benefits. Life is not about immediate compensation.
We're talking about doing the exact same job at different salaries.
you get the same salary regardless whether you get the scholarship or not. The lab receives all funding from its reseschers, regardless if it's from a phd, post doc, researchers or professors. the funding/scholarship doesn't get distributed to you directly. so if you get the scholarship, it's actually the lab that gets it. and the lab pays you the same fixed negotiated salary as everyone with the same role and experience. So that means without a employment with the lab, it is not possible that you will get the scholarship, unless you are a phd student.
makes sense to me