ETH Zurich and EPFL have
launched Future Food – A Swiss Research Initiative together with Bühler,
Givaudan and Nestlé (the first partners on board) to further expand research
and education in the area of food and nutrition sciences. The Future Food Fellowship
is a major pillar within this framework. It aims to bring together competences
from academic and industrial research in the fields covered by the initiative.
The overarching goal is to develop solutions that address grand challenges such
as affordable nutrition and sustainable packaging.
The Future Food Fellowship is
a postdoctoral programme of ETH Zurich and EPFL for exceptionally qualified
young researchers who propose projects targeting future food issues such as
nutrition, production, packaging and health. The Fellowship provides research
funds for three years, enabling fellows to work on their projects and
collaborate with Swiss industry partners.
Call Topics:
The Call 2020 is open to any
outstanding proposal that fits the criteria. Special preference will initially
be given to projects that address the following areas:
Plant-based proteins
Eligible examples: Dairy analogues, meat
analogues, sustainable proteins, etc.
Digital technologies for food
design
Eligible examples: Development of food
structures, modelling of flavor profiles, modelling of stability,
formulation of new food products, etc.
Not eligible: Consumer apps, dietary
recommendations, manufacturing technologies or optimization
Sustainable packaging
Eligible examples: New or transformed
materials, bio-sources, re-use or recycling, bio-degradation, new
packaging formats, etc.
Microbiome
Eligible examples: Concrete applications
Not eligible: Longer-term, fundamental
research
For all subsequent calls, the
topics for research projects will be announced on a yearly basis.
Eligibility:
To submit a proposal within
the framework of the Future Food Initiative, the following eligibility criteria
must be fulfilled:
Citizens of any nationality may apply; there
are no restrictions concerning age.
Applicants must hold a doctorate (PhD) and
must have obtained their doctoral degree at maximum three years before the
submission deadline. The latest possible date for a successful defence of
the PhD is 30 September succeeding the interview date.
Applicants must not have been affiliated for
studies, research, employment or other activities (with or without
payment) at either ETH Zurich or EPFL during the 12 months that
immediately precede the submission deadline.
Applications will not be forwarded for
evaluation if applicants already hold or have held a faculty-equivalent
position (e.g. assistant professor) in a higher education institution in
Switzerland or abroad.
Applications and supporting documentation must
be written in English.
The prospective research project must also
comply with the applicable ethics regulations and adhere to the principles
of research integrity valid at the host institution (ETH Zurich or EPFL).
Relevant ethical, legal and social considerations should be included in
the proposal.
Duration:
The Future Food Fellowship is awarded in the
form of a three-year research contract. At the end of the second year, a
review is conducted to evaluate the project, its continued originality and
the productivity of the fellow.
During the three years, fellows are encouraged
to seek faculty or industry positions. Success in doing so will not
necessarily result in termination of the Fellowship – the decision will be
made by the Decision Board on the recommendation of the Evaluation Board.
Funding:
The programme aims to award ten fellowships
each year. However, available funds will only be exhausted if the quality
standards of the programme are fulfilled. The maximum duration of funding
for each postdoctoral Fellowship is three years.
The funding will be granted to cover the
fellow’s salary in accordance with the host institution’s standard
conditions plus annual funds of max. 20,000 Swiss Francs for project costs
directly related to the approved project. Upon project approval, funds
will be allocated at the start of the project for the entire duration of
the project to the hosting laboratory, which will manage its usage in
conformity with the rules of the hosting institution.
Timeline:
The following timeline applies
for the 2020 call for applications:
1 December 2019: Call opens
31 March 2020, 23:59 CET: Final deadline for
applications via the online form
May 2020: Notification and invitation for
face-to-face interview sent to the final selection of candidates. A
notification is sent to candidates whose application has been rejected.
11/12 June 2020: The candidates are
interviewed by the Evaluation Board in Bern, Switzerland; final evaluation
of fellows
Second half of June 2020: Formal decision on
fellows is made and communicated
October to December 2020: Commencement of
Fellowships