Combining an academic career with family responsibilities can be challenging. USI provides dedicated benefits and services to its community; besides, the SNSF offers specific measures and additional funding to support researchers with family-related needs.

USI employees and students can request financial support for external childcare if they have limited income and at least one member of the child’s household receives health insurance premium reduction subsidies provided by the Canton.

USI supports student and staff parenthood with services such as the USI-SUPSI Nursery, Junior Camp, breastfeeding rooms, and other initiatives.

For Ambizione, Starting Grants and Project Funding, SNSF offers the Flexibility Grant (below); for Postdoc.Mobility's grantees and Scientific Exchanges’ invitees to events in Switzerland or Swiss applicants on research visits abroad, it covers allowances and travel costs for accompanying children.

This measure is intended for SNSF-funded postdocs and PhD students with childcare responsibilities. It can cover external childcare costs and/or the salary of a support person who can replace them, allowing them, if they wish, to reduce their employment rate to a minimum of 60%.

The SNSF provides guidelines for project extension in case of parenthood. This applies to SNSF-funded personnel and grantees of SNSF career grants. Local regulations of the employing institution remain applicable. If the institution provides additional benefits, the SNSF will also cover them.

Contact the Research Service to check whether your funder offers additional support for parents.