In order to promote the start-up of new interdisciplinary projects, the Interdisciplinary Centre for Mountain Research (CIRM) at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) provides seed funding. Limited to a maximum of CHF 20,000 per project, these funds must be used to start interdisciplinary projects (networking in particular), carried out as a priority in the three study regions and around the notion of “living well in the mountains”. The funded projects should, as far as possible, lead to a more ambitious research project, with external funding. Three types of projects are funded:

• • basic research projects

• • applied research projects

• • projects to promote research results

This year, priority will be given to projects that integrate researchers from the humanities and social sciences and the natural or health sciences (“strong” interdisciplinarity) and that integrate scientists and actors from the territory, in particular the Jura, and in particular the partners of the CIRM (transdisciplinarity).

Proposals (written in French or English) must be submitted in the form of a single pdf file, to Christelle Monnet, secretary of the CIRM (christelle.monnet@unil.ch) until 15 January 2025.

For further information: Iago Otero (iago.otero@unil.ch), Project Manager.

Click the button below to see the full call at the UNIL website.

This fellowship is aimed at future decision-makers and multipliers who aim to take on the global challenge of climate change through international, cross-border cooperation. Successful applicants from non-European developing or transition countries will undertake a 12–24-month research project in Germany in order to facilitate the mutual exchange of knowledge, methods, and techniques.

The deadline for applications is 1 February 2025.

Are you working academically or practically in climate protection or climate-relevant resource conservation in your country of origin – a non-European developing or transition country (see list of countries)? Then you are invited to apply for an International Climate Protection Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

If you are a prospective leader you will do a one-year research project in Germany as part of your fellowship; if you are a postdoc, long-term academic research (12-24 months). It should focus on combating climate change, adaptation strategies, preserving ecosystems and biodiversity, or on the sustainable use of the seas and oceans. Sustainability topics relating to natural resources, resource-efficient consumption or urban development are also welcome.

The Humboldt Foundation awards up to 15 International Climate Protection Fellowships to prospective leaders working practically and up to five to postdocs each year. The fellowships are funded through the International Climate Initiative.

The Humboldt Foundation aims to achieve a good balance between genders and a high level of diversity among its fellows in all areas. It therefore expressly invite female prospective leaders and members of underrepresented groups to apply. It welcomes all applications, regardless of ethnic, cultural or social background, gender identity, age, religion, worldview, disability or sexual orientation.

This eight week academic summer course teaches students how to safely live and work on the glaciers, encompasses introductory/intermediate glacier science, and provides insights into how to conduct field research.

The deadline for program and scholarship applications is 13 December 2024.

What is the JIRP student program?

The JIRP student program is an academic summer course for students interested in glacier science and field skills training. Its eight-week field season is based around a ski traverse of the Juneau Icefield in Southeast Alaska and northern British Columbia. Its 60+ person expedition stays in permanent field camps while students are taught how to safely live and work on the glaciers, learn introductory/intermediate glacier science, and gain insights into how to conduct field research. Along the way students design and carry out their own research projects.

The JIRP student program works in parallel with a variety of research teams who use JIRP facilities for their field campaigns. Throughout the summer JIRP students (supported by educational staff) are implanted with research teams to further their mentorship and training goals.

The JIRP student program is both an academic course and a field safety course. Its academic curriculum covers undergraduate-level Polar sciences with a focus on glaciology, climate processes, glacial geomorphology, periglacial ecology, and interactions between these systems. JIRP is also appropriate for graduate students with limited experience in these topics, as well as high school students (18 years or older) who are prepared to progress academically. Students learn through academic and research interactions with a rotating faculty from around the world. Lectures and workshops focus on the primary topics listed above, but also cover Alaskan geologic history, geomatics and remote sensing, geophysics, scientific literacy, and science communication. In addition, the program capitalizes on the expertise of its rotating faculty members to cover current questions in science.

The JIRP field safety curriculum teaches students how to live and work safely in alpine and polar environments. It trains students on basic backcountry skills, including packing a backpack, hydration/nutrition, and wilderness medicine. During a two- to three-week safety orientation, students learn technical rope skills, backcountry travel on both crampons and on skis, group management, and route finding. While the first section of the summer is devoted to safety training, JIRP students use their skills every day of the season to further their scientific and academic objectives.

Deadlines 

Student applications for first priority consideration for the summer 2025 program are due by 13 December 2024. Applications are considered on an ongoing basis until the program is filled.

A scholarship is also available to cover some of the program costs. Deadline for scholarship applications is 13 December 2024.

MARGISTAR is launching its first call for Virtual Mobility (VM) for mobilities occurring between January 15^th and September 30, 2025. Applications can be sent on a continuous basis, up to the reaching of the budget limit.

Aim of Virtual Mobilities

Virtual Mobility (VM) Grants aim to promote scientific networking, knowledge sharing, and collaborative research in a virtual environment. These grants are designed to support researchers, particularly early-career scholars, in establishing or strengthening partnerships with colleagues across borders.

VMs offer a unique opportunity to overcome geographical limitations, enabling researchers to engage in collaborative work that would otherwise be difficult due to travel restrictions or logistical challenges. The grants support a range of activities, including but not limited to, virtual meetings, webinars, online workshops, and collaborative research projects. By leveraging digital platforms, these grants foster a vibrant exchange of ideas and expertise, facilitating the development of innovative research outcomes.

Applicants are encouraged to propose activities that align with the objectives of Margistar and contribute to the advancement of their respective fields throughout the year.

A VM can focus on:

• Virtual mentoring schemes, with special focus on activities and exchanges that can generate capacity building and new skills, particularly for Young Researchers and Innovators (e.g. managerial skills, methodological skills, communication skills, etc);

  • Supporting the harmonisation and standardisation of methods and procedures within the Action networking activities, e.g. setting up a survey amongst all Action members to collect different results and outcomes from experiments done in their respective labs and research groups; coordinating the discussions to create common protocols to be used by the network afterwards; preparing questionnaires and response scales to be used by the Action members as part of virtual networking activities.
  • Supporting the implementation of research coordination related activities that do not necessarily require in-person presence, e.g. computational or modelling activities; data analysis of the Action for a specific report or activity.

Call Deadlines 

This call is for missions occurring between January 15^th and September 30^th, 2025.

Please note that the evaluation process of submitted applications takes some time and the applicant cannot start their mobility period before having received the evaluation outcomes and Grant Letter. 

No later than 30 days after the virtual mobility´s end, the grantee must submit the report. The grant payment is made after the report has been approved by the Grant Awarding Coordinator.

Click “Read More” below to read the full call description, including eligibility, the application and evaluation processes.

The Pathways Communication Grants support innovative ways of communicating scientific outcomes of place-based research projects on pathways for sustainability to educate and engage with non-academic audiences.

Eligible proposals must focus on completed research projects that explore transformative pathways for sustainability in practice. Future Earth is seeking ideas that go beyond just sharing and disseminating knowledge — it wants to see creative approaches that actively engage and inspire non-academic audiences.

Researchers from all levels, including PhD students, affiliated with universities or research institutions are welcome to apply. Grants range from €5,000 to €12,000 per project.

Deadline to submit proposals: 22 December 2024