Visiting Fellow Programme for Young Researchers in Law at the University of Lucerne in Switzerland

In the spirit of furthering academic collaboration and exchange that the Institute for Interdisciplinary Legal Studies – lucernaiuris sponsors a Visiting Fellows scheme. The aim of the initiative is to enable visitors to spend a period of time in Lucerne, during which they can share and develop research and teaching ideas with the university members. The university believes that the academic and international diversity of its fellows greatly enriches the intellectual life of the institute.

Each year, the institute allocates a limited number of funded fellowships for Ph.D. students and postdocs. The grant covers travel and accommodation costs (up to a designated maximum), with the possibility of an additional stipend to defray supplementary living expenses. 

Eligibility Criteria:

• The scheme is open to Ph.D. and postdoctoral researchers.
• There are no restrictions on nationality or country of residence.
• The standard term limit for postdocs is up to five years after the completion of the Ph.D., whereby the reference date is 1 January (i.e. applicants should not have defended before 1 January 2015).
• Exceptions to the above are possible. They must, however, be well-founded and are made at the discretion of the assessment committee.

Duration of Fellowship:

The standard period of tenure of a fellowship is between thirty and sixty days.

Fellow Commitments:

During their stay, fellows are generally expected to:

• Participate in the institute’s activities (workshops, seminars, lectures, conferences); 
• Meet regularly with university members and other fellows; 
• Avail themselves of further opportunities for exchange; 
• Be in residence in Lucerne.

Agreements on specific work tasks are made prior to commencement of the fellowship in liaison with the Head of Institute, Associate Director and/or designated academic mentor. These will be tailored to the needs, expectations, and experience of individual fellows. Options might include:

• Presentation of a paper at a research seminar/colloquium; 
• Delivery of a guest lecture as part of a teaching module; 
• (co-) the organisation of a seminar or workshop.

Upon completion of their stay, fellows are requested to write a brief feedback report (ca. 500 words).

Benefits:

Fellows are provided with:

• Workspace at the university; 
• Borrowing privileges for both the Lucerne central library and the institute’s own reference collection;
• on-line services, including email and access to electronic journals; 
• A varied calendar of lectures, seminars, workshops, and conferences; 
• A friendly and stimulating environment for discussion and reflection.

Funding:

Fellowship grants are comprised of three main components:

• Reimbursement of return travel costs from a country of residence to Lucerne (standard class, up to a maximum of 1’500 CHF); 
• Coverage of accommodation costs (studio apartment/shared flat in Lucerne); 
• Living allowance of between 100 CHF and 150 CHF per week for the duration of stay (dependent on current appointment and salary).

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See more available exchange programs on For9a