The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) awards four scientists from the University of Bern an SNSF Consolidator Grant 2022 each. The funded research projects address wildfire resilience in Europe, religious interactions in the early Middle Ages, the search for physics beyond the standard model, and the intercontinental transfer of Christian body relics.
Due to Switzerland's current status as a non-associated third country in the Horizon Europe framework program, the SNSF launched the transitional measure "SNSF Consolidator Grants 2022" on behalf of the federal government. This was aimed at scientists who wanted to conduct their research in Switzerland and consolidate their scientific independence.
Successful projects covering the entire scientific spectrum
Four researchers at the University of Bern are receiving such a Consolidator Grant in the current call for proposals: Katharina Heyden, Professor at the Institute of Historical Theology, Martin Hoferichter, Professor at the Institute for Theoretical Physics, Urte Krass, Professor at the Institute of Art History and Dr. Christine Eriksen, currently Senior Researcher at the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich. Christine Eriksen will conduct her research project at the Institute of Geography, University of Bern.
"The four research projects from different scientific subfields reflect the interdisciplinary nature of our comprehensive university. I am delighted with the successful applications for this SNSF research grant, which also once again demonstrates the University of Bern’s competitiveness," says Hugues Abriel, Vice-Rector for Research at the University of Bern. "However, it remains a concern that researchers from Switzerland cannot apply for grants of the European Research Council (ERC). Research relies on networking and international collaboration."
The four projects:
