Research projects
The COPL Research Projects Programme provides competitive funding to support interdisciplinary collaborations between affiliated research groups that advance the Centre’s scientific mission on the origins and prevalence of life.
Purpose
To support collaborative research between COPL-affiliated groups – ideally across departments – on topics aligned with the Centre’s scientific objectives.
Eligibility
Each project is led by a Principal Investigator (PI), who must be a COPL-affiliated group leader.
- Co-Investigators (Co-Is) must also belong to COPL-affiliated research groups.
- PIs and Co-Is must retain their COPL membership throughout the project duration.
- Each group leader may participate in only one proposal per call (as PI or Co-I).
Scientific Scope
Projects must address COPL’s core objectives:
- Origins of molecular building blocks and transition to life
- Diversity and dynamics of planetary environments
- Habitability and the influence of life on planets
- Life in extreme or non-standard conditions
Funding
Individual projects: CHF 50,000 – 150,000
Typical eligible costs:
- Personnel (PhDs, postdocs, technical staff)
- Equipment and consumables
- Expeditions and research travel
- CHF 6,000/year fixed for conferences and seminars
Timeline
Next call will open in April 2026.
Selected project(s) will start in September–December 2026.
Duration: Up to 24 months