Research Committee
The Research Committee of the University of Lucerne uses its research fund to support the preparation of third-party funding applications and, on a smaller scale, individual projects, conferences and publications. The President of the Research Committee is Prof. Dr. Alexander Trechsel (Vice President for Research) and is supported by the Grants Office, headed by Anita Soltermann.
The Research Committee is responsible for the following tasks:
- Administration of the research fund of the University of Lucerne
- Assessing applications for support from researchers at the University of Lucerne and awarding research funding through various funding schemes
- Scientific assessment of applications for mobility grants from doctoral students, in collaboration with the Graduate Academy
- Development and coordination of research strategy and policy at the University of Lucerne
The Research Committee (FoKo) is composed of the following members with voting rights: In addition to the President and the University Manager, each faculty has two members, and the mid-level faculty and students each have one representative. The FoKo meetings are also attended in an advisory capacity by the Head of the Grants Office, the Head of Finance and Accounting and the Head of the Equal Opportunities Office.
Members of the Research Committee with voting rights
- President, Prof. Dr. Alexander Trechsel, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (KSF)
- Prof. Dr. phil. Sara Rubinelli, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine (GMF)
- Ass.-Prof. Dr. rer. soc. David Weisstanner, GMF
- Ass.-Prof. Dr. phil. Sandra Bärnreuther, KSF
- Prof. Dr. rer. soc. Raimund Hasse, KSF (on sabbatical in fall term 2024)
- Ass.-Prof. Dr. phil. Britta-Marie Schenk, KSF (deputy of Prof. Ventimigila)
- Prof. Dr. iur. Vagias Karavas, Faculty of Law (RF)
- Prof. Dr. iur. lic. oec. Klaus Mathis, RF
- Prof. Dr. theol. Margit Wasmaier-Sailer, Faculty of Theology (TF)
- Prof. Dr. phil. Giovanni Ventimiglia, TF
- Prof. Dr. oec. publ. Manuel Oechslin, Faculty of Economics and Management (WF)
- Prof. Dr. rer. oec. Lukas D. Schmid, WF
- Prof. Dr. rer. biol. hum. Matthias Ertl, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences and Psychology (VPF)
- Dr. Andrea Aegerter, Representative of Non-Professorial Research and Teaching Staff, GMF
- Samira Guyot, BA, Student Representative, KSF
- Doris Schmidli, University Manager
Members in an advisory capacity and without voting rights
- Anita Soltermann, Head of the Grants Office
- Stefan Degen, Head of Finance and Accounting
- Pia Ammann, Head of the Equal Opportunities Office
Prof. Dr. Alexander Trechsel
President of the Research Committee
T +41 41 229 55 90
foko@unilu.ch
Room: 3.B12
More information about Prof. Dr. Alexander Trechsel (Department of Political Science)
Researchers of the University of Lucerne can apply to the FoKo for start-up funding for third-party funding applications, contributions for research projects, contributions to conferences, publication contributions and activities to communicate research results. Please refer to Regulations and the Information Sheet for details. These legal bases will expire at the end of 2024.
Starting from 1 January, 2025, the FoKo will award grants for scientific activities that are clearly aligned with the strategic goals of the University of Lucerne. Funding will go to projects, particularly for the preparation of third-party funding applications, to contributions for early-career researchers, to the establishment of interdisciplinary research networks, as well as to conference organization and activities for scientific exchange with an international or interdisciplinary character. The Research Funding Guidelines (in Germany only) provide the legal basis. Details can be found in the Information Sheet (in German only).
Ordinary applications and submission deadlines
Ordinary applications contain applications for the various funding instruments of the Research Committee. They can be submitted on two dates per year and are dealt with at the following ordinary FoKo meetings.
SUBMISSION DEADLINES 2025
24 Feburary
22 September
FOKO MEETING DATES 2025
27 March
23 October
Urgent applications
Applications for support grants up to a maximum of CHF 12,000 can be submitted to the Research Committee on an ongoing basis with a request for an urgent decision to be made by circulation procedure. The urgency must be substantiated. The FoKo President is authorised to decide alone on applications of up to CHF 2,000.
Submission of applications via FIS
For each FoKo application, the relevant application form must be completed in the myFoKo module of the University of Lucerne's research information system (FIS), along with the required attachments. The application must then be submitted via myFoKo. The submission of the application will be confirmed in writing. Insufficiently substantiated and/or insufficiently documented applications may be rejected for revision.
The Regulations form the legal basis for the work and organisation of the Research Commission. In addition, the Research Commission has issued a Information Sheet that sets out the specific implementation provisions for the use of research funds. These legal bases will expire at the end of 2024. If you have any questions, please contact foko@unilu.ch.
The new Organizational Regulations of the Research Commission will be in force from January 1, 2025. The Research Funding Guidelines define the funding instruments and regulate the requirements and procedure for the allocation of funding contributions by the Research Commission. Details can be found in the Information Sheet. For questions, please contact foko@unilu.ch.
