The Swiss 3R Competence Centre announces its 2025 3Rs Doctorate Grant scheme, supporting innovative PhD research that advances the replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal use in scientific procedures. This competitive grant scheme follows a two-stage application process and aims to develop a new generation of researchers with strong 3Rs principles.
PhD research projects advancing any aspect of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement)
Project duration: 2-4 years
Maximum funding: CHF 70,000.- per year (up to CHF 280,000.- total for 4 years)
Expected number of positions funded: 4-5 PhD candidates
Funding covers PhD salary and social contributions only; additional costs must be covered by other sources
Applications must be submitted by the prospective PhD candidate themselves
Master students/graduates, or PhD students (who enrolled in their doctoral programme after the 1st of January, 2025), are eligible to apply
Applicants must have completed their undergraduate education before project start
Enrollment in an accredited Doctoral programme is required throughout the project
Host institution must be a Swiss-based higher educational or not-for-profit research institution
Industry-academic partnerships are possible
Background in biology, medicine, engineering, statistics, or related disciplines
Projects must demonstrate clear 3Rs impact potential
Stage 1: Outline Application
Opening Date: January 2025
Deadline: April 1, 2025, 17:00 CET
Applications must be submitted by the prospective PhD candidate directly through our online Grant Portal (funding.swiss3rcc.org).
The outline application includes:
Project summary
3Rs impact statement
Academic and personal motivation statement
Preliminary budget outline
Letters of support (if applicable)
Selected candidates may be invited for an interview as part of the outline selection process.
Important Application Resources:
Access the online application system: funding.swiss3rcc.org
Download the outline application template here (link coming soon)
Project information on currently funded projects can be found here
First-time applicants must register for the Grant Tracker account before starting their application. We recommend registering well in advance of the deadline.
Stage 2: Full Application
Opening Date: July 2025
Deadline: October 1, 2025, 17:00 CET
Requirements: (Only for successful outline applications)
Detailed research proposal
Full methodological approach
Comprehensive budget
Implementation strategy
Risk assessment
Detailed timeline
Outline Stage
Scientific Quality
Research excellence
Methodological rigor
3Rs Impact
Potential for implementation
Scale of impact
Addresses current challenges
Candidate Profile
Academic background
Personal motivation
Research potential
Full Application Stage
Additional detailed criteria will be provided to successful outline applicants.
Outline Application Window: January - April 1, 2025
Outline Results Notification: June 2025
Full Application Window: July - October 1, 2025
Final Decision: December 2025
Project Start: February - April 2026
Application Submission
All applications must be submitted through funding.swiss3rcc.org
Registration required prior to submission
Technical support available at funding@swiss3rcc.org
Additional Requirements
Open-access publishing of results is required
Adherence to Open Science principles is highly encouraged
A detailed plan for dissemination and/or implementation is required
For general queries about the Swiss 3RCC and its various funding schemes contact us at info@swiss3rcc.org
Notes for Applicants
Early registration in the submission system is strongly recommended
All deadlines are strictly enforced
Incomplete applications will not be considered
Questions should be submitted at least 5 working days before deadlines
All communication should be through the lead applicant address