PIs of Tomorrow

Wednesday, February 11, 2026, from 10:45 to 12:35

Looking for evaluators

Did you know that many of our PIOT finalists and winners started out as evaluators?

If you plan to apply for PIOT in the future and/or would like to learn more about the selection process, become a PIOT evaluator! 

As an evaluator, you will be evaluating up to 3-4 applications, using a point system and criteria prepared by PIOT chairs. Each application consists of a cover letter (1 page), a research plan (max. 3 pages), a graphical abstract (1 page), and an SNSF CV (max. 3 pages).

The evaluation period will take place from end of October to November 23, 2025.

If you are interested in contributing as an evaluator for the “PIs of Tomorrow” session, please apply HERE

Deadline: October 6th

Evaluator call

The Call

We are excited to open the call for the next PIs of Tomorrow: The Future of Swiss Research session at the LS2 Annual Meeting 2026, taking place February 11–12, 2026 at the University of Zurich, Irchel Campus. 

This unique session gives postdoctoral fellows and early-career researchers the chance to present their future research vision in a format similar to a professorship interview. It’s a rare opportunity to showcase your ideas, gain valuable feedback, and connect with leading scientists from Switzerland and beyond.

What’s in it for you?

  • Present your research plans to a broad scientific audience
  • Receive expert feedback in a one-on-one session with professors
  • Compete for two awards: the Jury Prize and the Public Prize
  • Attend the LS2 Annual Meeting free of charge
  • Network with Swiss and international researchers

Eligibility

  • Post-PhD with a net academic age ≤5 years (career breaks accounted for per SNSF rules)
  • Ties to Switzerland (citizenship, residency, or at least 2 years affiliation with a Swiss institution)
  • Not in a permanent or tenure-track position

Application documents

  • 1-page cover letter outlining your career path, research interests, and motivation
  • Research plan/statement (max. 3 pages)
  • 1-page graphical abstract
  • CV in the official SNSF format (max. 3 pages)

Deadline: October 5, 2025 (23:59 CET)

Submit all documents as a single PDF (max. 5 MB) HERE

For questions, email postdocsession@gmail.com

See the call below:

PIOT call 2026

The Chairs of PIOT 2026

Dr. Ana Ricardo da Costa Xavier, Postdoc, University of Basel

After completing her Bachelor's degree in Genetics and Molecular Biology, she pursued a Master's in Human Biology at the University of Lisbon, Portugal. During this time, she investigated chronic inflammatory bowel disease using Ncf1-mutated mouse models, focusing on therapeutic strategies through inflammatory marker analysis. This experience sparked her interest in immunology and inflammation, leading her to Basel, Switzerland, where she joined the Cancer and Immunobiology lab for her PhD. Her doctoral research focused on dissecting PI3Kg signaling pathways in allergy, inflammation, and immune modulation. Since April 2024, she has continued in the same group as a postdoctoral researcher, now studying signaling nodes involved in drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions.		 anaxavier.jpg

 

Dr. Carina Osterhof, Maître assistante, University of Fribourg

She earned her BSc (2014) and MSc (2015) in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics at the Johannes-Gutenberg University in Mainz. For her PhD (2016–2022), she joined Prof. Hankeln’s laboratory (Mainz), where she investigated the molecular function and transcriptomic regulation of oxygen-binding proteins. In 2023, she moved to Switzerland to join Prof. Hoogewijs’ lab at the University of Fribourg as a SNSF postdoctoral fellow in comparative oxygen physiology. Since Mai 2025, she has held the position of Maître assistante at the same institution, where she coordinates mechanistic studies of a novel ciliopathy regulator, establishes new model systems for oxygen-adaptation research, and teaches physiology to medical and biomedical-science students. 

 carina-osterhof.jpg

 

Dr. Manon Guivier, Postdoc, Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg

After completing a bachelor degree in Engineering sciences and two master degrees in Materials sciences and Mechanical engineering, she started a PhD in Paris-Saclay University in France. Her PhD focused on the development of new bio-based food packaging with high barrier properties. Beginning of 2024, she moved to the Adolphe Merkle Institute in Fribourg, Switzerland, after winning the Women in Science Fellowship (WINS) of the NCCR Bio-inspired Materials. Since, she has been working on bio-inspired and bio-based materials complying with industrial needs for new sustainable materials.

 manonguivier.jpg

 

Dr. Monika Gjorgjieva, Ambizione Fellow, University of Geneva

She is Macedonian and moved to France for her studies. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology (Reims) and a Master’s in Genetics (Lyon), followed by a PhD in Lyon, France, where she focused on hepatic and renal pathologies associated with disturbed systemic metabolism, in particular focusing on Glycogen storage disease type I and diabetes type II. In 2018, she began a postdoctoral fellowship in Geneva, researching microRNAs and their role in metabolism and hepatocarcinogenesis in the team of Prof Michelangelo Foti, PHYM department at University of Geneva. Following this, she worked as a maître assistante at the University of Geneva (2021–2024), leading an independent project on ER stress and nephropathy. As of January 1, 2025, she has started an SNSF-funded Ambizione fellowship to explore metabolic disturbance-driven renal cancer.

  monika-gjorgjieva.jpg

Where are the past winners now?