Vice-Rectorate Research
The Vice-Rectorate Research pursues the goal of providing researchers with the most ideal environment possible in all areas in order to ensure and promote high-quality research at the University of Bern and Inselspital. Head of the Vice-Rectorate is the Vice-Rector for Research, Prof. Dr. Hugues Abriel.
The various divisions of the Vice-Rectorate provide advice and support throughout the research process, in particular by:
- Developing guidelines and policies that contribute to the quality assurance of research and promote scientific integrity.
- Organizing suitable support measures for junior academics so they can produce outstanding work in their academic career.
- Supporting entrepreneurship by helping researchers translate ideas, research and inventions into innovations.
- Offering guidance and support on acquiring and managing certain national and international research funding.
- Providing support and training on topics related to animal experiments and assisting researchers with ethics authorisations.
Services
Animal Welfare Office
The Animal Welfare Office ensures the quality of animal research and animal welfare.
Euresearch Office
The Euresearch Office University of Bern offers researchers, organizations and companies in the Canton of Bern information, personal advice and administrative support for the acquisition and management of European research and innovation projects.
Research Commission
The Research Commission is a permanent commission representing the faculties, lecturers, assistants and students. It evaluates applications for internal funding (UniBE Initiator Grants, UniBE ID Grants and UniBE Doc.Mobility) and advises university committees on matters of research funding and the evaluation of funding. The adminstrative office of the Research Commission advises applicants on internal funding schemes (UniBE Initiator Grants, Project Pool and UniBE Doc.Mobility).
Grants Office
The Grants Office was established in order to optimize and simplify the process of acquisition of third-party funding for researchers at the University of Bern. The Grants Office is the first point of contact for questions related to competitive research funding programs and international grants.
Innovation Office
Results from research at the University of Bern often form the basis for innovations in the form of new applications, products or services. The University of Bern supports the further development of its scientific discoveries and ideas and strengthens the transfer of innovative research to business and society.
Coordination Office for the promotion of early career researchers
The Coordination Office for the promotion of early career researchers supports young academics so that outstanding achievements can be made during their academic career. The Coordination Office is aimed at doctoral students as well as postdocs. It organizes suitable support measures (e.g., specific funding instruments), offers advice, and launches and coordinates interfaculty initiatives and projects.
Research Management Office
The researchers of the University of Bern should be advised and supported along the entire research process with the aim of being able to conduct excellent, free and open research. To this end, the Research Management Office develops common principles and policies that contribute to the quality assurance of research, promotes scientific integrity and supports the Executive Board of the University of Bern, faculties and institutes in the initiation and implementation of research support projects and coordinates them.
Team
Vice-Rector for Research

- Name / Titel
- Prof. Dr. Hugues Abriel
- Funktion
- Vice-Rector for Research
- hugues.abriel@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 51 20
Secretariat
- Name / Titel
- Patrizia Tribolet
- Funktion
- Secretariat
- patrizia.tribolet@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 30 53

- Name / Titel
- Sandra Rothermann
- Funktion
- Secretariat
- sandra.rothermann@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 51 09
Staff of Vice-Rector
- Name / Titel
- Dr. Djouroukoro Diallo
- Funktion
- Scientific staff – Afrique Initiative
- djouroukoro.diallo2@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 84 92
- Name / Titel
- Corina Gerhäuser
- Funktion
- Scientific staff – Projects
- corina.gerhaeuser@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 30 54
Research Commission

- Name / Titel
- Dr. Andrea Bshary
- Funktion
- Head of Research Commission Administrative Office
- andrea.bshary@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 32 06
Animal Welfare Office

- Name / Titel
- Dr. Isabelle Desbaillets
- Funktion
- Animal Welfare Officer
- isabelle.desbaillets@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 45 55
- Name / Titel
- Dr. Fabienne Chabaud
- Funktion
- Deputy Animal Welfare Officer
- fabienne.chabaud@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 48 95
- Name / Titel
- Homare Yamahachi
- Funktion
- Deputy 3Rs coordinator
- homare.yamahachi@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 48 95
Grants Office and Euresearch Office

- Name / Titel
- Maddalena Tognola
- Funktion
- Head of Grants Office
- maddalena.tognola@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 48 09

- Name / Titel
- Dr. Friederike Bernsdorff
- Funktion
- Grants Advisor
- friederike.bernsdorff@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 51 44

- Name / Titel
- Dr. Annette Jäckel
- Funktion
- Grants Advisor
- annette.jaeckel@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 52 89
- Name / Titel
- Carla Schärer-Gonzalez
- Funktion
- Finances & Audits
- carla.schaerer@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 84 91

- Name / Titel
- Dr. Aline Schögler
- Funktion
- Grants Advisor
- aline.schoegler@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 51 92

- Name / Titel
- Stefan Widmer
- Funktion
- Grants Advisor
- stefan.widmer@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 51 98

- Name / Titel
- Leah Witton
- Funktion
- Grants Advisor
- leah.witton@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 48 47

- Name / Titel
- Dr. Judith Zbinden
- Funktion
- Grants Advisor
- judith.zbinden@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 48 05
Innovation Office

- Name / Titel
- Sébastien Hug
- Funktion
- Head of Innovation Office
- sebastien.hug@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 48 97

- Name / Titel
- Dr. Elsa Callini
- Funktion
- Innovation & Startup Advisor
- elsa.callini@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 51 05

- Name / Titel
- Dr. Stefanie Dobitz
- Funktion
- Innovation & Startup Advisor Health and Medicine
- stefanie.dobitz@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 79 804 00 81

- Name / Titel
- Jennifer Berger
- Funktion
- Communication & Community Manager
- jennifer.berger@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 51 62

- Name / Titel
- Prof. em. Dr.-Ing. Lutz Nolte
- Funktion
- Senior Innovation Advisor
- lutz.nolte@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 79 663 65 45

- Name / Titel
- Sara Wälti
- Funktion
- Assistant
- sara.waelti@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 48 62
Promotion of early career researchers

- Name / Titel
- Dr. Matthias Hirt
- Funktion
- Head of Coordination Office for the Promotion of Early Career Researchers
- matthias.hirt@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 40 29

- Name / Titel
- Dr. Judith Zbinden
- Funktion
- Grants Advisor
- judith.zbinden@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 48 05
Research Management Office

- Name / Titel
- Dr. Jürg Friedli
- Funktion
- Head of Research Management Office
- juerg.friedli@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 82 34

- Name / Titel
- Dr. Hannah Brodersen
- Funktion
- Compliance & Research Promotion
- hannah.brodersen@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 84 91

- Name / Titel
- Sarah Vögtli
- Funktion
- Digitalization & Open Science
- sarah.voegtli@unibe.ch
- Phone
- +41 31 684 52 82