SIAF Award

The Swiss Institute of International Studies (SIAF) is organizing an academic prize of the title “SIAF Award”.

The winning dissertation will address topics that are relevant for the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world. Furthermore, scientific soundness, an original and independent intellectual approach and innovative issues will characterize the thesis.

The SIAF Award 2024 is endowed with CHF 5,000 and is awarded by a scientific jury.

The faculties of UZH and the relevant departments of the ETH Zurich annually change on an annual basis.

You can apply for the SIAF Award 2024 with a completed dissertation at the Faculty of Philosophy (PHIL) of the University of Zurich, as well as the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Political Sciences (D-GESS) at ETH Zurich.

Work completed no more than three years ago may be submitted. The application period runs from 1st of April to 30th of June 2024. The works must be submitted in printed and digital form.

The SIAF Award will be presented at a SIAF lecture in the fall semester 2024.

Winners of the SIAF Award

We are pleased to announce that the 16th SIAF Award was presented on 10th of October 2024 at the University of Zurich.

Awarded

Dr Delia Zollinger

for her dissertation at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of the University of Zurich.

«Structural Change, Identity Formation, and Cleavage Consolidation in 21st Century Politics»

The prize is endowed with CHF 5,000. The SIAF Award honors an outstanding doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The work makes a scientific contribution to the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world. In 2024, candidates who have written a dissertation at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of the University of Zurich or at the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Political Sciences (D-GESS) at ETH Zurich were judged by an independent jury.

Laudatory speech by Professor Francis Cheneval (presented on the 10th of October 2024 by Professor Georg Kohler; in German)

Professor Georg Kohler, member of the jury, and Dr Delia Zollinger.

We are pleased to announce that the fifthteenth SIAF Award was presented on 5 October 2023 at the University of Zurich.

Awarded

Dr Daniel Kopp

for his dissertation at the Department of Management, Technology, and Economics at ETH Zurich.

«Essays on Recruitment and Layoffs in the Swiss Labor Market»

The prize is endowed with CHF 10,000. The SIAF Award, sponsored by Ernst & Young AG, honors an outstanding doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The work makes a scientific contribution to the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world. In 2023, candidates who have written a dissertation at the Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Zurich or at the Center for Law and Economics at ETH Zurich were judged by an independent jury.

Professor Franics Cheneval (president of the SIAF Award jury), Dr Daniel Kopp und Professor Andreas Blumer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of EY Switzerland.

We are pleased to announce that the fourteenth SIAF Award was presented on 18 October 2022 at the University of Zurich.

Awarded

Dr Tobias Naef

for his dissertation at the Faculty of Law of the University of Zurich.

«Data Protection without Data Protectionism. The Right to Protection of Personal Data and Data Transfers in EU Law and International Trade Law»

The prize is endowed with CHF 10,000. The SIAF Award honors an outstanding doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The work makes a scientific contribution to the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world. In 2022, candidates who have written a dissertation at the Faculty of Law of the University of Zurich or the Center for Law and Economics at ETH Zurich were judged by an independent jury.

Professor Francis Cheneval, Dr Tobias Naef (ltr).

We are pleased to announce that the thirteenth SIAF Award was presented on 23 November 2021 at the University of Zurich.

Awarded

Dr Eliane Kurmann

for her dissertation at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Zurich.

«Fotogeschichten und Geschichtsbilder. Zur Verwendung historischer Fotografien in Tansania»

(Photo stories and historical images – On the use of historical photographs in Tanzania)

The prize is endowed with CHF 10,000. The SIAF Award, sponsored by Ernst & Young AG, honors an outstanding doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The work makes a scientific contribution to the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world. In 2021, candidates who have written a thesis at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Zurich or at the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (D-GESS) of ETH Zurich were judged by an independent jury.

Professor Andreas Blumer (Ernst & Young AG, President of the Board of Directors), Dr Eliane Kurmann, Professor Francis Cheneval (ltr).

We are pleased to announce that the twelfth SIAF Award of the Swiss Institute for International Research was presented at the University of Zurich on 22 September 2020.

Awarded

Dr Niklas Möhring

for his dissertation at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Zurich

“Reducing Pesticide Use Risks: An Economic Analysis”

The price is with Fr. 10,000.- endowed. The SIAF Award, sponsored by Ernst & Young AG, honours outstanding doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The work makes a scientific contribution to the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world. In 2020, candidates who have written a thesis at the Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Zurich or at the Center for Law and Economics at ETH Zurich were judged by an independent jury.

Professor Francis Cheneval and Dr Niklas Möhring (ltr)

We are pleased to announce that the eleventh SIAF Award was presented on November 7th 2019 at the University of Zurich.

Awarded

Dr Aurelia Tomé-Larrieux

for her dissertation at the Faculty of Law of the University of Zurich

“Designing for Privacy and its Legal Framework – Data Protection by Design and Default for the Internet of Things”

and

Dr Arthur Alexandre Brunner

for his dissertation at the Faculty of Law of the University of Zurich

“Subsidiarity principle and factual assessment under the European Convention on Human Rights – Analysis of case law on Article 3 of the ECHR”

The price is with Fr. 10,000.- endowed. The SIAF Award, sponsored by Ernst & Young AG, honours outstanding doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The work makes a scientific contribution to the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world. In 2019, candidates who have written a paper at the Faculty of Law of the University of Zurich or at the Center for Law and Economics at ETH Zurich were judged by an independent jury.

Dr Martin Meyer, Dr Arthur Alexandre Brunner, Dr Aurelia Tamò-Larrieux and Professor Francis Cheneval (ltr).

We are pleased to announce that the tenth SIAF Award was presented on 22 November 2018 at the University of Zurich.

Awarded

Dr Judith Spirig

for her dissertation at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Zurich

“Like Cases Alike or Asylum Lottery ? – Inconsistency in Judical Decision Making at the Swiss Federal Administrative Court”

and

Dr Jens Frankenreiter

for his dissertation at the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences at ETH Zurich

“Judges, Politics and the Law – Empirical Studies on Judge Behavior with a Focus on the European Court of Justice”

The price is with Fr. 10,000.- endowed. The SIAF Award, sponsored by Ernst & Young AG, honours outstanding doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The work makes a scientific contribution to the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world. In 2018, candidates who have have written a paper at the Faculty of Phlosophy of the University of Zurich or at the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (D-GESS) of the ETH Zurich were judged by an independent jury.

We are pleased to announce that the ninth SIAF Award was presented at the University of Zurich on October 5th 2016.

Awarded

Dr Michael Siegenthaler

for his dissertation at the Department of Management, Technology and Economics (D-MTEC) at ETH Zurich

“Examining the special case — Special trends and events at the Swiss labor market”

The price is with Fr. 10,000.- endowed. The SIAF Award, sponsored by Ernst & Young AG, honours outstanding doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The work makes a scientific contribution to the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world.

We are pleased to announce that the eighth SIAF Awardwas presented on October 5th 2016 at the University of Zurich.

Awarded

Dr Damiano Canapa

for his dissertation

“Trademarks and Brands in Merger Control”

The price is with Fr. 10,000.- endowed. The SIAF Award, sponsored by Ernst & Young AG, honours outstanding doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The work makes a scientific contribution to the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world.

In 2016, candidates who wrote a paper at the Faculty of Law of the University of Zurich were evaluated by an independent jury (Prof. Dr. Georg Kohler, Prof. Dr. Georg von Krogh, Prof. Dr. Bernd Roeck and Prof. Dr. Francis Cheneval).

We are pleased to announce that the seventh SIAF Award was presented on November 3th 2015 at the University of Zurich.

Awarded

Dr Livia Isabella Schubiger

for her dissertation

“Repression and Mobilization in Civil War: The Consequences of State Violence for Wartime Collective Action”

The price is with Fr. 10,000.- endowed. The SIAF Award, sponsored by Ernst & Young AG, honours outstanding doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The work makes a scientific contribution to the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world.

In 2015, candidates who wrote a paper at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Zurich were evaluated by an independent jury (Prof. Dr. Georg Kohler, Prof. Dr. Georg von Krogh, Prof. Dr. Bernd Roeck, Prof. Dr. Stefanie Walter, Prof. Dr. Francis Cheneval and Dr. Andreas Hefti).

We are pleased to announce that the sixth SIAF Award was presented on November 6th 2014 at the University of Zurich.

Awarded

Dr Verena Tiefenbeck

for her dissertation at ETH Zurich:

“Behavioral Interventions to Reduce Residential Energy and Water Consumption: Impact, Mechanisms, and Side Effects”

The price is with Fr. 10,000.- endowed. The SIAF Award, sponsored by Ernst & Young AG, honours outstanding doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The work makes a scientific contribution to the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world.

In 2014, candidacies from the field of economics were evaluated by an independent jury (Prof. Dr. Georg Kohler, Prof. Dr. Georg von Krogh, Prof. Dr. Bernd Roeck, Prof. Dr. Stefanie Walter, Prof. Dr. Francis Cheneval and Dr. Andreas Hefti).

We are pleased to announce that the fifth SIAF Award was presented on September 26th 2013 at the University of Zurich.

Awarded

Dr Lorenz Langer

for his dissertation

«Law, Religious Offence and Human Rights. Defamation of Religions and the Rationales of Speech Regulation»

The prize is endowed with CHF 10 000. The SIAF Award, sponsored by Ernst & Young AG, honours an outstanding doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The work makes a scientific contribution to the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world.

In 2013, candidatures from the fields of political science and law were assessed by an independent jury (Professor Georg Kohler, Professor Christine Kaufmann, Professor Georg von Krogh, Professor Bernd Roeck, Professor Fabrizio Gilardi and Professor Francis Cheneval).

We are pleased to announce that the fourth SIAF Award was presented on November 21th 2012 at the University of Zurich.

Awarded

Dr Tina Margarete Freyburg

for her dissertation

“Transnational Influences and Democratic Socialization in Authoritarian Contexts”

The price is with Fr. 10,000.- endowed. The SIAF Award, sponsored by Ernst & Young AG, honours outstanding doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The work makes a scientific contribution to the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world.

In 2012, candidacies from the field of the humanities were evaluated by an independent jury (Professor Georg Kohler, Professor Christine Kaufmann, Professor Georg von Krogh, Professor Bernd Roeck, Professor Fabrizio Gilardi and Professor Francis Cheneval).

Dissertation as PDF

We are pleased to announce that the third SIAF Award was presented on October 25th 2011 at the University of Zurich.

Awarded

Dr Dominic Roser

for his dissertation at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Zurich

“Ethical Perspectives on Climate Policy and Climate Economics”

The price is with Fr. 10,000.- endowed. The SIAF Award, sponsored by Ernst & Young AG, honours outstanding doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The work makes a scientific contribution to the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world.

In 2011, candidacies from the field of economics were evaluated by an independent jury (Professor Georg Kohler, Professor Christine Kaufmann, Professor Georg von Krogh, Professor Bernd Roeck and Professor Fabrizio Gilardi).

We are pleased to announce that the second SIAF Award was presented on November 4th 2010 at the University of Zurich.

Awarded

Dr Stefan Schürer

for his dissertation at the Faculty of Law of the University of Zurich

«Die Verfassung im Zeichen historischer Gerechtigkeit»

The price is with Fr. 10,000.- endowed. The SIAF Award, sponsored by Ernst & Young AG, honours outstanding doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The work makes a scientific contribution to the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world.

In 2010, candidacies from the field of law were evaluated by an independent jury (Professor Georg Kohler, Professor Christine Kaufmann, Professor Georg von Krogh, Professor Bernd Roeck and Professor Fabrizio Gilardi).

Link to the book (Chronos Verlag)

We are pleased to announce that the first SIAF Award was presented on October 2009 7th at the University of Zurich.

Awarded

Dr Nils Benedikt Weidmann

for his dissertation

“Critical Configurations: Settlement Patterns and Ethnic Violence”

The price is with Fr. 10,000.- endowed. The SIAF Award, sponsored by Ernst & Young AG, honours outstanding doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The work makes a scientific contribution to the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world.

In 2009, candidacies from the field of the humanities were evaluated by an independent jury (Professor Georg Kohler, Professor Georg von Krogh, Professor Bernd Roeck and Professor Fabrizio Gilardi).

Dissertation as PDF

Application: SIAF Award

You can apply for the SIAF Award 2024 with a completed dissertation at the Faculty of Philosophy (PHIL) of the University of Zurich, as well as the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Political Sciences (D-GESS) at ETH Zurich. Dissertations may be submitted that were completed no more than three years ago.

The Regulations of 15 March 2010 (see further below on this page) apply. Subject to change.

Deadline

1 April to 30 June 2024

Documents

Send us the following documents in printed and digital form.

If your doctoral thesis is too large to be sent by e-mail to award@siaf.ch, send us the PDF files of the documents listed below on CD or DVD together with the printed documents by physical mail.

The printed and digital versions of the thesis must be identical.

  1. Doctoral thesis
  2. Short CV (max. 2 pages A4)
  3. Copy of the doctoral certificate
  4. Expert opinions on work

Award ceremony

The winner of the SIAF Award will be notified personally in the fall of 2024. The award ceremony will take place during a SIAF lecture.

Rules

§ 1
The Swiss Institute of International Studies (SIAF) is organizing an academic prize of the title “SIAF Award”.

§ 2
The SIAF Award is awarded annually for outstanding dissertations in the field of either the Faculty of Philosophy (PHIL), the Faculty of Law (RWF) or the Faculty of Economics (WWF) of the University of Zurich, as well as the Department of Management, Technology and Economics (D-MTEC) and the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Political Sciences (D-GESS) at ETH Zurich.

§ 3
The prize money is CHF 5,000.–.

§ 4
The dissertation should deal with topics relevant to the understanding of political, economic, social and cultural relations in a global world. It should be distinguished by its scientific foundation, unique and independent way of thinking and innovative questions.

§ 5
The first SIAF Award will be announced in the spring semester 2009.
The faculties or departments from which dissertations can be proposed for the prize change on an annual basis. It begins with the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Zurich together with the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Political
Sciences (D-GESS) at ETH Zurich. This is followed by the Faculty of Law (RWF) at the University of Zurich and the Center for Law & Economics (D-GESS) at ETH Zurich, which in turn is followed by the Faculty of Economics at the University of Zurich together with the Department of Management, Technology and Economics (D-MTEC) at ETH Zurich.
Dissertations completed no more than three years ago may be submitted.

§ 6
The thesis must be submitted in printed form and electronically (PDF) to the SIAF office between April 1 and June 30 of the current year.
A copy of the doctoral certificate and a short curriculum vitae must also be submitted. The submitted documents cannot be returned.

§ 7
The scientific jury is appointed by the SIAF Board of Directors. At present, the following are its members: Prof. Dr. Francis Cheneval (Chairman), Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Bronfen, Prof. Dr. Regina Kiener, Prof. Dr. Georg Kohler, Prof. Dr. Bernd Roeck, Prof. Dr.
Tobias Straumann, Prof. Dr. Jan-Egbert Sturm, Prof. Dr. Sarah Summers and Prof. Dr. Georg von Krogh.
The SIAF office may make a preselection for the attention of the jury.
The jury reserves the right not to award a prize if the submitted dissertations do not meet the required level.

§ 8
The prize will be awarded at an event organised by the Swiss Institute of International Studies in the current autumn semester. The winner must be present.

§ 9
If the dissertation does not meet the scientific standards of the University of Zurich or ETH Zurich and the degree is revoked by the university, the prize will be revoked and the prize money is to be refunded.

March 15th 2010