The University of Bern awards prizes for outstanding scientific achievements by its researchers, in some cases in partnership with foundations.
This page presents the research prizes that are awarded at the Dies academicus, the founding ceremony of the University of Bern.
If you are interested in setting up an award or have questions about donations or bequests, please contact the UniBE Foundation.
Theodor Kocher Prize
Every year, the University of Bern awards the Theodor Kocher Prize, endowed with CHF 50,000, for outstanding and innovative scientific achievements by one of its early-career researchers.
Hans Sigrist Prize
The Hans Sigrist Prize, worth CHF 100,000, is awarded annually to a researcher from Switzerland or abroad for exceptional scientific achievements.
Bernese Award for Environmental Research
Every two years, the Bernese Environmental Research Prize, endowed with CHF 15,000, is awarded to a researcher at the University of Bern for excellent scientific work in the field of environmental sciences and sustainability.
Dr. Lutz and Dr. Celia Zwillenberg Prize
Annually, up to three Dr. Lutz and Dr. Celia Zwillenberg Prizes of CHF 10,000 are awarded for exceptional dissertations (doctoral students) or top-class publications (postdoctoral students) in the biological sciences.
Barbara Lischetti Prize
Every two years, the Barbara Lischetti Prize in the amount of CHF 2,000 is awarded to a doctoral student at the University of Bern for an outstanding dissertation in the field of gender studies.
Johanna Dürmüller-Bol DBMR Research Award
The Johanna Dürmüller-Bol DBMR Research Award in the amount of CHF 30,000 is presented annually to honor an exceptional clinical or biomedical project by an early-career researcher at the Faculty of Medicine.
Senior Citizens' University of Bern Award
The Senior Citizens' University of Bern awards CHF 5,000 annually to a researcher at the University of Bern for an excellent thesis (dissertation or habilitation) on the subject of old age or ageing.