Research Committee
The University of Lucerne research committee (FoKo) is responsible for promoting research activities as well as coordinating research policy at the University of Lucerne. The president of the FoKo is Prof. Dr. Alexander Trechsel. The FoKo is supported by the Research Promotion Unit, directed by Dr. Bruno Z’Graggen.
The FoKo’s functions and tasks cover second the FoKo-Regulations and Guideline sheet the following:
- Developing and coordinating the University of Lucerne’s research strategy and policy
- Administering University of Lucerne research funds
- Assessing requests for support from University of Lucerne researchers and allocating research funds in the form of project grants, contributions for project start-up funding, sabbaticals for Postdocs (SpeedUP), conference and publication grants, grants for intermediating projects, exchange and networking
- Working together with the University of Lucerne Equal Opportunity Committee, allocating funds in the field of gender research
- Working together with the Graduate Academy of the University of Lucerne ref. the scientifical evaluation of submissions for doctoral mobility contributions
More on the FoKo’s activities
The FoKo has fourteen members with voting rights: in addition to the president and the University Manager, each faculty and departement provides two members, with one further member each from the students and non-professorial teaching staff. FoKo meetings are also attended in an advisory capacity by the head of the Research Promotion Unit, the head of the Financial Administration Department and the Equal Opportunities Officer.
FoKo members with voting rights:
- President, Prof. Dr. Alexander Trechsel, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (KSF)
- Deputy, Prof. Dr. phil. Sara Rubinelli, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine (GMF)
- Deputy, Prof. Dr. phil. Gisela Michel, GMF (Research Semester 2023)
- Prof. Dr. theol. lic. phil. Peter Kirchschläger, Faculty of Theology (TF)
- Prof. Dr. phil. Giovanni Ventimiglia, TF
- Ass.-Prof. Dr. phil. Sandra Bärnreuther, KSF
- Prof. Dr. rer. soc. Raimund Hasse, KSF
- Prof. Dr. iur. Vagias Karavas, Faculty of Law (RF)
- Prof. Dr. iur. lic. oec. Klaus Mathis, RF
- Prof. Dr. oec. publ. Manuel Oechslin, Faculty of Economics and Management (WF), (Research Semester Fall 2023)
- Prof. Dr. rer. oec. Lukas D. Schmid, WF
- Ass.-Prof. Carla Sabariego, GMF
- Sarah Mantwill PhD, Non-professorial Teaching Staff Representative, GMF
- Samira Eckardt, Student Representative, KSF
- Doris Schmidli, University Manager
FoKo advisory members without voting rights:
- Dr. phil. Bruno Z’Graggen, Research Promotion Unit Director
- Barbara Röthlin, Finance and Accounting Director
- lic. phil. Pia Ammann, Head of Equal Opportunities Office
Applications to the FoKo must be addressed to the FoKo President using the official forms. For further information please contact the President, the Secretary or Dr. Phil. Bruno Z'Graggen, Dep. Head of the Research Promotion Unit.

Prof. Dr. Alexander Trechsel, KSF
President Research Commission
T +41 41 229 55 90
foko @ unilu.ch
Room: 3.B12
More information about Prof. Dr. Alexander Trechsel, KSF (Politikwissenschaftliches Seminar)

Sabrina Sakac, MSc
Secretary FoKo
T +41 41 229 51 71
foko @ unilu.ch
Room: 3.A25
Office hours: Thursday afternoon and Friday
Mirjam Meyer
Secretary FoKo
T +41 41 229 51 71
foko @ unilu.ch
Room: 3.A25
Office hours: Monday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon