Privacy Policy

The SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (“SIB”) is an academic, non-profit-making foundation recognized of public utility, organized and existing under the laws of Switzerland. SIB is highly committed to protecting the privacy of your information. Please read the following to understand how your personal data is processed.

Preamble

This privacy policy (the Privacy Policy) applies to the processing of personal data by the SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (CHE-101.064.173), a Swiss Foundation, with registered seat at rue Michel-Servet 1, c/o Centre Médical Universitaire, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland (SIB) in connection with the websites accessible at the top-level domain sib.swiss (such as www.sib.swiss, rt.sib.swiss. lists.sib.swiss, etc.), its related websites mentioned at www.sib.swiss (such as Expasy.org, neXtProt.org, 2d-gel-analysis.com, bc2.ch, etc.) and other SIB online services such as data hosting services allowing data sharing, to the extent that such services are not subject to specific agreements (collectively called the Websites).

By accessing and using the Websites, you have read and agreed that SIB processes your personal data in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

1. Introduction

SIB recognizes the importance of your privacy and applies transparency in its processing of your personal data.

The Privacy Policy explains (i) which personal data are collected when you access and use the Websites, (ii) the manner and the purposes for which SIB processes the personal data, and (iii) the measures which SIB takes in order to protect such personal data.

2. Data collection

SIB collects the personal data which you provide.

2.1. SIB collects, directly or indirectly via its partners, the personal data you provide with SIB and/or its partners through web forms or email, or in your use of the Websites, for example, when you subscribe to SIB’s newsletter, log in to the Websites, or apply for a job within SIB.

2.2. Such information may include any of the following: your name, company/organization name, login, password, date of birth, gender, nationality, email, telephone number, fax number, job application documents, social profile web page, payment/billing information, IP address or any other information which SIB and/or its partners may request from you.

Certain personal data are also collected in an automated manner.

2.3. Our Websites automatically log every visit in a temporary log file. User-specific data (such as the identification data of the browser used, the operating system of the requesting computer, the amount of data transferred, the name of the Internet Service Provider, the date and time of access) and technical data (such as the name and URL of the referring web page when the Websites was accessed via a link and, additionally, the search term if it was accessed via a search engine) are logged and potentially analysed. First, these data are needed to enable the use of our content (connection set-up), and is also used for internal, system-related purposes – such as technical administration and system security – and optimizing your search experience. As part of this, so-called cookies may be used (see section 6 below). IP addresses are used for security checks, e.g., verified to combat fraud and deleted in this context when no longer needed. Furthermore, IP addresses are used for analytics purposes as follows: Google Analytics anonymizes the IPs received immediately and processes them for the analysis only once the anonymization has taken place (see section 6).

3. Purposes of Data Processing

SIB does not use any personal data for any other purpose than those outlined below, unless you have given your consent to additional data processing when using certain services, or if we are legally bound to do so. For the sake of clarity, SIB will not sell, trade or rent any personal data to third parties.

SIB processes your personal data to operate the Websites.

3.1. Your personal data are collected so that SIB may operate the Websites in accordance with the circumstances, or in the manner expressly indicated when the personal data concerned are collected. For example, SIB allows you to navigate, use or re-engage with the Websites.

SIB may process your personal data to provide you with its newsletter, news or updates.

3.2. For example, by subscribing to SIB’s newsletter, SIB will provide you with email alerts on SIB news and updates on SIB groups’ activities: services, events, scientific resources and related support, SIB courses, SIB PhD training network, SIB fellowship program, SIB Awards.

SIB may process your personal data to provide you with online support services and allow you to attend SIB training courses.

3.3. SIB may provide you with support services for various technical and scientific activities (e.g. via the Expasy helpdesk, support pages of various resources and SIB groups). SIB may also process your personal data you provide when you fill in the SIB Courses form available on the Websites so that you can attend the SIB training courses.

SIB may process your personal data to provide you with job opportunities within SIB.

3.4 SIB may process your personal data to allow you to consult and apply for job opportunities within SIB. Unless required otherwise by contrary applicable laws, regulations or SIB’s legitimate interests, your job application documents will be deleted no later than six (6) months after the date of filling of the position applied for if no other relevant position has become available at SIB. During this intermediary period, SIB may therefore still process your personal data for another open position at SIB.

SIB processes your personal data for statistical and planning purposes.

3.5. SIB processes your personal data to improve the Websites and to do internal analyses and statistics.

4. Personal data sharing and disclosure

SIB may disclose your personal data to third parties in case this is necessary for the proper operation of the Websites or as listed below.

4.1. SIB may disclose your personal data to its partners for internal management of the Websites, for example technical and administration purposes in line with this Privacy Policy.

4.2. SIB may also enable you to use third-party services directly from the Websites, namely through social plug-ins Google LLC; Facebook Inc.; LinkedIn Corporation; Twitter and Microsoft Corporation, in which case you recognize that the third-party operators of these services may access some of your personal data in connection with the Websites.

4.3. SIB may disclose your personal data to any third party to whom SIB assigns or transfers any of SIB’s rights or obligations.

4.4. SIB may disclose your personal data to competent courts or supervisory or regulatory bodies, when SIB shall compellingly disclose your personal data, pursuant to any applicable law, regulation or order.

4.5. In the above contexts under Sections 4.1 and 4.2, the Websites may contain links to other third party’s website. Please note that this Privacy Policy does not apply to the practices of any company, organization or individual that SIB does not control, nor to any other third party’s website that may be linked to and accessible from the Websites. You should carefully review the privacy policies of third party’s website to learn more about the processing of personal data. In such contexts, the collection and use of your personal data shall be governed by such third party’s website. SIB shall not be held responsible for their privacy practices.

5. International transfer

Your personal data may be disclosed to countries that do not guarantee the same level of data protection and privacy as Switzerland and the European Economic Area.

SIB stores and handles your personal data in Switzerland and/or within the European Economic Area (EEA). However, your personal data may be disclosed and transferred to other states, provinces, countries or other governmental jurisdictions, always in compliance with this Privacy Policy and applicable laws, that do not necessarily guarantee the same level of personal data protection as Switzerland and the European Economic Area or an adequate level. Where SIB may transfer your personal data to third parties from within the EEA to a country outside the EEA, SIB ensures that such transfer is compliant with applicable data protection law.

6. Cookies and similar technologies

SIB uses cookies and other similar technologies in connection with the Websites.

6.1. A cookie is a small data file that SIB transfers to and is stored on your electronic device. For example, SIB uses cookies or other analytics tools to measure the traffic to and usage of the Websites and its distinctive features, and other miscellaneous uses.

SIB uses first and third-cookies or other similar technologies some of which are likely to automatically process data directly on your device and/or to transfer data personal concerning you to SIB.

You may manage the use of cookies and similar technologies via the settings of the Websites, your browser software and/or your device.

6.2. If you do not want cookies to be stored on your device, you can configure your Web browser or your device to refuse and/or restrict the cookies. Certain cookies are however essential to the functioning of the Websites itself, and its use may be altered or prevented by refusing these cookies. If you wish to restrict or block the use of cookies, check which browser software you are using and then select the relevant link below. On the page you are taken to, you will find instructions on how to enable or disable cookies in your web browser.

- Google Chrome
- Firefox
- Safari
- Edge

6.3. If you choose not to accept our cookies and/or cookies, webtools from third party, you will not be able to see certain information on our Websites or use some features that improve your visit. For ease of navigation, SIB recommends that you do not refuse the use of cookies.

6.4 For more information, please visit www.allaboutcookies.org. Please check the help sections of your Web browser or electronic device for specific instructions on the management of cookies.

You have the right to access your personal data processed by SIB and may request without limitation that they be removed, updated, limited or rectified.

6.5. Except as otherwise required by law, you are entitled at all times to know if SIB is processing personal data concerning you. You may contact SIB to know the content of such personal data, verify their accuracy and request that they be supplemented, removed, updated, limited or rectified. You also have the right to ask SIB to cease processing any personal data that may have been obtained in breach of applicable law, and to object to the processing of your personal data for any other legitimate reason.

6.6. Where SIB relies on your consent to process your personal data, SIB will seek your freely given and specific consent by providing you with informed and unambiguous indications relating to your personal data. You may revoke at any time such consent.

6.7. You have also the right to request your personal data’s portability, i.e. that the personal data you have provided to SIB be returned to you or transferred to the person of your choice, in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format without hinderance from SIB and subject to its confidentiality obligations.

7. Data retention and archiving

Personal data processed by SIB will be retained only for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined above in this Privacy Policy. This will generally (but not in all cases) be for the duration of time where you use our services, to comply with our legal obligations or to protect SIB’s rights. When determining the relevant retention periods for your personal data, we will take into account factors including:

• our contractual obligations and rights in relation to the personal data involved;

• legal obligation(s) under applicable law to retain data for a certain period of time;

• statute of limitations under applicable law(s) which is the period during which contractual claims could be brought;

• (potential) disputes; and

• guidelines issued by relevant data protection authorities.

8. Contact

8.1. If you have any questions or a request in relation to the processing of your personal data by SIB, please contact the Data Protection Officer (DPO) at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

8.2. To comply with the General Data protection Regulation (2016/679) we have also appointed a European representative. If you wish to contact them, their details are as follows:

Bird & Bird GDPR Representative Services SRL
Avenue Louise 235
1050 Bruxelles
Belgium
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

9. Changes to the Privacy Policy

SIB reserves the right to amend the Privacy Policy at any time at its sole discretion without prior notice in order to adapt it to any new commercial or technological practice or change in the law. Accordingly, we recommend that you re-read this Privacy Policy on a regular basis. If you no longer accept this Privacy Policy or any future amendments made by SIB, your sole remedy is to no longer access and/or use the Websites.

This Privacy Policy was last updated on: 08.12.2021.