Current Calls
academics Early Career Award The online career portal for academia, research, the public sector and society, academics, collaboration with the ZEIT Publishing Group, annually honours an individual who has made a lasting contribution to their respective field of science through outstanding and pioneering research, and who has also distinguished themselves through exemplary conduct and voluntary commitment to science. The call for nominations is open to doctoral candidates or researchers with a PhD who are at an early stage of their careers, across all fields of research. In addition, leaders of early-career research groups, as well as junior or tenure-track professors working at a university or non-university research institution, may also be nominated. Self-nominations are not permitted. The prize is worth 5,000 euros.
Deadline: 31 August 2026
Academy Prize – sponsored by the Monika Kutzner Foundation
The Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities awards this prize for outstanding scientific achievements in the field of cancer research by young researchers in the life sciences and medicine. There is no fixed age limit. It is intended for scientists who have already distinguished themselves through significant research contributions at an early stage in their careers. Prize-winners should be regarded as ‘young’ in relation to their achievements. The prize is worth €10,000.
Deadline: 30 September 2026
Stanisław Lem European Research Prize
The international call for applications, organised by the Wrocław University of Technology, is aimed at young researchers (aged 40 or under – born in 1986 or later) who, over the last three years (2023–2026), have made a significant discovery or achieved outstanding results in the broad fields of natural and engineering sciences, characterised by strong technological elements, interdisciplinarity, creativity and foresight. They must be employed at a university or research centre in an EU Member State or a country associated with the Horizon programme, as well as Switzerland. The prize is worth 100,000 PLN (approx. 23,000 EUR).
Deadline: 30 September 2026
Dissertation Prizes of the University of Münster
The University of Münster’s dissertation awards recognise outstanding doctoral theses completed at the University of Münster. The Dissertation Prizes serve to support the prizewinners' future research endeavours. All fifteen faculties of the University of Münster are invited to nominate their best dissertations from the current academic year for consideration. Each award comes with 3,000 euros in prize money which can also be used to finance a colloquium in Münster on the prizewinning research topic. Up to fifteen doctoral candidates are eligible to receive the Dissertation Prize in recognition of their outstanding dissertations. The Rectorate is responsible for selecting the finalists at the recommendation of a special jury appointed by Rectorate Committee for Academic Personnel Development (RAP).
Deadline: 9 October 2026
Hector Research Career Development Award
The Hector Fellow Academy supports the career development of W1 assistant professors (with or without tenure track) and junior research group leaders in similar positions in the natural or engineering sciences, medicine or psychology (max. seven years into their postdoc phase). The researchers selected for this honour become members of the Hector Fellow Academy's network of top scientists for five years. They receive 25,000 euros, funding to set up a doctoral position and the opportunity to apply for further funding.
Deadline: 30 October 2026
