Current Calls
NOMIS & Science Young Explorer Award
The NOMIS & Science Young Explorer Award recognises courageous young researchers with an MD, PhD or MD/PhD degree who are exploring fundamental questions at the intersection of the social and life sciences. The award recognises scientists who conduct research with enthusiasm and promote interdisciplinary collaboration, taking risks to tackle relevant and exciting questions in creative and bold ways. Applicants must have obtained their M.D., Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. within the last 10 years. The prize is awarded on the basis of their work over the past three years.
Deadline: 15 May 2026
Walter Kalkhof-Rose Memorial Prize
The Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur | Mainz, in collaboration with the Walter and Sibylle Kalkhof-Rose Foundation, is awarding the Walter Kalkhof-Rose Memorial Prize. This prize recognises outstanding early-career researchers in all areas of the natural sciences. Eligible researchers must have made pioneering research contributions at an early stage of their academic career, thereby developing an independent scientific profile, and must be about to complete their habilitation or hold an equivalent qualification. All professors at German universities are eligible to submit nominations. The prize is worth €5,000.
Deadline: 15 June 2026
Stiftungspreis der Demokratie-Stiftung der Universität zu Köln
In accordance with its statutes and founding principles, the primary mission of the Demokratie-Stiftung is to carry out and support academic projects that contribute to the peaceful advancement of democratic ideas. Authors may apply in the academic theses category with theses for habilitation or doctoral dissertations published in 2024 or 2025 (either by a publisher or made available online). The work must focus primarily on democracy, for example democratic theory, democracy education, globalisation, the media, religion, or electoral systems.
Deadline: 30 June 2026
Wissenschaftspreis des Deutschen Bundestages
The Wissenschaftspreis des Deutschen Bundestages recognises outstanding scholarly monographs that stimulate engagement with issues of parliamentarism and contribute to a deeper understanding of parliamentary practice. Eligible works include studies on elections, particularly the functioning of representative bodies, and research on the integration of parliamentarism into federal and supranational systems. Other eligible works include studies on the relationship between parliament and government, the political oversight of parliamentary systems by courts, the media and civil society, the role and functions of political parties, and the effects of a changing public sphere due to digitalisation, provided they address issues related to parliamentarism. Nominations and self-nominations are accepted. The prize is endowed with €10,000.
Deadline: 10 July 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
