Awards and Prizes
Scientific awards for young scientists can have various functions: A prize for a thesis or a dissertation is often the trigger to start a scientific career in the first place. At the same time, winning a prize quite early certainly attracts attention when applying for initial funding and can significantly increase the chances of success. The same applies to participation in highly renowned network meetings. Often, the prize money is directly tied to a scientific purpose in specific disciplines and thus classic research funding. The prestigious top prizes prior to professorship are usually addressed to young scientists who already developed an independent academic profile and support the establishment of a scientific career.
One thing all awards have in common: they significantly support the development of a scientific career and increase the chances of success when it comes to the acquisition of third-party funded projects.
With this spirit, a selection of prizes, awards and renowned (competitive) network meetings for all career stages in the postdoctoral phase as well as some important dissertation prizes are listed below. (Further research possibilities can be found here: Own Funding Research).
Important awards for young scientists
- Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize
- DFG | annual, upon proposal | 200.000 EUR which can be used for up to three years of research work | all Postdocs | Further information
- Alfried Krupp-Prize for young university instructors (natural and engineering sciences (including medicines)
- A. Krupp v. Bohlen und Halbach-Stiftung | Deadline for nominations: 3.03.2023 | 1 Mio. EUR | existing professorship, age limit: max. 38 years | Further information (only in german)
- Leopoldina Early Career Award
- Leopoldina | every second year, upon proposal | 30.000 EUR | Postdoctorates with outstanding performance in the thematic field of the respective Leopoldina Annual Assembly | Further information
- Friedmund Neumann Prize (for outstanding works regarding research in biology, organic chemistry or human medicine)
- Schering Stiftung | annual, deadline for nominations : 04.02.2024 | 10.000 EUR | young Postdocs | Further information | Call for Nominations 2024
- Liliane Bettencourt Prize for Life Science
- Fondation Bettencourt Schueller | annual, upon proposal | 300.000 EUR | renowned Postdocs, based in France or another EU-country, age limit: max. 45 years | Further information
- Berliner Wissenschaftspreis – Young Talents Award
- Berlin | annual, upon proposal, usually july-september | 10.000 EUR | renowned Postdocs, age limit: max. 35 years |Innovative research approaches with particular benefits for Berlin as a location for science and business | Further information
- Einstein Foundation Award for Promoting Quality in Research - Early Career Award
- Einstein Foundation Berlin | application deadline: to be announced in spring 2023 | 100.000 EUR | young Postdocs, max. 5 years of independent research | Further information
- Science Competition „Forum Junge Spitzenforschung“
- Stiftung Industrieforschung and the network "Science & Startups" | Application Deadline: to be announced in 2023 | in total 30.000 EUR | Junior scientists (m/f/d) | Topic 2022: Future of Materials and materials production | Further information
- Tiburtius-Prize
- LKRP| Deadline for nomination: annual on 15. May|upon proposal of professors of Berlin universities | 500-4.000 EUR | Dissertation with top grade at a Berlin University | Further information (only in german)
- Ernst Schering Prize
- Ernst Schering Research Foundation | nomination deadline: 04.02.2024 | 50.000 EUR | pioneering research in biology, medicine and chemistry in the field of biomedicine | Further information | Call for Nominations 2024
- Marthe-Vogt-Preis
- Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. | annual, nomination deadline: tba| 3.000 EUR | young female scientist who has written an outstanding PhD within a scientific area covered by FVB in the region of Berlin and Brandenburg | Further information
Prizes of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- PhD Award Adlershof
- HU and partners | annual nomination deadline: 1.November | 3.000 EUR | directly after a dissertation in Adlershof (latest 18 months) | Further information | Guidelines (only in German)
- Humboldt Prize
- HU | annual, upon proposal of the dean| 750-3.000 EUR | directly after the doctorate | Further information (only in German)
- Caroline von Humboldt Prize for female postdocs
- HU | annual, upon proposal | 15.000 EUR | female, max. 7 years after the doctorate | Further information
Renowned Network Meetings
- Membership Junge Akademie
- BBAW and Leopoldina | annual, upon proposal | 3-7 years after the doctorate | Further information
- Berlin der Begegnung - Genshagener Kreis
- Genshagener Kreis Berlin e.V. | annual, deadline for nomination to be announced | Topic 2022 "Common Sense" | Further information (only in german) |