Promotion through prizes & awards

Academic prizes for young scientists can have different functions: A dissertation prize can be the start of a career. An early award attracts attention when applying for initial funding and can increase the chances of success.

Prizes of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

PrizeEndowmentNomination deadlineTarget group
Dissertation Prize Adlershof3,000 EURAnnually until 1 November upon nominationDissertation with a minimum grade of "very good" (magna cum laude)
Humboldt Prize750-3,000 EURAnnually at the suggestion of deansDirectly after the doctorate
Caroline von Humboldt Award15,000 EURAnnually upon proposalTargeted promotion of female scientists, max. 7 years after doctorate

Overview of external prices

PrizeEndowmentNomination deadlineTarget groups
Heinz Maier Leibnitz PrizeEUR 200,000 prize money, which can be used for up to three years for further scientific research workAnnually upon nominationAll postdocs
Alfried Krupp Prize for young university lecturers (natural sciences and engineering, incl. medicine)1 million EUR1 March

Existing professorship

Age: max. 38 years

Leopoldina Early Career Award30,000 EUREvery two years upon nominationPostdocs with outstanding achievements in a specialised field in the subject area of the respective Leopoldina Annual Assembly
Friedmund Neumann Prize (for outstanding work in basic research in human biology, organic chemistry or human medicine)10,000 EUR4 FebruaryYoung Postdocs
Liliane Bettencourt Prize for Life Sciences100,000 EURAnnually on proposal

Established postdocs, based in France or another EU country

Age: max. 45 years

Berlin Science Prize - Young Researchers (innovative research approaches with particular benefits for Berlin as a centre of science and business)10,000 EURAnnually upon proposal

Established postdocs

Age: max. 35 years

Einstein Foundation Award for Promoting Quality in Research - Early Career Award100,000 EURAnnually

Young postdocs

Max. 5 years of independent research

Science competition "Forum for Young Top-level Research"30,000 EURAnnuallyScientists at early career stages
Tiburtius Prize - Prize of the Berlin UniversitiesFor dissertations from EUR 500 up to EUR 4,000Annually 15 May on the recommendation of professors at Berlin universitiesDoctoral students at Berlin universities. Doctorate awarded with top marks

Contact us

Please contact the Research Service Centre by e-mail for all questions and concerns regarding third-party funding for postdoctoral researchers.

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