The Eric Kandel Young Neuroscientists Prize recognises the work of outstanding young scientists in the field of neuroscience and helps advance their careers as researchers. The Eric Kandel Young Neuroscientists Prize, named after American neuroscientist and Nobel laureate Prof. Eric Kandel, was established in 2009 in order to recognise the work of outstanding young scientists in any field of neuroscience and to help advance their careers as researchers. The prize is awarded every two years by the Hertie Foundation in conjunction with FENS since 2010, being under the patronage of the German Ministry for Education and Research.

Deadline: 24. Juli 2025

Zielgruppe: European neuroscientists under the age of 40

The Brain Prize is an international award that recognises and celebrates highly original and groundbreaking advances in any area of brain research, from basic neuroscience to applied clinical research. The window for nomination is open from May 1 to September 1 every year.

Deadline: 1. September 2025

Folgedeadline: 1. September 2026

Zielgruppe: Neuroscientists still actively engaged in research

The Rise up! programme is aimed at outstanding and exceptionally creative basic scientists in biology, chemistry, and medicine who have accepted their first appointment to an associate professorship at a German university. With Rise up!, they can bring forward an especially innovative research programme that may have a lasting impact on their field.

Deadline: 15. September 2025

Zielgruppe: Scientists with accepted associate (W2) professorship at a German university

With its Plus 3 funding programme, the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation aims to support outstanding junior group leaders in Germany conducting basic research in biology, chemistry, and medicine.

Deadline: 15. September 2025

Zielgruppe: Junior group leaders in Germany

Mit dem Pro­gramm Tenure Track Pro­fes­sor­ship un­ter­stützt die Wübben Stif­tung Wis­sen­schaft deut­sche Uni­ver­si­tä­ten bei der Be­ru­fung in­ter­na­tio­na­ler Top-Talente und fi­nan­ziert die ersten Jahre einer Tenure-Track-Pro­fes­sur.

Deadline: 30. September 2025

Zielgruppe: her­aus­ra­gen­de Wis­sen­schaft­ler:innen aus dem Ausland

FENS and IBRO-PERC are offering funding of up to EUR 4.000 each to early career researchers interested in participating in cross-border laboratory visits. FENS and the IBRO Pan-Europe Regional Committee (IBRO-PERC) are dedicated to supporting early career researchers and promoting intra-European mobility. The FENS/IBRO-PERC Exchange Fellowships Programme is designed to advance neuroscience research and training in Europe by enabling master or PhD students and early postdoctoral fellows to broaden their methodological expertise through targeted laboratory visits.

Deadline: 15. Oktober 2025

Zielgruppe: Master or PhD students, or early postdoctoral fellows

Mit der Förderlinie "Niedersachsen-Professur" unterstützen das Niedersächsische Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur (MWK) und die VolkswagenStiftung die niedersächsischen Hochschulen dabei, führende Wissenschaftler:innen für den Wissenschaftsstandort zu gewinnen. Die Förderlinie "Niedersachsen-Professur" adressiert Spitzenwissenschaftler:innen, die durch fachliche Exzellenz in Kombination mit langjähriger (Führungs-)Erfahrung im Wissenschaftssystem in herausragendem Maße profil- und strukturbildend für den Hochschulstandort und darüber hinaus wirken können. Angesichts der hohen Anforderungen ist die Zahl der Förderfälle auf drei pro Jahr begrenzt.

Deadline: 31. Dezember 2025

Folgedeadline: 31. Dezember 2026

Zielgruppe: Promovierte Wissenschaftler:innen

Interdisciplinary research is often particularly challenging and requires special efforts at newly emerging interfaces. In order to create an additional opportunity for interdisciplinary research and to make the achievements of scientists who conduct research at scientific boundaries more visible, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) launches an open call under the Reinhart Koselleck programme. This programme enables outstanding researchers with a proven scientific track record to pursue exceptionally innovative, higher-risk projects.

Deadline: 31. Dezember 2025

Folgedeadline: 31. Dezember 2026

Zielgruppe: Scientists with or eligible for a professorship

If you already meet all the requirements for appointment to a permanent professorship, you can apply to the Heisenberg Programme. While you prepare for a future senior academic role, the DFG provides funding to enable you to carry on with high-quality research at the institution of your choice and continue building your academic reputation.
The Heisenberg Programme is directed primarily at those researchers who have qualified for professorship via the Emmy Noether Programme, leadership of a junior research group, DFG project staff positions, private-sector research or mid-level faculty positions. The target group also includes junior professors who have received positive evaluations, those who have achieved their habilitation or an equivalent qualification, and German researchers returning from abroad, as well as appropriately qualified foreign researchers (who have not yet achieved a full professorship) looking to pursue careers in Germany.

Deadline: 31. Dezember 2025

Folgedeadline: 31. Dezember 2026

Zielgruppe: Researchers eligible for a professorship

The Emmy Noether Programme gives exceptionally qualified early career researchers the chance to qualify for the post of professor at a university by leading an independent junior research group for a period of six years.

Deadline: 31. Dezember 2025

Folgedeadline: 31. Dezember 2026

Zielgruppe: Early-career researchers up to 4 years after completion of their doctorate

The Walter Benjamin Programme enables researchers in the postdoctoral training phase to independently conduct their own research project at a location of their choice for up to two years. The project can be carried out at a research institution in Germany or abroad, with the host institution providing support for the project.

Deadline: 31. Dezember 2025

Folgedeadline: 31. Dezember 2026

Zielgruppe: Early-career postdocs

Grundsätzlich ist für Wissenschaftler:innen an einer deutschen Einrichtung im In- und Ausland die Beantragung eines Forschungsprojektes (in der Regel Sachbeihilfe) mit internationaler Beteiligung bei entsprechender Kofinanzierung immer möglich.

Deadline: 31. Dezember 2025

Folgedeadline: 31. Dezember 2026

Zielgruppe: Promovierte Wissenschaftler:innen