With this Diversity prize, the ALBA Network and the FENS-Kavli Scholars wish to highlight a scientist that has made outstanding contributions to promoting equality and diversity in the brain sciences. The promotion of equality and diversity — e.g. by gender, race, sexual orientation, class, or culture — in research depends upon leaders and role models that catalyse a full integration of all scientists across academic levels. This annual award will recognise an individual that has made outstanding contributions to this effort, including but not limited to advocacy, mentorship or the creation of diversity-promoting initiatives. This prize is awarded annually by the ALBA and FKNE networks, at either the FENS Forum or the FENS Regional Meetings (FRM). The 2026 winner will be celebrated during the award ceremony at the FENS Forum 2026 (6-10 July, Barcelona, Spain).

Deadline: January 8, 2026

Addressees: Researchers at all career stages based in Europe and working at least 50% in a European research institution

The Office for Science and Technology of the French Embassy in Germany aims to strengthen Franco-German cooperation in research and innovation by supporting the mobility of young researchers. The Procope Mobility program specifically supports the mobility of young researchers affiliated with a laboratory or research institute in Germany to France. These mobility grants will enable them to conduct research in a laboratory or research institute in France. All research fields are eligible. The mobility grant will fund a stay of one, two, or three months, beginning no earlier than May 18, 2026, and no later than December 31, 2026.

Deadline: January 12, 2026

Addressees: Doctoral students or early-career postdocs affiliated with a German institution

Are you a scientist who wants to consolidate your independence by establishing a research team and continuing to develop a success career in Europe? The ERC Consolidator Grant could be for you. You can also apply if you have recently created an independent, excellent research team and want to strengthen it.

Deadline: January 13, 2026

Addressees: Researchers of any nationality with 7-12 years of experience since completion of PhD

The Simons Foundation’s Autism & Neuroscience division is pleased to announce the Fellows-to-Faculty Award request for applications (RFA) is now open. The program supports talented early-career scientists by facilitating their transition into tenure-track faculty positions. We offer the program to nurture new talent and to broaden the community of scientists contributing to the scientific missions of our programs.

Deadline: January 14, 2026

Addressees: PhD/MD holders seeking tenure-track research faculty positions

The FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence PhD Thesis Prize is awarded every second year at the FENS Forum and honors a young neuroscientist for his/her outstanding PhD thesis in any domain of neuroscience. Personal prize money: 2.000 €.

Deadline: February 15, 2026

Addressees: Young neuroscientists, no more than two years after finishing their PhD in a FENS member country

The FENS-Kavli Scholars aim to promote neuroscience and support early-career neuroscientists in Europe. We recognize that mentoring plays an essential role in fostering scientists, but mentoring efforts are often not recognised or rewarded in a scientific career. Personal prize money: 2.000 €.

Deadline: February 15, 2026

Addressees: Neuroscientists, head of a research laboratory in a FENS member country with mentoring responsibility

The Schering Stiftung is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the Ernst Schering Prize 2026. This prestigious award recognizes exceptional achievements in basic research across the life sciences. The prize is designed to support outstanding scientists who are distinguished by their unique scientific profiles. It carries a prize money of € 50,000.
Eligible for nomination are both individual scientists and collaborative teams worldwide: who perform biological, medical, or chemical basic research in the field of biomedicine; whose pioneering research has in recent years resulted in new and inspiring pathways or led to breakthroughs in biomedical knowledge; who actively participate in relevant debates between science and society, or who have started initiatives to guide future generations and inspire them to further their career. A special focus is on nominees actively pursuing their scientific goals for the benefit of society. Nominations are welcome by established scientists, scientific societies, or scientific organizations.

Deadline: February 16, 2026

Addressees: Individual scientists and collaborative teams worldwide in the field of biomedicine

Die Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung möchte besonders begabte und motivierte klinisch und wissenschaftlich tätige Ärztinnen und Ärzte am Beginn ihres Berufsweges unterstützen, durch eine zweijährige Freistellung von klinischen Aufgaben ein besonders erfolgversprechendes medizinisches Forschungsvorhaben signifikant weiterzubringen. Damit soll der Grundstein zur wissenschaftlichen Selbständigkeit und zur Karriere als Clinician Scientist gelegt werden. Dazu schreibt die Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung auf dem gesamten Gebiet der Medizin in der Regel bis zu sechs Individualstipendien mit einer Laufzeit von zwei Jahren für junge Ärztinnen und Ärzte in der Weiterbildungsphase aus. Das Stipendium ist mit insgesamt 250.000 € dotiert und dient primär der Finanzierung der eigenen Stelle (Brutto-Jahresgehalt) während der Freistellung.

Deadline: February 25, 2026

Addressees: Promovierte Ärzt:innen in der Weiterbildungsphase an Universitätsklinika oder an anderen Forschungseinrichtungen mit Aufgaben in der Patientenversorgung in Deutschland

The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) are launching a call for proposals for outstanding joint research projects.
This initiative aims to bring together relevant and competitive researchers from Germany and Taiwan to design and carry out collaborative research projects. Funds to be used on the Taiwanese side must be requested from the NSTC; funds to be used on the German side must be requested from the DFG. Special attention is given to the integrated character of proposed projects, from the concept to the work plan. Funding is only available for projects that involve a convincing collaboration between the German and Taiwanese partners and for which the anticipated research benefit is clearly outlined. The collaborative projects selected will receive research funding for a period of up to three years.

Deadline: February 25, 2026

Addressees: Taiwan-German collaborations

Ziel des Awards ist es junge Wissenschaftler:innen, die aktiv wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse verbreiten und erklären, zu fördern. Der Preis ist mit 1.000€ dotiert.

Deadline: February 28, 2026

Addressees: Bachelor, Masterstudent:innen, Doktorand:innen oder Postdocs, die aktiv Wissenschaftskommunikation im Bereich der Life Sciences betreiben

Every year, the Körber Stiftung presents the German Thesis Award to the best doctoral graduates in Germany from all disciplines. In addition to academic excellence, the Award primarily focuses on the broader social relevance of a particular piece of research. As such, the award encourages young scientists to highlight the value of their research to society and to discuss their work in public. The prizes awarded total € 135,000 for significant and innovative research, including three top prizes of € 25,000 each. This makes the German Thesis Award one of the most highly endowed prizes awarded to young scientists in the country. The competition is held under the auspices of Bundestag President Julia Klöckner.

Deadline: March 1, 2026

Second deadline: March 1, 2027

Addressees: PhDs with German citizenship or having earned their PhD from a German university

The cooperation of Israeli and Lower Saxon universities and research institutions has a long history. With the funding program "Research Cooperations Lower Saxony – Israel", which funds excellent collaborative research projects, the Ministry of Research and Culture in Lower Saxony and the Volkswagen Foundation support this partnership.

Deadline: March 3, 2026

Addressees: Scientists at universities and research institutes in Lower Saxony and Israel

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: March 15, 2026

Second deadline: September 15, 2026

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

Dieses Programm fördert Forschungsaufenthalte im Ausland während einer Promotion in Deutschland. Die Auslandsaufenthalte können zwischen einem und zwölf Monaten betragen. Der Förderzeitraum kann zeitlich aufgeteilt werden und auch in verschiedenen Ländern stattfinden.

Deadline: March 16, 2026

Second deadline: June 15, 2026

Addressees: Doktorand:innen an einer deutschen Hochschule

Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft’s Tenure Track Professorship program supports German universities in appointing and onboarding international talents for tenure track positions by funding the first years of the professorship.

Deadline: March 31, 2026

Second deadline: September 30, 2026

Addressees: Outstanding researchers from outside of Germany

Here, 'momentum' is meant as an impulse to keep something moving or developing dynamically after it has started. In this sense, the initiative addresses academics at an early stage following the appointment to their first tenured professorship. The goal is to open up opportunities in this phase of their career to advance the content and strategic development of their professorship.

Deadline: April 14, 2026

Second deadline: April 6, 2027

Addressees: Professors three to five years after taking up their first tenured professorship at a university

The Max Planck Society has initiated a number of measures to attract increasing numbers of women to a career in science and provide them with equal opportunities for all stages of their career. An important initiative is the Lise Meitner Excellence Program. The positon as a Lise Meitner Group Leader will be advertised to recruit and promote exceptionally qualified female scientists. There is a multi-stage, competitive selection process, held in close consultation with interested Max Planck Institutes. The Lise Meitner Groups are furnished with their own resources for their entire duration.

Deadline: April 15, 2026

Addressees: Female scientists

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: April 15, 2026

Second deadline: October 15, 2026

Addressees: Master or PhD students, or early postdoctoral fellows

Are you looking for funding to realise your doctoral project? Do your previous study and examination achievements demonstrate a special ability with regard to academic work? Is your work making a significant contribution to research? Then become a doctoral scholarship holder of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom! We support around 150 doctoral students from all disciplines annually who are working on a convincing and innovative research project and have been admitted to a doctoral programme at a university.

Deadline: April 30, 2026

Second deadline: October 31, 2026

Addressees: Prospective PhD students at German universities

Mit unserem Wissenschaftspreis im Bereich der Lebenswissenschaften, dem „Life Sciences Bridge Award“, fördern wir begabte Nachwuchswissenschaftlerinnen und Nachwuchswissenschaftler, um ihnen ein selbstständiges wissenschaftliches Arbeiten zu ermöglichen.

Deadline: April 30, 2026

Addressees: Promovierte Wissenschaftler:innen, die noch keine unbefristete Professur innehaben

The "Lower Saxony Impulse Professorship" addresses academics approaching the end of their early career phase up to a maximum of ten years after completing their doctorate. It is intended to support universities in the state of Lower Saxony in their efforts to attract and retain early career researchers – thereby consolidating Lower Saxony as a science location.
The program addresses academics approaching the end of the early career phase up to a maximum of ten years after completing their doctorate. The funding is intended to increase their promising career potential in terms of disciplinary expertise as well as their capacity to shape research profiles and structures. In this light, it seeks to boost their potential for future leadership roles ("rising stars").

Deadline: June 1, 2026

Addressees: Academics whose doctorate was awarded up to 10 years ago

Are you an established, leading principal investigator who wants long-term funding to pursue a ground-breaking, ambitious project? The ERC Advanced Grant could be for you.

Deadline: August 27, 2026

Addressees: Principal Investigators

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: September 1, 2026

Second deadline: September 1, 2027

Addressees: Neuroscientists still actively engaged in research

The objective of PFs is to support researchers’ careers and foster excellence in research. The Postdoctoral Fellowships action targets researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. PFs help researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines and non-academic sectors.

Deadline: September 9, 2026

Addressees: Researchers with a PhD and maximum eight years experience in research

Seit 2018 vergibt die Hans-Böckler-Stiftung den Maria-Weber-Grant. Zielgruppe sind herausragende Wissenschaftler*innen aus allen Fachgebieten. Die Bewerber*innen können für bis zu 12 Monate eine Vertretung beantragen, die Teile der Aufgaben in der Lehre übernimmt, um sich so Freiräume für ihre Forschung zu verschaffen. Für das Teaching buyout werden Mittel zur Bezahlung der Teilvertretung von bis zu 40.000€ (pauschal 20.000€ pro Semester) gewährt.

Deadline: September 15, 2026

Second deadline: September 15, 2027

Addressees: Juniorprofessor*innen und Habilitanden deutscher Universitäten

Each year, the Foundation awards twelve scholarships (two of them in cooperation with the Reinhard Frank-Foundation) to selected postdoc researchers, junior professors, and heads of junior research groups. The objective is to reinforce the autonomy and creativity of the up-and-coming generation of scientists and to pave the way for the committed researchers’ careers during their productive postdoc phase. The funding amounts to €40,000 per scholarship for a period of two years and can be used for various purposes, for example to finance scientific assistants, technical equipment, research trips or participation in conferences.

Deadline: October 1, 2026

Second deadline: October 1, 2027

Addressees: Postdocs at German research institutions – especially junior professors and academics in comparable positions

The Priority Programmes aim to give clear impetus to the advancement of science and the humanities through coordinated multi-location funding for important new topics

Deadline: October 15, 2026

Second deadline: October 15, 2027

Addressees: Researchers with a doctorate from all disciplines who work at a research institution in Germany or at a German research institution abroad

Every year, on behalf of the Dana Foundation, FENS offers financial support of up to EUR 1,000 to Brain Awareness Week event organisers in Europe.

Deadline: October 15, 2026

Addressees: Organizers of BAW activities in Europe

The CNV Foundation supports outstanding female scientists in the fields of the experimental natural sciences and basic medical research who are also raising children. It aims to enable them to create the freedom and mobility required to further their scientific careers. The Foundation wishes to help prevent science from losing excellent talent. It is aimed specifically at graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the fields of experimental natural sciences and medicine. The funding amounts to €500 per month for a period of one year.

Deadline: November 30, 2026

Second deadline: November 30, 2027

Addressees: Female PhD students and Postdocs with children

A Research Unit is a close-knit, medium-term collaborative alliance consisting of several outstanding researchers who work together on a joint research project. The project’s thematic focus, duration and – in some cases – funding requirements go well beyond what is possible under individual grants such as research grants or Priority Programmes. Funding for Research Units aims to provide the required personnel and material resources for a medium-term close cooperation, usually designed to last eight years. Research Units often contribute to establishing new research directions. The same quality criteria apply as for research grants. A Research Unit typically comprises fewer than ten projects which are coordinated so as to enable work on a common research topic. The majority of the research projects are to be based at universities.

Deadline: December 31, 2026

Addressees: Researchers in all disciplines at German research institutions who have completed their academic training (as a rule, those holding a doctorate)

The "Lower Saxony Professorship" addresses exceptional academics who are professionally excellent and have several years of (management) experience in the science system. They are expected to have the capacity to shape the profile and structure of their university location and impact the research region at large.

Deadline: December 31, 2026

Second deadline: December 31, 2027

Addressees: Scientists with a doctorate

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. The aim is to enable outstanding researchers with a proven scientific track record to pursue exceptionally interdisciplinary and innovative projects.

Deadline: December 31, 2026

Second deadline: December 31, 2027

Addressees: 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: December 31, 2026

Second deadline: December 31, 2027

Addressees: 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: December 31, 2026

Second deadline: December 31, 2027

Addressees: 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: December 31, 2026

Second deadline: December 31, 2027

Addressees: Early-career postdocs

In principle, researchers at a German institution in Germany and abroad can always submit a research project proposal (usually Individual Research Grants Programme ) with international participation if the appropriate co-financing is available.

Deadline: December 31, 2026

Second deadline: December 31, 2027

Addressees: Scientists with a doctorate