The scope of this topic is to support the excellence and attractiveness of the EBRAINS Research Infrastructure by operating existing, improved and new services, advancing scientific and technological discoveries in neurosciences, brain medicine and brain-inspired cognitive technologies, and attracting a wide community of users, including industrial users.

Deadline: 16. Juni 2026

Zielgruppe: Scientists in the EU

The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour (SWC) and the Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit (Gatsby Unit) invite expressions of interest from early career researchers who wish to be sponsored for external career fellowships to establish an independent research group in mechanistic theories of neural computation or learning. The successful candidate will establish an independent computational research programme, supported by an external fellowship and hosted jointly at SWC and Gatsby Unit, that develops models and theories linking the activity of neural circuits to the behavioural processes that underpin perception, cognition, planning, motor control and/or learning.

Deadline: 16. Juli 2026

Zielgruppe: Postdoctoral researchers in neuroscience, physics, mathematics, machine learning, or a related quantitative discipline

Die Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung möchte herausragend in Klinik und Forschung qualifizierte Ärztinnen und Ärzte unterstützen, durch eine zweijährige Freistellung von klinischen Aufgaben ein besonders erfolgversprechendes und für sie profilbildendes medizinisches Forschungsvorhaben signifikant weiterzubringen. Damit soll vor allem Oberärztinnen und Oberärzten die Qualifizierung für die Berufung auf eine Professur im Sinne eines Clinician Scientist ermöglicht werden.
Dazu schreibt die Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung auf dem gesamten Gebiet der Medizin bis zu sechs Individualstipendien mit einer Laufzeit von zwei Jahren für Ärztinnen und Ärzte nach Abschluss der Weiterbildung zum Facharzt aus. Das Stipendium ist mit insgesamt 350.000 € dotiert und dient primär der Finanzierung der eigenen Stelle (Brutto-Jahresgehalt) während der Freistellung.

Deadline: 31. Juli 2026

Zielgruppe: Forschende Fachärzt:innen unter 40 Jahre alt

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: 27. August 2026

Zielgruppe: 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: 1. September 2026

Folgedeadline: 1. September 2027

Zielgruppe: 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: 9. September 2026

Zielgruppe: 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: 15. September 2026

Folgedeadline: 15. September 2027

Zielgruppe: 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: 1. Oktober 2026

Folgedeadline: 1. Oktober 2027

Zielgruppe: 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. As a rule, Priority Programmes receive funding for a period of six years. If researchers are interested in collaborating on a Priority Programme, the DFG will invite them to submit the corresponding project proposals by a certain deadline.

Deadline: 15. Oktober 2026

Folgedeadline: 15. Oktober 2027

Zielgruppe: 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: 15. Oktober 2026

Zielgruppe: 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: 30. November 2026

Folgedeadline: 30. November 2027

Zielgruppe: Female PhD students and Postdocs with children

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 2026

Folgedeadline: 31. Dezember 2027

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 2026

Folgedeadline: 31. Dezember 2027

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 2026

Folgedeadline: 31. Dezember 2027

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 2026

Folgedeadline: 31. Dezember 2027

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 2026

Folgedeadline: 31. Dezember 2027

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 2026

Folgedeadline: 31. Dezember 2027

Zielgruppe: Promovierte Wissenschaftler:innen

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: 31. Dezember 2026

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

The NSTC (Taiwan) Research Fellowship supports you as a highly qualified postdoc or experienced researcher from Germany in conducting your research in Taiwan – regardless of discipline. The Taiwanese NSTC funds up to two three- to twelve-month research stays annually; these stays can potentially be extended up to a total duration of three years. Applicants are pre-selected by the Humboldt Foundation. If you would like to apply for a NSTC (Taiwan) Research Fellowship, you will require an academic host who has previously received project funding from the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), Taiwan. Individuals with whom you are in a close personal (marriage or civil partnership) or familial (parents, siblings, children) relationship cannot be selected as hosts.

Deadline: 31. Dezember 2026

Zielgruppe: German researchers up to 12 years after their PhD

Attention, researchers from Germany! The Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship supports you – postdoctoral and experienced researchers – with your research abroad. As president of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, biochemist and Nobel Laureate Feodor Lynen advocated opening up the international Humboldt Network to junior researchers from Germany. The fellowship named after him is granted by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation with funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and enables researchers with above-average qualifications from Germany at all career levels and in all disciplines to conduct research with members of the Humboldt Network around the world.

Deadline: 31. Dezember 2026

Zielgruppe: German postdocs

Ziel des Programms ist die Förderung von Forschungsaufenthalten hochqualifizierter deutscher Nachwuchsforscherinnen und -forscher auf dem Gebiet der Künstlichen Intelligenz sowie allgemein der Informatik und angrenzender Gebiete an einem IFI-Partnerinstitut. Eine Bewerbung ist jederzeit möglich, muss aber spätestens zwei Monate vor dem gewünschten Förderbeginn eingereicht werden. Das Stipendium kann bei erfolgreicher Bewerbung jeweils zum Monatsanfang angetreten werden.

Deadline: 31. Dezember 2026

Folgedeadline: 31. Dezember 2027

Zielgruppe: Promovierende an einer deutschen Hochschule oder Forschungseinrichtung

Ziel des Programms ist die Förderung von Forschungsaufenthalten hochqualifizierter deutscher Nachwuchsforscherinnen und -forscher auf dem Gebiet der Künstlichen Intelligenz sowie allgemein der Informatik und angrenzender Gebiete an einem Partnerinstitut. Die Stipendien werden in der Regel für die Dauer von 3 bis 24 Monaten vergeben. Eine Bewerbung ist jederzeit möglich, muss aber spätestens zwei Monate vor dem gewünschten Förderbeginn eingereicht werden.

Deadline: 31. Dezember 2026

Folgedeadline: 31. Dezember 2027

Zielgruppe: Postdocs an einer deutschen Universität oder Forschungsinstitution, deren Promotion nicht länger als vier Jahre zurückliegt