Current Calls
Life Sciences Bridge Award
The Frankfurt-based Aventis Foundation will grant up to three annual research awards for young and talented researchers in life sciences. Each award will be endowed with a subsidy amount of € 100,000 to help creative postdocs pursue their innovative research projects and jump-start their careers in life sciences. The awards will be given to young academics, e. g. research group leaders (three years after the doctorate at the earliest), junior professors and tenure-track-professors who aim for an academic career but do not yet hold full and permanent professorship. The award specifically promotes innovative approaches in life sciences, i. e. biochemistry, biology, chemistry, medicine, pharmaceutical studies – each of which may be combined with mathematics, engineering and IT.
Deadline: 30 April 2025
Junges Kolleg 2026 of the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and the Arts
Admission to the Junges Kolleg is an important distinction for young academics and artists in North Rhine-Westphalia. The Junges Kolleg is a place for independent research and interdisciplinary dialogue. Scholarship holders (employed for a limited period of time and no older than 36 years at the time of admission) receive an annual scholarship of 10,000 euros for up to four years. This financial support provides them the freedom they need to pursue their own research or art projects. In addition to a doctorate, outstanding academic achievements at a university or research institution in North Rhine-Westphalia or outstanding achievements in the field of art are prerequisites for membership in the Junges Kolleg.
Deadline: 4 May 2025
Karl Arnold Prize 2025 Quantum
The Karl Arnold Prize can be awarded to young academics from all disciplines as well as artists who have presented an excellent dissertation - magna or summa cum laude (or equivalent) - or an outstanding artistic achievement on the main topic of quantum at a North Rhine-Westphalian university in 2024. This year's call takes a broad view of the term Quantum, as quantum technologies have an impact on almost all areas of our lives. They raise philosophical, ethical, legal and also political questions. It is not only in physics, computer science or chemistry that clever minds are working on the topic of quantum; the subject also plays a role in art, engineering, literature and philosophy. The prize is endowed with 10,000 euros.
Deadline: 4 May 2025
(If you are interested in a nomination, please contact us at an early stage.)
Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize
The Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize is an accolade for early career researchers that recognises outstanding scientific work and encourages them to continue their scientific careers. Since obtaining their doctorate, the recipients should have established a distinctive profile early on and the results of their research should have attracted attention within the subject-specific community, suggesting that excellent performance can be expected of them in the future. Ten prizes are awarded each year, each endowed with 200,000 euros. The prize money can be used for further scientific research for up to three years. The nomination is submitted by the Rectorate. Therefore, please contact us well before the deadline (see below).
Deadline: 14 May 2025
Holberg International Memorial Prize
The Holberg Prize is awarded annually to scholars who have made outstanding contributions to research in the humanities, social sciences, law or theology, either in one of these fields or through interdisciplinary work. The recipient must have had a decisive influence on international research. The prize is worth NOK 6,000,000. The nomination is submitted by the Rectorate. Therefore, please contact us well before the deadline (see below).
Deadline: 15 June 2025
