Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, this is correct. Governmental organizations will only be given the award, i.e. a certificate and a trophy, and will not receive the €200,000 monetary prize.

The award funds must solely be used for scientific purposes. The Einstein Foundation expects recipients to use the award funding responsibly.

Applicants can apply as individuals or as part of a team and/or be nominated in several categories, i.e. one person can put themselves forward for the ECR Award and also be a member of a team applying/nominated for the Organization Award.

Yes, non-scientists can also be honored if they have advanced the quality of research findings in an outstanding manner.

Yes, it is also possible to nominate larger teams. However, we ask the individuals submitting nominations to limit their list to no more than five key team members, who are then nominated on behalf of the team. If successful, those nominated will be acknowledged and receive the award on behalf of their entire team.

We welcome nominations in this category from all researchers, regardless of their seniority. However, nominators should know the nominated organization well and be able to offer sufficient evidence to support their nomination. In addition, we expect up to three (3) letters of support. Letters must be written by eminent experts from institutions external to the nominated institution or organization itself.

Members of scientific associations are welcome to submit nominations.

We deliberately chose not to set an age limit in this category to take account of the many career paths researchers may take. However, applicants should be aware that this award is intended explicitly for researchers who are at the beginning of their careers and that we cannot consider any applicants whose CVs demonstrate an advanced career in research.

As you do not head your own independent group and are not an independent researcher (you are part of a working group and are under the leadership of its head), you are eligible to apply for the ECR Award.

However, please note our response to question 1 above: All applicants should be aware that this award is explicitly intended for researchers who are at the beginning of their careers. This means that we cannot consider any applicants whose CVs reflect advanced research experience.

As this is not a grant but an award that aims to recognize uniquely innovative and effective approaches to improving research quality, we require neither a financial plan nor details regarding costs or the planned application of funding. Award funds should be used exclusively to support efforts to promote quality in research. However, we do expect to receive a progress report on the project two years after the award has been given.

The Einstein Foundation specifies no time frame in which awarded funds must be used. However, we do expect a progress report on the project to be submitted two years after the award has been given.

There are no restrictions concerning the affiliations or nationalities of the applying researchers and their institutions. Institutions based in Berlin/Germany need not necessarily be involved in the project.

The Early Career Award fund should be used exclusively for the proposed project’s activities as described in the application, i.e. it should be used solely to improve research quality. Apart from this, there are no restrictions regarding the use of the funds. Award recipients may spend the funds as they see fit and use the prize money to finance all activities relevant to the implementation of the award-winning project.

ECRs must make up the majority of the team and play, or have played, a key role in creating and implementing the project. However, the team may also include senior researchers, master and/or PhD student as well as non-scientists.

You may submit an application for a project that has already begun. Completed projects, however, cannot be considered for the ECR Award. Instead, ECRs who have successfully completed a project can be nominated in the Individual Award category.

The application process is intended for teams that are either already working together or that intend to work closely on a joint project. Larger teams can apply but each application must specify no more than five key members, who will be nominated on behalf of the entire team. Please also see question 7.