Information for Applicants and nominators

Researchers and institutions worldwide that are engaged in science, research, education, and scholarship are encouraged to participate in this award. It acknowledges outstanding contributions to advancing the rigor, reliability, and transparency of research. We warmly welcome applications and nominations from marginalized and underrepresented groups. 

→ What we honour
→ Questions on the award categories? Please visit our FAQs

 

Individual Award

Who can win:                    
Individuals or small teams who are making exceptional contributions to the advancement of the rigor, reliability, robustness, and transparency of research. Find out what we honor here. See previous winners here.
How much: 
In 2024, the jury can award a prize of €200,000 in this category. 
Who can nominate:     
Peers and institutions who become aware of such outstanding achievements can make a nomination. Nominators are strongly encouraged to consider a diverse set of criteria, including gender, race/ethnicity, geography, and career stage. Self-nominations will not be considered.
What is required:

Nominators are requested to fill in a nomination form and submit their own short CV. The following documents are also required: 

  1. Letter of nomination describing the candidate's/team’s work and why they should be selected for the award (no more than two (2) sides of A4). 
  2. Suggested citation: a 50-word summary stating why the nominee/team should be considered for this award. 
  3. CV of the nominee or CVs of the team members; each may be no more than two (2) sides of A4. 
  4. Short CVof the nominator: no more than one (1) side of A4. 
  5. Bibliography: a list of no more than twelve (12) of the nominee's most important outputs (e.g. publications, preprints, open-source tools) and achievements relevant to this award. In the case of a team of nominees, please submit lists for each individual.  
  6. Email contacts of up to three (3) eminent experts from institutions external to both the nominator's and the nominee’s institution who could be contacted for a letter of support, may be provided. If requested, letters should be no longer than one (1) side of A4. In addition, email contacts of up to two (2) former trainees of the nominee may be submitted. Letters of support from trainees should illustrate the nominee’s mentorship and how the nominee impacted the trainee's careers. Each should be no longer than one (1) side of A4. We generally consider trainees to be all individuals who have been supported by the nominee in the course of their career. Further information on letters of support can be found here. 
Important to know:                  
  1. The emphasis should be on the nominee’s/ team’s recent work. 
  2. Deceased persons cannot be nominated. 
  3. Compliance with research ethics guidelines is expected. 
  4. By making a nomination, the nominator confirms that they have informed the nominee about this nomination and have obtained their consent.  
  5. Award funds must be used solely for scientific purposes. 

The 2024 call is closed. Subscribe here for updates. 

Institutional Award

Who can win: 
Governmental and non-governmental organizations, institutions, or other entities that demonstrate exceptional leadership in advancing the rigor, reliability, robustness, and transparency of research. Find out what we honour here. See the previous winners here.
How much: 
In 2024, the jury can award a prize of €200,000 in this category. 
Who can nominate: 
Anyone who becomes aware of such outstanding achievements can make a nomination. 
Who can apply: 
A representative of the institution or organization, such as the Chief Academic Officer, Provost, President or Chancellor. 
What is required: 
To apply
  1. Letter of application: a brief description of the institution's or organization's collective efforts to promote quality in research (no more than two (2) sides of A4). If available, please include outcomes, statistics, testimonials, and other data that exemplify how your efforts have promoted quality in research. 
  2. Suggested citation: a 50-word summary stating why the institution or organization should be considered for this award. 
  3. Email contacts of up to three (3) eminent experts from institutions external to the applying institution or organization itself, who could be contacted for a letter of support, may be provided. If requested, letters should be no longer than one (1) side of A4. Further information on the letters of support can be found here. 
To nominate 
  1. Letter of nomination: a brief description of the institution’s or organization's collective efforts to promote quality in research (no more than two (2) sides of A4), stating why it should be selected for the award. If available, please include outcomes, statistics, testimonials, and other data that exemplify how their efforts have promoted quality in research. 
  2. Suggested citation: a 50-word summary stating why the institution or organization should be considered for this award. 
  3. Short CV of the nominator: no more than one (1) side of A4. 
  4. Email contacts of up to three (3) eminent experts from institutions external to the nominated institution or organization itself can be provided, who could be contacted for a letter of support. If requested, letters should be no longer than one (1) A4 page. Further information on the letters of support can be found here. 
Important to know: 
  1. If governmental organizations or institutions are the recipients of the award, they will not receive any funds in addition to the award itself.  
  2. By making a nomination, the nominator confirms that they have informed the nominated organization or institution about the nomination and obtained their consent. 
  3. Compliance with research ethics guidelines is expected. 
  4. Award funds must be used solely for scientific purposes.

The 2024 call is closed. Subscribe here for updates. 

Early Career Award

Who can win: 
Early career researchers (ECRs) or small ECR teams who seek to make outstanding contributions to enhanceing the rigor, reliability, robustness, and transparency of research. Find out what we honor here. See previous winners and finalists here. 
How much: 
In 2024, the jury can award a prize of €100,000 in this category. 
Who is eligible: 
To qualify as an ECR, candidates must hold a doctorate or have equivalent research experience and should not have been working as an independent researcher for more than five years. Teams may also include senior researchers, students and non-scientists. Further information can be found here. 
What is required: 
  1. Project proposal: a description of the planned project and its anticipated outcome (no more than two (2) sides of A4). 
  2. Suggested citation: a 50-word summary stating why the applicant should be considered for this award. 
  3. CV or CVs of the applicant or team of applicants, each no more than two (2) sides of A4. 
  4. Bibliography: a list of the five most important outputs (e.g. publications, preprints, open-source tools) or a list of up to five major achievements relevant to this application. 
  5. Letter of motivation: a brief statement (no longer than one (1) side of A4) on the motivation for this project. 
Important to know: 
  1. Up to six finalists will be invited to present their project virtually to the jury and a wider audience. 
  2. Recipients are required to provide a progress report after two years. 
  3. Compliance with research ethics guidelines is expected. 
  4. The award funds must solely be used for scientific purposes of the proposed project as described in the application.  

The 2024 call is closed. Subscribe here for updates. 

Need help?

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Ulrike Pannasch, Coordinator of the Einstein Foundation Award at up(at)einsteinfoundation.de.

Or visit our FAQs for more information on the award categories.

General information

To make a nomination or apply for this award, nominators and applicants may access the nomination/application platform where they can provide all the necessary information. If you are unable to submit an online application, please contact Ulrike Pannasch for further instructions. 

Only correctly completed and submitted nominations and applications received by the relevant deadline will be reviewed and eligible for the award. 

The award recipient and team members must not be employees of Einstein Foundation or members of the selection panel for the award in question. Additionally, immediate family members of those involved are not eligible.  

The Einstein Foundation reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to (a) cancel, suspend, or modify the award process, and/or (b) not award prizes if no entries are deemed worthy. 

→ Information on the selection process

Ethical Guidelines

The Einstein Foundation aims to foster good research practices where the scientific endeavor is characterized by civil rights, respect and non-discrimination, and adherence to the general guidelines for research ethics which have been adopted by the Kavli Prize. The award process and positions of trust must be performed in a way that fosters the reputation of the Einstein Foundation and its ability to credibly promote and represent the scientific community. All those in positions of trust involved in the award are expected to ensure they are fully aware of and comply with the general guidelines for research ethics.