Paul Ehrlich & Ludwig Darmstaedter Early Career Award 2026 - submissions by Monday, May 5, 2025

The Paul Ehrlich Foundation annually honors an exceptional early-career scientist based in Germany for groundbreaking research in the life sciences. The prestigious Paul Ehrlich & Ludwig Darmstaedter Early Career Award includes an endowment of €60,000, designated for advancing the recipient’s research efforts. 

Recent award winners and their research topics: 
2025 Tobias Ackels Navigating the odor landscape in mammals 
2024 Johannes Karges Remote-controlled and targeted activation of cytostatics 
2023 Leif Ludwig A pioneering method for blood stem cell diagnostics 
2022 Laura Hinze Pathways of resistance development in cancer cells 
 
University professors and directors of research institutions in Germany are eligible to submit nominations. Self-applications will not be considered. Candidates should be under 40 years old at the time of the award ceremony (exceptions according to DFG rules) and not hold a tenured professorship or equivalent position. Proposals are requested in English as single PDF. The file should include a comprehensive 
justification, the candidate’s three most significant papers, full copies of these three publications, as well as the candidate’s curriculum vitae (link for CV form). 

 Please email submissions by Monday, May 5, 2025 to the Chairman of the Selection 
Committee: 
Prof. Dr. Robert Tampé, Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt/M., paul-ehrlich-nachwuchspreis@uni-frankfurt.de 

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to present their research at a selection symposium in Frankfurt on September 15, 2025. Following the symposium, the award recipient will be selected by the Scientific Council of the Paul Ehrlich Foundation based on the Selection Committee’s recommendation. The award ceremony will take place in the historic Paulskirche, Frankfurt — a powerful symbol of German democracy — on March 14, 2026, in celebration of Paul Ehrlich’s birthday. 

For more information, please contact: Mr. Luca Faggiano, Phone: +49 69 798-17250, 
Email: paul-ehrlich-nachwuchspreis@uni-frankfurt.de 
www.uni-frankfurt.de/paul-ehrlich-early-career-award