Deadline Extended: ALBA-FKNE Diversity Prize 2026

The ALBA Network and the FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence (FKNE) are now accepting nominations for the ALBA-FKNE Diversity Prize 2026, which recognises a Europe-based scientist who is driving meaningful change toward a more inclusive research community.

This annual prize highlights individuals whose actions, leadership, or initiatives are advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within neuroscience. By celebrating these efforts, ALBA and FKNE aim to highlight the impact of researchers who are actively making outstanding contributions to this effort.

Prize:
The awardee will receive EUR 2000 in prize money for personal use, as well as additional financial support to cover travel and participation for the FENS Forum 2026 at which the prize will be presented.

Eligibility criteria:
This year they will celebrate the efforts of researchers at all career stages, including students, postdocs and principal investigators. They should be based in Europe and work at least 50% in a European research institution.

Nomination procedure:
The call welcomes nominations of an individual by someone as well as self-nomination. Applications should include a statement (max. 1 page) indicating the merits of the nominee on promoting equality and diversity in the field of brain sciences and any relevant activities organised by the nominee to contribute to this goal. The committee will evaluate the diversity-promoting activities described in the nomination statement according to the following criteria:

• Extent of impact: Consider the magnitude of change, whether the actions have a local or global impact, and the size of the audience affected by these actions.
• Creativity of actions: Innovative approaches taken to promote diversity.
• Inspiration to others: The degree to which the nominee’s actions inspire others to promote diversity.
• Role model status: Acting as a role model for other/junior scientists in the field of diversity in brain sciences.

You may wish to address these criteria in your nomination statement.

The deadline has now been extended to

22 January 2026