Carl Zeiss Award for Young Researchers

The Carl Zeiss Award for Young Researchers is a prize for early-career researchers in optics and photonics, including precision mechanics and electronics related to optics. It is awarded by the Ernst-Abbe-Fonds and in 2027 will distribute a total of €21,000, divided equally into three prizes. Eligible winners are invited to the award ceremony held as part of the ZEISS Research Awards at the Deutsches Museum in Munich.

Monetary prize (three awards of €7,000 each) and an invitation to the award ceremony at the Deutsches Museum in Munich.

Postdocs or research group leaders in optics and photonics (including precision mechanics and electronics related to optics) whose doctoral degree (Dr. or PhD) was obtained no longer than three years ago; applicants must be from university or non-university research institutes (industrial research institutes are excluded).

Online application via the programme's application portal with submission of the nominated outstanding publication (published within the last three years), publication list, support letter from a university professor, CV, and documents certifying the scientific career.