Grants & Funding

German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Published Date: November 02, 2009

Program Information

Program Name:

Bernstein Award 2010, Computational Neuroscience

Program URL:

http://www.gesundheitsforschung-bmbf.de/en/1834.php

Type of Scientists Funded:

Advanced PhD Postdoc, Junior Faculty

Program Description:

Computational Neuroscience is a very dynamic research discipline in the field of the neurosciences. With its interdisciplinary approach and systematic cooperation between biology, medicine, physics, mathematics and computer science, this research area promises the accelerated generation of new findings as well as major impetus for application-oriented fields such as health research, information technology and education.

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research has established four Bernstein Centers for Computational Neuroscience (http://www.bernstein-zentren.de/) within the framework of its National Network for Computational Neuroscience funding activity. These high-performing centers are the major structural elements of the National Network. This means that a new structure has been created which is necessary for developing a new quality in Computational Neuroscience, for networking this research area and for promoting its international visibility.

It is particularly important to attract excellent young researchers in order to lastingly strengthen and establish Computational Neuroscience as a field of research in Germany. The Bernstein Centers contribute substantially to achieving this goal with their concepts for supporting junior researchers at the level of study programs and postgraduate studies. But there is also a great need to attract and support young researchers at the level of research group leaders, where they will be able to develop their own research profile and greater scientific independence by establishing and heading their own junior research groups.

The Bernstein Award funding activity aims to support research projects in the field of Computational Neuroscience, thus enabling excellent young researchers working in this field to implement innovative project ideas in Computational Neuroscience in the German research environment. This is intended inter alia to promote the academic qualification of these outstanding young researchers. The projects supported under the Bernstein Award initiative will become an integral part of the National Network for Computational Neuroscience and give new impetus to scientific activities.

Public Contact Information

Program Award Term and Application Process

• Award Term Fixed or Variable?    Variable
• Minimum Term     
• Maximum Term     
• Award Renewable?    No
• Does an individual or institution apply to the program?    Individual
• Is there an application deadline?    Yes
• Application deadline(s):
  05/25/2010

Program FUNDS

• Stipend Information:
  
  
• Annual stipend type:    Not Applicable
• 
  Research Allowance Information:
  
  
• Annual research allowance type:    Not Applicable
• 
  Indirect Costs (Institutional Funds) Information:
  
  
• Indirect costs type:    Not Applicable
• 
  Other Costs Information:
  
  
• Other Costs type:    Not Applicable

Program Eligibility Requirements

Research Areas:

Neuroscience

Application by invitation or nomination only?

No

Are awards limited to specific groups?

None provided

Must applicants be U.S. citizens and/or permanent residents?

No

U.S. geographic limits?

No

International geographic limits?

Institutional limits?

Yes

Details

Research proposals may be submitted by institutions of higher education and non-university research institutions based in Germany. Research institutions which receive joint basic funding from the Federal Government and the Länder can only be awarded project funding to cover their additional expenditure under certain conditions.

Non-research activity allowed for postdoctoral and junior faculty awards?

If yes, specify at least one of the following: percentage time and activities allowed

Program competition information

• Number of Applicants in Most Recent Competition Year:   
• Number of Awards in Most Recent Competition Year:   
• Institutional Award Rates   

  Category	# Applicants	# Awards
  Institutional Awards

• Awardee's subsequent careers/accomplishments tracked after end of term?   
  
• Total dollars awarded in the most recent competition year