Application Academic Year 2025/26

The call for the 19th KIT Doctoral Award is addressed to doctoral graduates who have completed their doctorate with "summa cum laude" in the academic year 2025/26. Decisive is the date of the thesis defense (October 1, 2025–September 30, 2026). 

To ensure a smooth and efficient application process, we kindly ask you to carefully review the information below and to use the checklist provided (document 6). This checklist is designed to help you verify that all required documents are correctly prepared, named, and submitted. 

Required Documents
  1. ▶ Assessment form completed by main supervisor
  2. Curriculum vitae
  3. List of publications and conference presentations (according to guidelines ▶ Required Structure for Publication and Conference Presentations)
  4. Copy of the doctoral certificates and the doctoral diploma or a confirmation of doctoral degree (additional certificates upon request)

Please submit documents 1-4 (or 2-4 if the assessment form is handed in separately) in the order mentioned in one PDF file, named Family name, first name_Application KIT Doctoral Award 2025-26.

The assessment form can also be handed in separately.

Additionally and separately to be submitted:

  1. completed ▶ Excel sheet (summary) with information matching the CV and publication list. This document serves as an overview and will also be made available to the selection committee.
    • named Family name, first name_Submission_KIT Doctoral Award 2025-26
  2. completed and signed ▶ checklist
    • named Family name, first name_Checklist_KIT Doctoral Award 2025-26

These documents must be completed by the person who is applying or being nominated.

Summarized: A total of three files must be submitted by Monday, October 12, 2026. Please send them by ▶ email to Karlsruhe House of Young Scientists (KHYS).

Final Information on Applying
  • The Excel sheet and the checklist must be submitted in English. All other documents can also be submitted in German. In principle, English is the preferred language, as the selection commission communicates mainly in English.
  • The information in the Excel sheet must be consistent with and traceable in the submitted CV and publication/conference presentation list. Discrepancies may lead to a negative evaluation or to the application being excluded.
  • Supervisors can only nominate one applicant; that is, they may complete the assessment form for only one person per call for applications.
  • Applications may be submitted by the nominees and by the supervisors.
  • Please ensure the completeness and accuracy of your application.
  • Incomplete or incorrectly submitted applications may be excluded from the selection process.

Your contact person at KHYS is ▶ Nadja Mazko.

Please ensure that you also read the ▶ FAQ and the ▶ Information on Data Protection.

Prize Money

In general, the award carries a total value of EUR 7,500 (three prizes, EUR 2,500 each). Please note that the prize money may be subject to income tax and social security contributions. The Personnel Service (PSE) provides ▶ information on prize money (only available within the KIT network).

Selection and Award Ceremony

The award winners are selected by the ▶ Council for Research and Promotion of Young Scientists (CRYS). The final decision is made by the Executive Board of KIT. The awards will be presented during a formal ceremony. All recipients will receive detailed information in advance.

We look forward to receiving numerous exciting applications and nominations!