Early Career Scientist

Early Career Scientists at the ECNP Congress

Early career researchers are an integral part of the ECNP Congress and ECNP has installed a variety of measures to ensure that their participation is made as easy as possible.
To find out if you qualify as an Early Career Scientist (ECS), please click here.

Welcome Reception
Meet other Early Career Scientists during the Welcome Reception on Saturday 21 September at 18.00-19.30 CEST. A QR code will be available for you to scan, helping you stay in touch with other Early Career Scientists at the congress.

Welcome reception  Welcome reception

Science on the Rocks
This special Early Career Scientist event will take place on Saturday 21 September from 19.30-21.30 CEST at the Gold View Lounge in the Congress venue. Join fellow Early Career Scientists for an evening of networking, participate in 'ECNP Research Bingo' and enjoy the stunning Milan skyline. Complimentary drinks and pizza will be provided.
We have reached our maximum capacity for this event, hence registering is no longer possible.

Career Development Sessions (CD)
45 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants
The Career Development Sessions are training sessions with a leading expert in the field. The topics of these sessions focus on building your scientific career – writing scientific papers, improving presentation skills, creating a spin-off company or finding a job in the industry are just a few examples – and are especially interesting for Early Career Scientists.

Career Development Sessions New Findings in Applied Symposium (S)
80 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants
New Findings in Applied Neuroscience (S13) is a special symposium that gives six promising Early Career Scientists – selected from the best research presented at the ECNP Workshop for Early Career Scientists in Europe – the opportunity to present their latest findings.

ECNP’s Got Talent (IN)
60 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants
For this innovative format, ECNP challenges four Early Career Scientists to explain their research to a lay public audience. The contest is not about what you present, but how you present — 'storytelling' and 'engagement' are key concepts. Their performances will be evaluated by a jury and the best one will receive an award. (IN09) 

Meet your translational match (by invitation only)
During this matchmaking session, preclinically and clinically oriented Early Career Scientists will ‘speed-date’ to find their ideal translational partner. Selected 'matches' will receive funding from ECNP to organise a short translational internship. This event takes place on Sunday 22 September 9.00-10.00 CEST and Monday 23 September 9.00-10.00 CEST at the Congress venue.

Registration fee

  • ECNP offers ECS reduced registration fee of only EUR 55 (excl. VAT)

Opportunities for Early Career Scientist abstract submitters 

  • Abstracts accepted for publication will be published in a digital supplement to the open access journal Neuroscience Applied.
  • At the congress, poster presenters will also have a chance to win an ECNP Excellence Award; this award was established to encourage Early Career Scientists to present a poster during the annual ECNP Congress.
  • At the congress, presenters of in-person posters will have the opportunity to win an ECNP Poster Award (not exclusively for Early Career Scientists). These awards are given on-site to the posters of the highest scientific excellence, presented in the most effective way. The award consists of EUR 500 and a commemorative certificate.

ECNP Rising Star AwardECNP Rising Star Award
Two Early Career Scientists whose research in applied and translational neuroscience has the potential to advance the science, treatment and prevention of the brain are annually honoured with an ECNP Rising Star Award. The awardees will talk about their research during the symposium on inflammation in depression (S11) and the designated Rising Star Award Campfire Session.

ECNP Early Career Academy (ECA)
The ECNP Early Career Academy (ECA) provides a home within ECNP for Early Career Scientists (ECS). The primary objective is to serve as a springboard, facilitating sustained engagement of ECS and support them throughout their careers within ECNP. This initiative seeks to offer a stimulating environment and resources that enable ECSs to excel and actively contribute to the field of applied neuroscience.
Members of the ECA will attend the congress and the Science on the Rocks event, where you will have the chance to meet these Early Career ambassadors.