ECNP Early Career Academy (ECA)

Early Career Academy Board Call for applications! 

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.

After last year’s successful pilot, we would like to extend the academy with 20 additional early career members. Membership will be for a five-year term, each year 20 additional members will be added, with a maximum of 100 members. The ECA is governed by the ECA board. 

We would warmly like to invite early careers across the entire spectrum of research orientations to apply: pre-clinical, translational and clinical scientists are welcome!

ECA member benefits
Being an ECA member comes with the following benefits: 

  • The opportunity to apply for a temporary position within one of ECNP’s Networks or Thematic Working groups, enabling active participation and contribution to their initiatives.  Please be aware that a seat in one of the ECNP Networks or TWGs is not guaranteed and depends, among other things on the Network’s availability.
  • An annual in-person meeting held at the ECNP Congress, allowing face-to-face interactions and the opportunity to engage with peers and experts in the field. 
  • Organize events and invite expert scientist to participate. 
  • Obtain education on career development and writing grant applications. 
  • Invited by ECNP to actively participate in the ECNP Congress programme, or to participate in ECNP initiatives like the ECNP Podcasts and writing commentaries for ECNP’s journals. 
  • Meet peers in the same and other fields of interest. 

Application requirements

  • 2-7 years after obtaining a PhD degree or 3-9 years into MD specialization, whichever comes first
  • Must be resident in Europe*
  • An active participant in at least two ECNP events (e.g., presenter at the ECNP Congress or participant at ECNP Workshops/Courses)
  • At least one first-author publication
  • Be a member/associate member of ECNP or engaged to become one
    *Europe being the 46 countries of the Council of Europe plus Israel.

Early Career ScientistsHow to apply
Please click on the button below to access the application form:

Apply here


You will be requested to insert your motivation statement (max. 300 words) and Curriculum Vitae (CV, max. 2 pages). The motivation should include: 

  • Please provide three key reasons for your interest in joining ECNP, along with a clear description of how you envision contributing to the ECNP mission. We encourage you to go beyond expressing what ECNP can offer you, and highlight the unique insights or initiatives you would be able to bring.
  • Expression of affinity with your favourite and second favourite ECNP Networks or Thematic Working Group (TWG). Please keep in mind that at this stage, you only need to select your preferred networks or TWGs, the actual selection by the Networks or TWGs will happen after admittance to the ECA.

Deadline
Please complete the application on or before 11 February 2025. 

Follow up
The candidates are selected by the ECA board based on the application review score. The final selection will be presented to the ECNP Executive Committee for approval. All applicants will be informed of the final review outcome before 1 April 2025. This is also the date that the new members will start their term and will join the ECA activities. The first in-person moment of contact will be during the 38th ECNP Congress 2025 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.