Paul Ehrlich & Ludwig Darmstaedter Early Career Award 2025
The Paul Ehrlich & Ludwig Darmstaedter Early Career Award, presented annually by the Paul Ehrlich Foundation since 2006, recognizes outstanding research in the life sciences by a young, independent postdoctoral scientist working in Germany. Endowed with €60,000 for research purposes, the award highlights exceptional contributions to scientific advancement.
Award recipients are selected by the Board of the Paul Ehrlich Foundation based on recommendations from the Selection Committee. Shortlisted candidates are invited to a symposium in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and the award ceremony is held annually on March 14, commemorating Paul Ehrlich’s birthday.
This year, the award goes to Prof. Dr. Tobias Ackels (University of Bonn, Germany) for his groundbreaking research on the sense of smell. He demonstrated that olfaction is a four-dimensional sense, capable of perceiving minute time differences and using them to create spatial information, providing crucial insights into how the brain processes sensory input and experiences space.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the award, former recipients will be invited to a special event to showcase their research achievements.
