ESCAN offers several funding opportunities to support excellence, accessibility, and inclusion across social, cognitive, and affective neuroscience. All applications should be submitted as a single PDF (named SURNAME.pdf) to escan@escaneurosci.eu, with the relevant scheme indicated in the email subject line.

ESCAN Early Career Award

The ESCAN Early Career Award honours outstanding contributions by early-career scientists. The award includes a €1,000 honorarium. The recipient is expected to deliver an award talk in person at the ESCAN meeting; the honorarium may be used to cover registration and travel costs if no other funds are available.

Eligibility

• PhD awarded no longer than 6 years ago (based on the exact PhD viva date), plus +1 year per child.
• Special health, caring circumstances, and career breaks considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Main research within ESCAN’s scope (cognitive & affective neuroscience, incl. social and embodied). See ESCAN SIGs.
• Active ESCAN membership at the time of application.
• Availability to attend the conference in person in the award year.
• Female applicants, applicants with disabilities, and applicants from underrepresented groups/countries are particularly encouraged to apply.

Evaluation criteria

• Primary: Excellence of research; significance and impact of research.
• Secondary: Wider contributions (open science/metascience, outreach, diversity & inclusion, mentorship, team science).

How to apply

• Self-nomination is possible, or nomination by an ESCAN full member (nominator must be a full member).
• Applicants may describe special circumstances relevant to eligibility and evaluation.

Documents (single PDF, in this order)

1. Achievements statement (max 2 pages) addressing eligibility and evaluation criteria.
2. CV (max 5 pages) including selected publications and grants/awards/scholarships/mentorships/collaborations.
3. Copies of the three most important peer-reviewed papers.

Deadline: 16 February 2026  |  Notification: 6 March 2026 (before Early Bird deadline on 20 March 2026)

ESCAN Travel Awards

The ESCAN Board offers 10 waivers for ESCAN members (pre-doctoral and PhD students) who face financial difficulties covering registration and travel costs. Applicants must be presenting at the conference (oral or poster).

What the waiver includes

• Waiver of the Early Bird registration fee
• Up to €500 reimbursement for travel costs

How to apply (single PDF, in this order)

1. Name, affiliation, position, and contact information.
2. Motivation + financial circumstances statement (max half a page).
3. Formal letter from University or supervisor confirming costs cannot be reimbursed.

Reimbursement requires documentation (tickets/receipts). Only ESCAN members are eligible. If applications exceed availability, allocation will be made by lottery.

Deadline: 16 February 2026  |  Notification: 6 March 2026 (before Early Bird deadline on 20 March 2026)

ESCAN Family Care Grant

The ESCAN Family Care Grant (up to €300) supports attendees who are primary caregivers for children or family members with special or health needs, to reduce the financial burden of caregiving during the conference.

Eligibility

• Current ESCAN members.
• Applicants must be present at the conference (oral or poster presentation).
• Only one parent/caregiver per family unit may apply.

Application materials (single PDF, in this order)

1. Statement detailing caregiving-related financial need (e.g., childcare/eldercare services).
2. Personal statement (max 350 words) describing career benefit of attending ESCAN.

Examples of eligible costs

• Childcare/caregiving services during the conference
• Care during the annual meeting
• Additional home expenses caused by attendance (e.g., overtime at daycare, sitter costs)
• Travel for a babysitter/caregiver to come to your home
• Transport of a child/children to the caregiver
• Care during a virtual meeting (if applicable)

If applications exceed availability, allocation will be made by lottery.

Deadline: 16 February 2026  |  Notification: 6 March 2026 (before Early Bird deadline on 20 March 2026)