Early Career Researchers Workgroup – ESBS
Have you always wanted to learn a new stimulation method, master a different analysis technique, or experience how things are done in another lab?
Apply now for the Research Exchange Challenge.
For the first time, the Early Career Researchers Workgroup is launching a new opportunity to support (inter)national research exchange within the European brain stimulation community. The Research Exchange Challenge is designed to encourage talented early-career researchers to broaden their scientific horizons, build new collaborations, and gain hands-on experience with new methods, tools, or techniques.
Early-career researchers are invited to submit a proposal for a research visit of up to 6 weeks at another lab. The selected applicant will receive a €2,000 award to support their exchange. The funding may be used to cover travel, accommodation, and other relevant costs related to the proposed visit.
So, do you have a great idea, a technique you are eager to learn, or a lab you would love to visit? This is your chance. Submit your application by September 30th 2026 (23:59 CEST) at the latest. The winner will be announced during the closing session of ECBS 2026 in Naples, in October.
Eligibility criteria
To apply for the Research Exchange Challenge:
- You must be an ESBS member.
- You must be an Early Career Researcher (ECR), as defined by ESBS.
- You must be registered for ECBS 2026 (Naples, 15 – 17 October 2026)
Definition of ECR. Every ESBS member who is a student, or who obtained a PhD or MD degree within the preceding five years, and is under 40 years of age, is considered an Early Career Researcher. Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis (for example, for maternity or paternity leave, illness, or alternative career paths).
Note. Applicants who are not yet ECR members of ESBS at the time of submission may still apply, provided they include proof of a submitted ECR membership application. ECR membership must be confirmed before the award is disbursed; if confirmation is not obtained, the award passes to the next eligible applicant in the ranking.
Additional requirements and important considerations
Applicants should take the following requirements into account:
- A formal letter of acceptance from the host institution must be provided as part of the application.
- While the €2,000 award may be used to support travel, accommodation, and other exchange-related expenses, all administrative and organizational arrangements remain the responsibility of the candidate.
- The award covers direct costs of the exchange only. It may not be used toward the applicant’s salary, institutional overhead or indirect costs, meeting registration, or publication fees.
- The award is disbursed only after the selected applicant’s ECR membership of ESBS is confirmed and the applicant’s home institution provides a signed form approving the applicant’s exchange at the host institution. If this confirmation is not obtained, the award passes to the next eligible applicant in the ranking.
Obligations of the successful candidate
The successful candidate will be expected to fulfil the following obligations:
- Negotiate the exact dates of the exchange with the host institution. The exchange should be started within one year of receiving the award.
- It is expected that the exchange will be completed without interruption. If special circumstances arise, exceptions may be considered for that specific case.
- The €2,000 award will be transferred after completion of the exchange. The successful applicant must provide bank details for the transfer of funds.
- At the end of the exchange, the successful candidate must submit a brief summary of the training completed to the ECR Workgroup.
- The successful applicant agrees to assist with and allow promotion of the award through social media.
- The successful applicant agrees to be contacted by the ECR Workgroup of ESBS up to one year after completion of the exchange, to report on the activities and how the award has enhanced his/her career.
Selection procedure
After submission, all applications will be evaluated and scored by a dedicated committee of ESBS members against the criteria below. Each application is assessed on a 100-point scale. The two central considerations are the strength of the candidate’s profile and the relevance of the proposed host lab and project to the applicant’s background and scientific goals.
| Criterion | Points | What the committee looks for |
|---|---|---|
| Candidate profile and track record | 25 | Quality and trajectory of the applicant’s CV relative to their career stage: training, publications (with particular regard to work in non-invasive brain stimulation), certified NIBS training or courses, conference presentations, prior research activity and demonstrated motivation. |
| Fit between candidate and host | 30 | Relevance of the host lab’s expertise to the applicant’s background and goals. How well the methods, tools or techniques on offer complement what the candidate already does and what they aim to learn. |
| Quality and feasibility of the proposal | 25 | Clarity of objectives, scientific soundness, originality, and realistic feasibility of the planned activities within the proposed timeframe and budget. |
| Expected impact and collaboration potential | 20 | Likelihood that the exchange leads to lasting skills, new collaborations or follow-up work, and benefit to the wider brain stimulation community. |
| Total | 100 |
In case of a tie, priority will be given to applicants from settings with more limited research resources, and then to the proposal with the clearest expected impact and strongest potential for new collaboration. Applications from members of underrepresented groups are warmly encouraged.
Conflict of interest. Any committee member who has a personal, professional or institutional connection to an applicant or proposed host (for example, as supervisor, close collaborator, or member of the same institution or host lab) will declare it and abstain from scoring that application.
How to apply
This Call sets out the purpose, eligibility criteria and conditions of the Research Exchange Challenge and is provided for information only. It should not be returned.
To apply, complete the separate Application Form and attach the supporting documents listed in its checklist, combined into a single PDF file. Only the Application Form and its attachments need to be submitted.
The Application Form also includes information on how your personal data will be processed in connection with this application, in line with the GDPR.
