Call for Entries for the 2026 GK e.V. Dissertation Award Competition (PDF Version here)
The Society for Cognitive Science e.V. is announcing its first-ever competition for the
2026 GK Cognitive Science Dissertation Award
The goal is to recognize interdisciplinary research by early-career scholars and to foster networking for their future careers far beyond the boundaries of cognitive science.
Awards will be given to dissertations in the broad field of cognitive science that are explicitly interdisciplinary in nature. The dissertations should bridge the gap (methodologically, conceptually, or in terms of content) between at least two disciplines and innovatively go beyond individual paradigms and research approaches.
Doctoral candidates and those who have completed their doctorates are eligible to participate if they meet the following requirements:
- The defense of their dissertation took place no more than two and a half years prior to the submission deadline or will take place by that date.
- The written dissertation was graded at least “magna cum laude” or a comparable grade.
- The candidate must be nominated by at least one advisor.
From among all submissions, the works of up to eight candidates will be preselected by a volunteer panel of experts. This panel consists primarily of members of the Executive Board and the Advisory Board of GK e.V.
To select the award winners, the shortlisted candidates will be invited to an exclusive two-day symposium scheduled to take place on March 15 and 16, 2027. There, the candidates will present their work to the selection committee in a constructive and interactive manner. Three award winners will be selected from among the invited candidates.
The winners will receive award money (1st place: €1,000, 2nd place: €600, 3rd place: €400) and will be invited to present their work to a broad academic audience at KogWis 2027 in Osnabrück (September 6–8, 2027). The award ceremony will also take place during this event.
The application deadline for the dissertation competition is October 31, 2026.
Required Documents:
- Letter of nomination
- Dissertation
- A summary of the dissertation of no more than 6,000 characters, including spaces, which should specifically highlight the interdisciplinary and innovative nature of the work.
- Tabular curriculum vitae, including a list of publications
- Copies of the reviews of the dissertation or corresponding statements from the reviewers.
- If the dissertation has not yet been published:
- Proof that the defense was successful
- Indication of the planned publication date
The documents may be submitted in German or English.
They must be sent in a single PDF file via email to sf@gk-ev.de