Call for Proposals: 2026 Ph. D. Student Symposium on Cognitive Science
Call for Proposals for Financial Support to Organize a “PhD Student Symposium on Cognitive Science” with a thematic focus of the applicant’s choice, to be held between mid-2026 and the end of 2026
Our society, social networks, politics, technologies, opinions, and beliefs are evolving faster than ever before. One of the goals of the Society for Cognitive Science (GK) is to examine these developments at the cognitive level and to support positive changes. Active exchange across disciplinary boundaries and beyond the limits of specific methodological approaches can strengthen interdisciplinary research in cognitive science, stimulate collaboration among various locations in the German-speaking world, and support societal development through insights from cognitive science.
To facilitate this exchange, the GK is once again announcing funding for graduate symposia aimed at fostering networking among doctoral students in the field of cognitive science. Applicants may choose their own thematic focuses.
General Conditions for the Event:
- Event Dates: Mid to late 2026.
- Duration: at least 2 full days (ideally 2.5 days)
- Language of Symposium: Englisch
- Groupsize: 40-50 Participants, 20 of whom are not from the host university.
- Financial support: Up to 5,000 euros for the best proposal. It is expected that a local grant will be provided and that the participation fee will be kept as low as possible (e.g., less than 30 euros per participant). Payment will be made based on documented expenses.
- Applicant team: The application must be submitted by a group of at least three doctoral candidates from at least two institutes with different disciplinary or methodological focuses. The applicant team should consist of no more than five people.
Application Information
Applications may be submitted by email by 28. Februar 2026 to: vorstand@gk-ev.de
Required Application Materials:
- Program Concept (max. 2 pages). Ideally, the concept should draw on multiple disciplines.
- Structural design of the School with a focus on supporting and connecting doctoral students in cognitive science (max. 2 pages). Where applicable, opportunities for participants to contribute through presentations, posters, or discussions.
- Budget plan, including, if applicable, a breakdown of participation fees and self-funding (max. 1 page)
- A statement from a professor confirming that they will assume overall financial responsibility for organizing the symposium.
The GK Executive Board will decide on the submitted applications by March 15, 2026.