László Zechmeister Prize 2025 – call for applications

chemistryPhDScholarship

In 2022, the Chemical Biology Work Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS) has established a prize for doctoral students and doctoral candidates conducting research in the frontiers of chemistry and biology. The László Zechmeister prize, which honors the eponym's career, is awarded in recognition of excellence, professionalism and communication skills of young researchers.

Eligibility criteria and further information for the 2025 László Zechmeister Award¹

• Applications are open to any doctoral student or doctoral candidate affiliated with a university in Hungary whose research topic fits the theme of the Work Group.
• Applications are evaluated by a scientific board in two steps. In the first round, applicants are invited to submit an abstract,² describing their research topic and the results thereof. This year, applicants are also required to prepare a video of up to 2 minutes, in which they present their research work creatively, in a captivating and engaging way. Abstracts, including a link to the video, must be submitted by email to bioorganikusmunkabizottsag by October 31, 2025, 5 p.m.
• Applications will be evaluated by an expert committee, primarily taking into account the research results, as well as the communication skills and creativity demonstrated in the written and video summaries. The 15 best proposals will be shortlisted for the second round. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the evaluation by 10 November 2025.³
• Shortlisted candidates are invited to present their results in a 10-minute presentation and answer questions raised by a panel of experts (max. 5 minutes). The jury will assess the presentations based on the scientific content (novelty and significance of the results), communication skills (presentation design, graphics, clarity) and professional preparedness (debating skills). Applicants are expected to communicate their research through public science talks including personal experiences, impressions that affected their point of view in research or in everyday life.
• Shortlisted applicants will present their work at the Zechmeister Lecture Day on November 21, 2025, at 10 a.m. Venue: Small lecture hall, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences (1117 Budapest, Magyar tudósok krt. 2).
• Prizes: The winner of the competition will receive 300.000 HUF, while the second and the third runner up is awarded 250.000 HUF and 200.000 HUF, respectively.⁴

Members of the evaluation committee: György Miklós Keserű (chair, HUN-REN TTK), Csaba Szántay (Richter Ltd.), Szilvia Bősze (HUN-REN – ELTE), János Szabó (MKE).

The event is sponsored by the Gedeon Richter Plc. and the Hungarian Chemical Society.

1. The organizers reserve the right to make changes to the event program
2. No more than 3500 characters including title, affiliations, text and references (11 pt, single-spaced)
3. Shortlisted applicants who do not wish to participate in the second round will be replaced by the next highest ranked applicant
4. Gross amounts