The Royal Society has officially launched the application process for the 2026 Biology Letters Early Career Researcher (ECR) Competition, continuing its tradition of supporting scientists at the start of their professional journeys.
First established in 2022, the competition was created to highlight the best original research papers published in the journal by scientists who are often navigating the publication process for the first time.
Since its inception in 2005, Biology Letters has focused on cultivating strong relationships with global researchers across various career stages, specifically prioritizing high-quality studies from those new to the field.
Funding and benefits
The competition offers substantial financial recognition for scientific excellence, with the overall winner set to receive a £1,000 prize.
In addition to the top honor, the Royal Society will recognize two runners-up, each of whom will receive £500 or the equivalent in their local currency.
Application requirement
To be eligible, an applicant must be an early career researcher, defined as someone who has completed a postgraduate degree within the last six years.
The competition is exclusively open to original research manuscripts; employees of the Royal Society, their families, and those associated with the award’s administration are not eligible to enter.
There is no entry fee or purchase necessary to participate, though the Royal Society may require winners to provide proof of their eligibility before awarding prizes.
To apply, researchers must submit their articles through the standard journal system, ensuring they check the opt-in box for the competition and mention their entry in their cover letter.
Deadline
The window for submissions is currently open and will remain active until the final deadline on March 31, 2026, at 23:59.
All eligible manuscripts and any necessary resubmissions must be processed through the Biology Letters submission system before this cutoff to be considered for the 2026 prizes. Click here to apply. Explore more global calls on our Opportunities page
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