Royal Society Biology Letters Early Career Researcher Competition 2025 (£1,000 prize)

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About Royal Society Biology Letters Early Career Researcher Competition

Biology Letters has been a home for quality research since 2005. In that time, they have cultivated great relationships with scientists from across the world and at different stages in their career. This is especially true for early career researchers (ECR) who may be starting to submit their studies for publication the first time.

With this in mind, they launched the inaugural Biology Letters Early Career Researcher Competition in 2022 to highlight the best research papers published in the journal by ECRs. This competition is organised by The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge (known simply as 'The Royal Society').

The Competition

1. The competition entries will be judged by a panel of judges. The winning entry is chosen using the journal's standard criteria for selection. Details of the judges will be available on the website.
2. The overall winner will receive £1000 and two runners-up will receive £500 each (or currency equivalent).
3. The winner will be notified by email (using details provided at submission) within 7 days of being chosen. If a winner does not respond to the Royal Society within 14 days of being notified, then the winner’s prize will be forfeited and the Royal Society will be entitled to select another winner in accordance with the process described above.
4. The prize will be sent to the winner within 14 days of responding to the Royal Society.
5. The prize is non-exchangeable, non-transferable and no cash alternative is offered. The Royal Society reserves the right to replace the prize with an alternative prize of equal or higher value if circumstances beyond the Royal Society's control makes it necessary to do so.
6. The decision of the Royal Society regarding any aspect of the competition is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into about it.
7. The winner's name will be published on their website.
8. The Royal Society reserves the right to hold void, cancel, suspend, or amend the promotion where it becomes necessary to do so.

• Sponsor Organisation: The Royal Society

Benefits of Royal Society Biology Letters Early Career Researcher Competition

Prize

• The overall winner receives £1,000 and two runners-up receive £500 each (or currency equivalent). They hope the prizes are particularly helpful for funding new research and/or attending conferences.

Royal Society Biology Letters Early Career Researcher Competition Requirements

1. The competition is open to all early career researchers (ECRs) as defined as someone who has completed a postgraduate degree within the last six years. Employees of the Royal Society, their families, agents or any third party directly associated with administration of the award are not eligible.
2. In entering the competition, you confirm that you are eligible to do so and eligible to claim any prize you may win. The Royal Society may require you to provide proof that you are eligible to enter the competition.
3. The Royal Society reserves all rights to disqualify you if your conduct is contrary to the spirit or intention of the competition.
4. Only original research manuscripts submitted to Biology Letters are eligible to enter the competition.

Application Date and Process

1. Submit your research article to the journal in the normal way via this link - the usual journal criteria, terms and conditions apply.
2. To be considered for the 2025 competition, the eligible manuscript must be submitted between the dates of Monday 13 January 2025 and Wednesday 30 April 2025 (23:59 BST). Resubmissions of eligible manuscripts can only be considered if they are resubmitted before the 30th April closing date. You will need to opt into the competition by checking the appropriate box on the submission system (this is subject to acceptance to publication by the journal). Please also include your cover letter that this is to be considered as an entry to the competition.
3. The competition is free to enter and no purchase is necessary.
4. If you enter the competition you are agreeing to be bound by these terms and conditions. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
5. Royal Society reserves the right to refuse entry, or refuse to award the prize to anyone in breach of these terms and conditions.

Application Deadline

30 April, 2025

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