Fondation MERAC supports innovative, noncommercial research in astrophysics and cosmology across Europe and Switzerland, with a strong emphasis on early-career scientists and projects that advance new methods, instrumentation, and computation. It is distinctive for combining prestige prizes with postdoctoral project support, often helping prizewinners turn ambitious research ideas into funded, collaborative work. Applicants and nominees are typically researchers in astronomy-related fields whose work sits at the frontier of theory, observation, and technology development.
Gives through biennial and annual prize mechanisms plus invite-only postdoctoral support; awards are relatively large for a research fellowship style funder, with the George Lake Award at about $100,000 and postdoctoral projects supported for up to two years. Access is largely nomination/invite-based rather than open application, and funding is targeted to specific research projects or recognition awards.
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Monitor the MERAC and European Astronomical Society nomination cycles closely: the George Lake Technology Innovation Award has an odd-year November deadline and is awarded in even years, while MERAC Prizes are annual and invite-only. Strong candidates will be early-career researchers in Europe or EAS-affiliated countries working in theory, observation, instrumentation, computation, or multi-messenger astronomy; postdoctoral project support appears tied to winning a MERAC Prize.
Current and upcoming funding from FONDATION MERAC (Mobilising European Research in Astrophysics and Cosmology) that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicants must be early career researchers who have won a MERAC Prize; projects may also focus on research and know-how exchange between Switzerland and Europe.
Who can apply: Applicants must have obtained their PhD no more than 15 years before the application deadline and must be affiliated to or perform the project in a European institution.
Deadline: 15 November of uneven years; award announced in February of the following even year.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.