Romanillos Foundation - Alberto Rábano Award for Doctoral Dissertations in Neuroscience

Alberto Rábano Award for Doctoral Dissertations in Neuroscience

You will receive a one-off prize of 7,000 EUR for the best doctoral thesis in the field of neuroscience defended at a Spanish university. The Romanillos Foundation awards this prize once a year in memory of the Spanish neurologist Professor Alberto Rábano Navas. An independent jury of experts in the neurosciences assesses each doctoral thesis in terms of its scientific quality, clinical value, innovation and relevance, and subsequently selects a winner.

Who can apply

• Degree: You hold a PhD and have completed your doctoral thesis.
• Field: Your thesis is in basic or clinical neuroscience, neurology, neurosurgery, neuropathology, neurophysiology or psychiatry.
• Grade: Your thesis was graded "Sobresaliente cum laude", the top mark for a Spanish thesis.
• University: You defended your doctoral thesis at a Spanish university.
• Timing: You defended your dissertation in the calendar year prior to the call for entries. For example, the 2025 Prize covers dissertations that were defended in the year 2025.
• Language: The thesis is written in Spanish. If it is written in another language, please include a Spanish translation. Published articles in article-based theses are exempt from this requirement.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.

How to apply

Please send your application letter, your dissertation as a PDF, your academic transcripts and your CV electronically to the Foundation, and a printed and bound copy of your dissertation by post. You can apply for the 2025 Prize from 3 March to 7 April 2026. The winner will be notified by email in October 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a single national award, and only one final-year dissertation is recognised each year. Your dissertation must already have been awarded the highest mark in order to be eligible to enter at all, which in itself narrows down the field of entrants. The jury places greater emphasis on genuine originality and clinical relevance than on a polished presentation. If your thesis stands out for its innovation and impact, a well-prepared submission has a real chance of success.