FEMS is deeply committed to providing support for attendance to the FEMS MICRO Congress & Exhibition. We provide hundreds of Congress Attendance Grants to European and non-European Early Career Scientists, which apply a full fee waiver to your registration to attend. 

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants for a FEMS Congress Attendance Grant should: 

• be an Early Career Researcher and thus should either have obtained highest academic degree (Bachelor, Master or PhD) less than five years prior the application deadline, or be a PhD student* 

• be an active microbiologist 

• be the first author and presenter of an accepted abstract for the FEMS MICRO Ljubljana 2027: Congress & Exhibition 

• attend the FEMS MICRO Ljubljana 2027: Congress & Exhibition and be a registered participant 

*periods of maternity/paternity leave, special leave or illness do not count toward this definition

Grant winners cannot transfer their free registration to someone else.  

The grant applications will be open 2 September until 15 December 2026, (23:59 CET) and are part of the abstract submissions process.

The FEMS-ASM Mäkelä-Cassell Award supports the reciprocal exchange of one member from each organisation to present his/her research at the other organisation’s main conference. It has been designed to benefit early career researchers from both organisations by giving them the opportunity to present their work overseas and experience the best of microbiology in the partner country. 

The American Society of Microbiology (ASM) will select the member attending the biannual FEMS MICRO: Congress & Exhibition and the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) will select the member attending ASM Microbe. 

These awards are to support travel and living costs of the grantee only, at maximum amounting to EUR 4,000. 

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants for the award should: 

• be a microbiologist active in research and be a current PhD (or equivalent) student or recipient of PhD within the past five years 

• be a member of the American Society of Microbiology 

• be the first author of an accepted abstract for FEMS MICRO Ljubljana 2027: Congress & Exhibition 

• attend the FEMS MICRO Ljubljana 2027: Congress & Exhibition and be a registered participant 

The award applications will be open 2 September until 15 December 2026, (23:59 CET) and are part of the abstract submissions process.

The FEMS-Lwoff Award for Achievements in Microbiology is the most prestigious award presented by FEMS. It recognises outstanding microbiologists whose world-class research has advanced microbial knowledge to help address important societal challenges.

The award is named in honour of Professor André M. Lwoff, the first FEMS President (1974–1976) and 1965 Nobel laureate in Medicine. The award is presented with a commemorative silver medal at the FEMS MICRO: Congress & Exhibition, where the recipient is invited to give prize-lecture during a topic session and share their work with the wider microbiology community.

ELIGIBILITY

• The FEMS-Lwoff Award is open to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to microbiology in Europe.

• All areas of microbiology are eligible for consideration. While preference is given to nominees whose scientific research demonstrates excellence and societal impact, exceptional contributions through teaching, scientific writing, leadership, or other forms of service to microbiology may also be recognised.

• Nominees are preferably working and residing in Europe.

You can find regulations and how to apply on the FEMS website. Submit your nomination by 30 September 2026 (23:59 CEST)

This Award in particular aims to recognize Early Career Researchers that have realised an excellent body of (published) research and research potential. The nomination can be based on a single exceptionally significant achievement or the aggregate of a number of exemplary achievements. 

ELIGIBILITY

• microbiologists within 5 years of receiving their highest qualification/PhD* 

• active in any field of microbiology 

• member of a FEMS Member Society 

*periods of maternity/paternity leave, special leave or illness do not count toward this definition

Eligible candidates can be nominated or nominate themselves via awards submission system. The Awardee will receive a free registration to FEMS MICRO 2027.

You can find regulations and how to apply on the FEMS website. Submit your nomination by 30 September 2026 (23:59 CEST)