The FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence Mentoring Prize is awarded every second year at the FENS Forum and honors an individual who has demonstrated leadership in fostering the careers of neuroscientists.
Personal prize money: 2.000 €
Professor Vanja Ković (University of Belgrade, Serbia) has been awarded the FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence Mentoring Prize in 2022 for her outstanding contributions in motivating, supporting, and facilitating the academic and professional development of young neuroscientists. FENS-Kavli Scholars recognise the essential role of mentoring in facilitating the career and the scientific progress of young scientists, and founded this prize to recognise and promote outstanding mentors working in the field of neuroscience.
After obtaining her PhD at the University of Oxford, Prof. Ković could chose to remain in Oxford or to work at the University of Bangor. Instead, she decided to go back to her home country to start a new lab at the University of Belgrade. This decision had an enormous impact on the development of the neuroscience curriculum in Serbia. Despite having limited resources, Prof. Ković was successful in introducing new research technologies and methodologies at the university, and in stimulating local students to gain contemporary knowledge in the field of neuroscience through the organization of workshops, journal clubs, hackatons and lectures.
Prof. Ković was nominated by numerous current and former mentees not only for supporting them in the development of their scientific skills, but also for actively seeking opportunities for them. She encourages them to make bold career decisions, while also taking into consideration personal circumstances and mental health. Crucially, she simulates her students to go beyond their own comfort zone when starting new research lines, giving through her own work concrete examples that “if the idea is worthwhile, it will find its way, just like water.” Her warm personality and professionalism towards students, and her enthusiasm and determination to reach goals despite challenging circumstances, are inspiring. The impact of her mentoring is demonstrated, among other, by the fact that several of her former mentees are now working at leading universities in Europe and USA.
In sum, Prof. Ković serves as an incredible role model with regard to leadership, intellectual curiosity and moral integrity. Her guidance made a pivotal difference to numerous students in the field of neuroscience. We admire the continuous efforts of Prof. Ković to shape generations of young neuroscientists who work under her guidance and look forward to following their achievements in the years to come.
FKNE Mentoring Prize Committee 2022:
Professor Avishai Henik (University of Ben-Gurion University of The Negev, Israel) has been awarded the FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence Mentoring Prize for his outstanding contributions in facilitating the careers of neuroscientists in Europe. With this prize, the FENS-Kavli Scholars recognise the essential role of mentoring in building up a successful, healthy and innovative neuroscience community. They believe that mentoring facilitates both neuroscientists’ careers and scientific progress. 19 nominations came in from across Europe, all demonstrating an inspiring commitment to mentoring. Prof. Henik was nominated by current and former colleagues for going above and beyond in his efforts to teach and champion researchers. Professor Henik listens to his students, their needs, difficulties and suggestions and treats them all as equal team members. He induces enthusiasm and confidence in his students and postdocs and is able to bring the best in any of his mentees. Professor Henik aims at building a lab where all help each other and create a social atmosphere where people can see that science is fun, interesting and enjoyable.
Watch here the video featuring the Winner of the FKNE Mentoring Prize 2020 
FKNE Mentoring Prize 2020
Prof. Avishai Henik
Ben-Gurion University of The Negev, Israel
Download the Press Release
The FENS-Kavli Scholars aim to promote neuroscience and support early-career neuroscientists in Europe. We recognize that mentoring plays an essential role in fostering scientists, but mentoring efforts are often not recognized or rewarded in a scientific career.
The FKNE Mentoring Prize honours an individual who has demonstrated leadership in fostering the careers of neuroscientists.
The FKNE Mentoring Prize is sponsored by the FENS Committee for Higher Education and Training (CHET).
FKNE Mentoring Prize Committee 2020:
Professor Fotini Stylianopoulou (University of Athens) has been awarded the FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence (FKNE) Mentoring Prize in 2018 for her outstanding contributions in facilitating the careers of neuroscientists in Europe.
FENS-Kavli Scholars recognise the essential of role mentoring in facilitating both careers of neuroscientists and also in scientific progress and founded this prize to recognise and promote outstanding mentoring. 30 nominations came in from across Europe, all demonstrating an inspiring commitment to mentoring. Prof. Stylianopoulou was nominated by current and former colleagues for going above and beyond in her efforts to teach and champion researchers, showing them that “the sky is the limit” and that “a true scientist never stops inquiring, combining information, seeing beyond the obvious and the dogma, but most importantly listening to what others have to say no matter if they are colleagues or undergraduate students.” Along with the stellar support of direct trainees, Prof. Stylianopoulou has made an enormous difference to the European Neuroscience community. She was a pioneer of neuroscience research and teaching in Greece being one of the first people to teach neuroscience to graduate students in Greece and a founding member and former president of the Hellenic Society for Neurosicence. Prof. Stylianopoulou has also served as Secretary General of FENS, demonstrating her commitment to fostering neuroscience careers both in her own laboratory and throughout the world community.
The FENS-Kavli Scholars aim to promote neuroscience and support early-career neuroscientists in Europe. We recognise that mentoring plays an essential role in fostering scientists, but mentoring efforts are often not recognised or rewarded in a scientific career.
The FKNE Mentoring Prize honors an individual who has demonstrated leadership in fostering the careers of neuroscientists.
The FKNE Mentoring Prize is sponsored by the FENS Committee for Higher Education and Training (CHET).
Prof. David Attwell, Fellow of the Royal Society (University College London) has been awarded the inaugural FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence Mentoring Prize in 2016 for his outstanding contributions to mentoring the careers of neuroscientists. This prize was funded because FENS-Kavli Scholars recognize that mentoring plays an essential role in fostering the career development, but mentoring efforts are often not recognized or rewarded in a scientific career. Close to 30 nominations were submitted from across Europe. Professor Attwell, Jodrell Professor of Physiology at University College London (UCL), was nominated by current and former mentees who praised his strong support throughout their careers. His students and postdocs are personally trained in all aspects of scientific rigour and thought, they are encouraged to present their work at excellent conferences, and are guided in writing papers, theses, and grant applications. Prof. Attwell aids trainees in planning their career progression and provides personal, as well as professional, support. The many letters of support for the nomination also cited Prof. Attwell’s strong mentoring of scientists through the difficult transition into juggling parenthood and a scientific career. Along with supporting his direct trainees, Prof. Attwell has started a world class PhD programme in neuroscience at UCL, which improves the choice of PhD project and mentor for students by integrating lab rotations. This is the most competitive neuroscience PhD programme in the UK with high level of success for students. Prof. Attwell also participates in public engagements and hosts school children in his lab.
The FENS-Kavli Scholars aim to promote neuroscience and support early-career neuroscientists in Europe. We recognise that mentoring plays an essential role in fostering scientists, but mentoring efforts are often not recognised or rewarded in a scientific career.
The FKNE Mentoring Prize honours an individual who has demonstrated leadership in fostering the careers of neuroscientists.
The FKNE Mentoring Prize is sponsored by the FENS Committee of Higher Education and Training (CHET).
FKNE Mentoring Prize Committee 2016: