Erin Schuman, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research and recipient of the 2026 HFSP Nakasone Award, has received the Federal Cross of Merit, First Class, one of Germany's highest national distinctions, recognizing her contributions to neuroscience and her commitment to advancing women in science.
Schuman's pioneering discoveries have reshaped our understanding of how the brain learns and stores information. Her research demonstrated that neurons can produce proteins locally, allowing individual connections to adapt and change in response to experience. These groundbreaking contributions to the understanding of neuronal communication and plasticity were also central to her selection for the 2026 HFSP Nakasone Award, which recognizes scientists whose frontier research has led to significant advances in the life sciences. Earlier this year, Schuman was also named a recipient of the 2026 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience.
Beyond her scientific contributions, Schuman has been a longstanding advocate for gender equality in research, promoting equal career opportunities, greater representation of women in scientific leadership, and improved work-life balance in academia. The Federal Cross of Merit, First Class, recognizes both her scientific excellence and her contributions to German society.
HFSPO warmly congratulates Erin Schuman on this prestigious recognition and her continued contributions to science and society.