Professor Leitgeb was nominated for the award by the German scholar, Professor Gerhard Schurz, from the University of Düsseldorf.

The Humboldt Foundation grants up to 25 Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Awards annually. The awards are conferred on scientists and scholars, internationally renowned in their field, who completed their doctorates less than 12 years ago and who in future are expected to continue producing cutting-edge achievements which will have a seminal influence on their discipline beyond their immediate field of work. Award winners are invited to spend a period of up to one year cooperating on a long-term research project with specialist colleagues at a research institution in Germany. The award is worth 45,000 euros.

Professor Leitgeb plans to make use of the award to work with German colleagues in Düsseldorf, Regensburg and Konstanz for six months in 2009.