The Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize is the most important research prize in Germany. Established in 1985, the Leibniz Programme aims to improve the working conditions of outstanding scholars and scientists, to expand their research opportunities, to relieve them of administrative workloads, and to facilitate the employment of particularly qualified researchers. The award is endowed with up to 2.5 million euros.

• Prof. Dr. Anne Storch (2017)
  Institute for African Studies and Egyptology, Faculty of Arts and Humanities
   
• Prof. Dr. Achim Rosch (2013)
  Institute for Theoretical Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
   
• Prof Dr. Martin Zirnbauer (2009)
  Institute for Theoretical Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
   
• Prof. Dr. Jens Claus Brüning (2007)
  Institute for Genetics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
   
• Prof. Dr. Thomas Mussweiler (2006; since 11/2016 no longer at the university)
  Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences
   
• Prof. Dr. Axel Ockenfels (2005)
  Department of Governance and Public Policy, Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences
   
• Prof. Dr. Martin Krönke (2001)
  Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Medizinische Fakultät 
   
• Prof. Dr. Andreas Kablitz (1997)
  Romance Studies Department, Faculty of Arts and Humanities
   
• Prof. Dr. Ulf-Ingo Flügge (1996)
  Botanical Institute, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
   
• Prof. Dr. Thomas Schweizer (†) (1995)
  Institute of Ethnology, Faculty of Arts and Humanities
   
• Prof. Dr. Peter Schneider (1992)
  Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences