Along with some happy feelings, "all [Ph.D. students] experience a kind of a letdown ... about that feeling of this big project not being there anymore," says psychologist Mary McKinney.

"The key is to take advantage of whatever assets you have in your life. Get everything you possibly can out of your opportunities," says Aifantis's former high school principal, Kass Simila.

"Eduardo Moreno made it through the first selection because of his strong past record and made it through the last round thanks to the innovative, yet highly relevant, nature of his grant," writes ERC jury panel chair Susan Gasser.

Early-career scientists need to learn to hold themselves to high ethical standards.