Early Career Research Grant in Developmental Psychology

This grant supports the research of outstanding early career members who have not yet received any federal funding for research as a principal investigator or co-investigator.

Deadline:

Sponsor: Division 7

Description

Submissions accepted September 1–December 1, 2026.

The Early Career Research Grant supports the research of outstanding early career members of Division 7 who have not yet received any federal funding for research as a principal investigator or co-investigator (pre-PhD training funds or F31 grants are not counted). One or two of these $1,000 grants will be awarded each year, as possible.

Winners do not need to attend the APA convention to receive awards.

Eligibility

Eligible assistant professors (pretenure or no more than 2 years post-tenure) and postdoctoral scholars (within five years past receipt of the doctoral degree) may apply. The proposed or in-progress research must significantly advance content knowledge, methodology and/or theory in developmental psychology. Criteria include the project's importance, innovation, feasibility, funding needs, likely contribution to the field and the applicant's record.

Membership in APA’s Division 7 is required to earn an award. The individual must be a member of Division 7 by November 1 of the year they are nominated.

How to Apply

Membership in APA’s Division 7 is required to earn an award.

The individual must be a member of Division 7 by the year they are nominated.

Awardees will submit a report at the end of their project and no later than two years after the award, describing the results and how the funds were used. The report should be in a form that facilitates Division 7's posting it on the website and/or including it in the newsletter. Funds cannot be applied to conference travel.

Applications will include:

  • The applicant's CV.
  • A one-page budget with justification (e.g., why the funds are needed).
  • A three-page single-spaced research proposal outlining the research question, the rationale for the study, the methodology, the significance, and the expected contribution to knowledge.
  • In the case of multi-investigator studies, the application should make clear the specific contribution of the applicant.

2027 Award Timeline

  • September 1, 2026: Call for award nominations
  • December 1, 2026: Due date for award nominations

Please email nomination materials.

Past Recipients

2026: Sarah Banker 
2025: Pearl Han Li
2024: Shaocong Ma
2023: Sarah Borowski
2022: Denise Werchan
2021: Ashley Ruba
2020: Patty Kuo and Laura Elenbaas
2019: Erica Wojcik
2018: Sophia Coukas-Bradley
2017: Allison DiBianca Fasoli
2016: Cecilia Cheung
2015: Loren Marulis
2014: Natalie Hiromi Brito and Kathleen Corriveau
2013: Karen Sage

Last updated: September 2026Date created: 2019