Transgender Research Award

The division honors research that makes a notable contribution to the understanding, health and well-being of transgender people and gender diversity in society.

Deadline:

Sponsor: Division 44

Description

The Division 44 Committee for Transgender People and Gender Diversity is pleased to announce its annual $2000 research award for psychological research that addresses transgender issues. This award will be given at APA's annual convention and is open to anyone conducting psychological research using transgender, nonbinary, and/or gender diverse participants or studying issues affecting trans people and communities. The project may be completed within the past three years or in progress. The award winner will also disseminate and/or share findings with multiple audiences and communities that are directly impacted by the research (e.g., academic audiences, traditional publications, community-focused workshops, etc.).

Please send nominations electronically to Division 44.

How to Apply

Contents of Application Materials

A complete application consists of electronic versions of the following materials:

Cover page that lists the following:
  1. Name of the award: Transgender Research Award
  2. Name of applicant
  3. Contact information
  4. Current degree seeking, if applicable
  5. Institutional affiliation(s)
  6. Study description (see below for specific instructions)
  7. Curriculum vitae for principal investigator(s)
  8. Notice of IRB approval
  9. Letter of recommendation (for students only, from the student’s faculty supervisor; no more than one page per letter).
Study Description: The study description should be written in APA style (current edition). This should include a brief literature review, research questions, the methodology, and results (expected or achieved). The descriptions should be no longer than seven pages; this page total does not include references. Identifying information must be removed from the study description. (APA style includes one-inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman font, and double-spaced pages.)

Submission instructions

Complete applications must be submitted on or before March 31 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time. The application must be complete, including the letter from the applicant’s faculty supervisor if the applicant is a student. Late submissions will not be accepted for any reason, including technology-related difficulties. Applicants will receive an email confirmation that their materials have been received within one week of receipt. If you do not receive confirmation, please feel free to contact Ellen Magalhaes, PhD, scholarship chair. (You can also contact Ellen Magalhaes at her alternate email address).

Applicants must submit all application materials electronically. These materials should be attached to a single email message. In the subject line of the email, please write the full name of the research award: Transgender Research Award.

Applicants may be disqualified for failure to comply with the application guidelines.

Evaluation of Proposals and Selection of Award Recipients

The project description for each proposal will be evaluated by two or more reviewers using the following criteria: (a) compliance with award guidelines, including appropriate use of APA style and relevance of the objectives to the award; (b) completeness, logic and relevance of the literature review to the development of the research question(s); (c) relevance, importance and clarity of the research question(s); (d) extent to which the description of the study provides a comprehensive overview of the research project; (e) appropriateness of the methodology to answering the research question(s) (e.g., sampling methods, sample size, established validity of instruments and data analysis techniques); (f) overall originality and innovation of the proposed study; (g) quality, completeness of the interpretation of the (actual or potential) results and potential impact of the results to understanding psychological issues faced by transgender individuals; and (h) feasibility, including likelihood of timely completion of project and dissemination of results.

Selection of award recipients will be mostly based on reviewers’ evaluations of project descriptions. However, supplemental materials (i.e., CV, letter) will also be considered in the selection process.

Notification and Conditions of Acceptance

The Division 44 Committee for Transgender People and Gender Diversity Awards chair will notify the award recipients. The research award will be presented at APA's annual convention, though the winner need not be present. If the winner is unable to attend to receive the award, they will be asked to provide a photo suitable for publication in the division newsletter and on the division website. The successful applicant will be expected to provide a summary of the study for publication in the division newsletter on completion of the study. Award recipients must acknowledge Division 44 funding in all publications and presentations resulting from the project. Award recipients are also encouraged to submit proposals to present the project’s findings at APA's annual convention.

Interested in Being a Reviewer?

Please contact Ellen Magalhaes, PhD. We welcome your input. Please note, if you are applying for this award, you may not also be a reviewer for this award.

Past Recipients

2026

Kelsey Kehoe

2025

Elliott Botelho, MA

2024

Franny Parent

2023

Joonwoo Lee, MEd

Jared Boot-Haury, PhD

Brandon L. Velez, PhD

2022

Jae A. Puckett, PhD

2021

Em Matsuno, PhD

2020

Laura P. Minero, MA

2019

Christina New, MA

2018

Morgan Sinnard, MEd

2017

Delmira Monteiro, BA

2016

Megan Sutter, MS, for “Improving Health Care Utilization through Patient-Centered, Culturally Competent Care for Transgender Adults”

2015

Rylan Jay Testa, PhD

2014

Sebastian Mitchell Barr, University of Louisville

2012

Y. Gavriel Ansara

2011

Rodrigo Aguayo Romero

2010

Stephanie Budge; Honorable Mention: Melanie Brewster, Bonnie Moradi, Dustin Shepler, Brandon Velez

Last updated: September 2026Date created: 2014