Div. 7 is proud to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of developmental psychology through their careers. Seasoned professionals, mid-career, and early career psychologists may have their work recognized by the division, which also acknowledges the importance and accomplishments of mentors and scholarship. To support the research of graduate students and early career psychologists, Div. 7 also offers two grants, which help to advance significant content knowledge, methodology and/or theory in developmental psychology.
Distinguished career awards
G. Stanley Hall Award for Distinguished Contribution to Developmental Psychology
This award recognizes distinguished contributions to developmental psychology, including contributions in research, student training and other scholarly endeavors.
2020 Award Winner: Andrew Meltzoff
This award recognizes an individual who over a lifetime career has contributed to the science of developmental psychology and who has also worked to apply developmental psychology to society.
2020 Award Winner: Cynthia Garcia Coll
Mid-career awards
Mary Ainsworth Award for Excellence in Developmental Science
This award recognizes mid-career developmentalists who have made outstanding contributions to developmental science.
2021 Award Winner: Patrick Davies
Mavis Hetherington Award for Excellence in Applied Developmental Science
This award recognizes mid-career developmentalists who have made outstanding contributions to applied developmental science and helped promote the well-being of children, families, and groups or organizations.
2021 Award Winner: Steve S. Lee
Early career awards
Early Career Outstanding Paper Award
The Early Career Outstanding Paper Award recognizes a graduate student or early career scientist, within seven years of PhD, who has published (or has in press) an outstanding paper in the previous year.
2020 Award Winner: Camelia Hostinar
This award recognizes young scientists who have made distinguished contributions to developmental psychology.
2021 Award Winners: Jennifer Silvers and Elizabeth Gunderson
Dissertation Award in Developmental Psychology
This award recognizes an individual whose dissertation is deemed to be an outstanding contribution to developmental psychology.
2021 Award Winner: Ashley Ruba
Scholarship and mentorship awards
Eleanor Maccoby Book Award in Developmental Psychology
This award recognizes an author of a book in the field of psychology that has a profound effect on one or more of the areas, such as developmental psychology, represented by Div. 7.
2021 Award Winner: Michael Tomasello
Mentor Award in Developmental Psychology
This award recognizes individuals who have had a substantial impact on developmental psychology by their mentoring of young scholars.
2021 Award Winner: Elizabeth Spelke
Grants
Dissertation Research Grant in Developmental Psychology
The Dissertation Research Grant supports the dissertation research of an outstanding graduate student member of APA and Div. 7.
2020 Award Winner: Sarah Giff
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.
2020 Award Winners: Patty Kuo and Lauren Elenbaas