The Mary Ainsworth Award for Excellence in Developmental Science

Submissions accepted September 1–December 1, 2026.

The Ainsworth award is to recognize excellence in scholarship and contributions to developmental science, including contributions in research, student training, and other scholarly endeavors. Evaluations are based on the scientific merit of the individual's work, the importance of this work for opening up new empirical or theoretical areas of development psychology, and the importance of the individual's work in linking developmental psychology with other disciplines.

The award will be presented at the following year's APA annual convention. Winners do not need to attend APA's convention to receive awards.

Scientists who are between 15 and 30 years of completing their doctoral degree are eligible.

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.

Membership in APA’s Division 7 is required to earn an award. The individual must be a member of Division 7 by March 15 of the year they are nominated

Nominations should include:

• A letter of nomination, with two additional letters of support provided by the nominator. At least one of these three letters should be from someone with membership in Division 7 at the time of submitting the nomination.
• The nominee’s curriculum vitae.
• Up to four representative publications.

Please email nomination materials.

2026: Jungmeen Kim-Spoon
2025: Fei Xu
2024: Jennifer Lansford
2023: Glenn Roisman
2022: Stephanie Carlson
2021: Patrick Davies
2020: Elena Grigorenko