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Early Career Research Award

The Early Career Research Award recognises excellence in scientific achievement in psychology among psychologists who are at early stages of their research careers in Australia. The Early Career Research Award is intended for Candidates whose achievements are outstanding and place them significantly ahead of their peers.

Each year up to three Early Career Research Awards may be conferred.

Eligibility criteria

  1. Candidates must be Members of the Society and be be based in Australia.
  2. The Early Career Research Award may only be conferred upon Candidates who have, within sixty (60) active months postdoctoral (not necessarily continuous in the event of career disruptions) at the time of the closing date for nominations, received written advice from the Candidate’s Australian tertiary institution or higher education provider confirming eligibility for conferral of the Candidate’s PhD in psychology. A career disruption involves a prolonged interruption (longer than 28 calendar days) to a Candidate’s ability to work, either due to total absence or partial return to work (which will be prorated) as a result of illness or significant carer’s duties (e.g. care of newborn, or of extremely ill family member) or other legitimate career disruptions outside of the candidate's control. Only up to 24 months of career disruption can be counted. Adequate independent documentation of such periods of total or partial absence needs to be provided.

Judging criteria

  1. In judging Candidates for the award, the Selection Committee will have regard to:
    1. The Candidate’s overall contribution to the discipline of psychology including the academic impact of their work
    2. The number of publications, prizes, grants and scholarships previously awarded to the Candidate
    3. The level of scientific creativity demonstrated by the Candidate
    4. The originality and quality of research undertaken by the Candidate; and
    5. The level of recognition by external bodies of the Candidate’s work.

Value of the Award

  1. Successful Candidates for an Early Career Research Award will:
    1. Be offered a one year membership of the Society, for the following twelve (12) month period at no cost.
    2. Be invited to present a paper on their work at the APS Conference, or at another high profile event, in the year following receipt of their award. Upon acceptance of this invitation, successful Candidates will be entitled to complimentary:
      1. Domestic economy class travel between their home city and the Conference destination
      2. Accommodation (room and breakfast only) for up to three (3) nights at a hotel near the Conference venue
      3. Conference registration.
    3. Receive a plaque for the Early Career Research Award.

Administration

4.1 Nomination Process

  1. A call for nominations for the Early Career Research Award will be:
    1. Advertised in Insights
    2. Provided to the Heads of School or Department of each tertiary institution or higher education provider.
  2. Candidates must be be nominated by another person
  3. Nominations should be submitted using the Society’s online nomination form and must include:
    1. The Candidate’s curriculum vitae
    2. A copy of the written advice from the Candidate’s tertiary institution or higher education provider confirming eligibility for conferral of their PhD in Psychology
    3. Details of all publications, prizes, grants and scholarships the Candidate has previously been awarded
    4. Copies of five (5) selected publications, at least one of which should be concerned with research completed after the completion of the Candidate’s PhD.
    5. Two (2) Referee reports. (Please note we will send the report to your Referees for them to complete.)
  4. Nominations should be submitted electronically by the closing date.

4.2 Selection Process

  1. A Selection Committee will be responsible for:
    1. Determining a shortlist of appropriate Candidate/s for receipt of the Award
    2. Recommending appropriate Candidates to the Board for endorsement.

4.3 Award Presented

  1. All Candidates (both successful and unsuccessful) will be formally notified in writing before any public announcement is made.
  2. An acknowledgement of the successful Candidate will be published on the APS website and other relevant psychology and education publications in February of the year following the receipt of their Award.
  3. Each successful Candidate will be presented with an Early Career Research Award plaque, which will be presented at the APS Conference, or at another high profile event, in the year following the receipt of their Award.

Previous winners

2023

Dr Rachel Menzies MAPS

Dr Gorica Micic MAPS

Dr Nina Papalia MAPS

2022 Dr David Preece, Curtin University
2021 Dr Ursula Sansom-Daly MAPS, University of New South Wales
2020 Dr Gemma Sharp MAPS, Monash University
Dr Courtney Walton MAPS, University of Melbourne
Dr Bonnie Clough MAPS, Griffith University
Dr Amelia Lake MAPS, Deakin University
2019

Dr Carly Johnco, Macquarie University 

Dr Tim Ballard, University of Queensland

Dr Milena Gandy, Macquarie University

Dr Halley Pontes, University of Tasmania

2018

Dr Fiona Kumfor, University of Sydney 

Dr Scott Griffiths, University of Melbourne  

2017

Dr Ryan Balzan, Flinders University

Dr Tegan Cruwys, The University of Queensland

Dr Deborah Mitchison, Macquarie University

2016

Dr Rohan Borschmann, University of Melbourne/Murdoch Children's Research Institute

Dr Nicole Lovato, Flinders University

Dr Simon Rice, University of Melbourne/NorthWestern Mental Health

2015

Dr Melissa Day, University of Queensland

Dr Emma Sciberras, Deakin University

2014

Dr Ben Colagiuri, University of Sydney

Dr Sally Gainsbury, Southern Cross University

Dr Daniel King, University of Adelaide

Dr Viviana Wuthrich, Macquarie University

2013

Dr Daniel Gucciardi, Curtin University

Dr Matthew Gullo, University of Queensland

2012

Dr Jee Hyun Kim, University of Melbourne

Dr Audrey McKinley, Monash University / University of Canterbury (NZ)

2011

Dr Brock Bastian, University of Melbourne

Dr Stefanie Becker, University of Queensland

Dr Monique Robinson, University of Western Australia

2010

Dr Damien Riggs, University of Adelaide

Dr Susan Cotton, University of Melbourne

2009

Dr Paul Dux, University of Queensland

Dr Gillian Yeo, University of Western Australia

2008

Dr Derek Arnold, University of Queensland 

Dr Shayne Loft, University of Queensland

Dr Alison Waters, Griffith University

2007

Dr Jason Connor, University of Queensland 

Dr Lisa Phillips, University of Melbourne

2006

Dr Peter Anderson, University of Melbourne

Dr Jennifer Hudson, Macquarie University

Dr Winnifred Louis, University of Queensland

2005

Dr Adam Clarke, University of Wollongong

Dr Nicole Rinehart, Monash University

Dr Greig de Zubicaray, University of Queensland

2004

Dr Warrick Brewer, University of Melbourne/Royal Melbourne Hospital

Dr Geoff MacDonald, University of Queensland

2003

Dr Allison Harvey, University of Oxford, UK

Dr Matthew Hornsey, University of Queensland

2002

Dr Thomas Suddendorf, University of Queensland

Dr Tracey Wade, Australian National University

2001

Dr Kaarin Anstey, Australian National University

Dr Amanda Barnier, University of NSW

Dr Martine Powell, Deakin University

2000 Not awarded