APA Graduate Student Research Presentation Award

The American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) Committee is pleased to offer up to six awards for graduate students to present an accepted proposal at the APA convention.

Of the six awards, approximately three will be selected for research that impacts one or more populations traditionally underrepresented in psychological research; and approximately three will be selected for their applicant’s personal identification as a student from an unrepresented group.

In addition to a letter of acknowledgement, winners will receive reimbursement of up to $600 in convention-related expenses (i.e., travel, lodging, meals and/or convention registration fees) after the convention is over. The program is designed to reduce financial barriers for graduate student research presenters and to support their ability to make meaningful connections and engage in their own professional development. The reimbursement will be provided upon submission of receipts directly related to convention expenses if mailed within three weeks following convention.

Basic Requirements

You must be a graduate student who is:

• Actively enrolled in a master's or doctoral program in psychology or a closely related field.
• A dues-paid student affiliate or associate member of APA (graduate student affiliates are automatically members of APAGS).
• A citizen or resident of any country and whose graduate institutions are located and accredited/recognized in any country.

Categories

You must either fall into category A or B:

• A) You conduct research that impacts one or more populations traditionally underrepresented in psychological research, including but not limited to racial, ethnic and gender minorities as well as underrepresented sexual orientations, socioeconomic classes and/or disability statuses. Some aspect of that research has been accepted for presentation at APA convention at the time you apply.
• B) You are a member of one or more groups that are underrepresented in graduate training in psychology or a closely related field, including but not limited to racial, ethnic and gender minorities as well as underrepresented sexual orientations, socioeconomic classes and/or disability statuses. You were accepted for presentation at APA convention at the time you apply.
• You may fall into both categories but will only be eligible for one award.

Author Requirements

You must be an author on an already-accepted proposal to present your current research:

• The research can be through any nature of inquiry.
• If you are presenting an accepted research paper or poster, you must be first author (even if other authors are named as part of your research team). If you are presenting in a symposium or other format, you can be one of multiple designated presenters in a division-sponsored symposium regardless of order.
• If you have been accepted to present more than one paper or poster, you must choose only one paper/poster presentation to use when applying for this award.
• The presentation can be scheduled for the Convention Center or a hospitality suite of an APA Division or other affiliated group.

Current and former APAGS committee members, subcommittee chairs and task force chairs are not eligible to apply. Some preference will be given to applicants who have never been to APA convention previously and who are not financially supported to attend by their school, grant or other academic funding source. 

Please combine all of the following items into one PDF file and save the file as your last name followed by first name (e.g., “Smith Jane.pdf”). We will not accept Word documents. You can use a number of online programs to merge filesopens in new window.

Each application must include all of the following materials, in this order:

• A cover letter (not to exceed two pages double-spaced) that includes background information about you; how the accepted research proposal is relevant to your future educational and professional goals; how the current research is significant and innovative for the discipline; and how you believe you would benefit from attending convention.
• A copy of the submitted research proposal. (Usually the convention portal emails a PDF to the applicant in a confirmation email. Include that PDF if available.)
• A copy of an email or letter acknowledging the proposal was accepted.
• An abbreviated curriculum vitae (not to exceed two pages single-spaced).

You will be asked some basic questions and given a chance to upload your file. Only complete applications will be reviewed.

Award notifications will be distributed in early June. Winners will be provided with instructions to request reimbursement after the APA convention, and will also be acknowledged on this website.