APA Distinguished Scientific Awards for an Early Career Contribution to Psychology

An award that recognizes early career psychologists for distinguished scientific contributions made within the first nine years after the PhD. The award covers contributions across ten defined areas of psychology, with five areas considered each year on a two-year rotation. Nominations are solicited for specific areas in each cycle. Recipients are listed annually.

Recognition as a Distinguished Scientific Award recipient (honor/award).

For the 2027 program, nominations are sought for persons who received doctoral degrees during and since 2017 (i.e., within the first nine years post-PhD).

Submission by nomination including a letter of nomination (max two pages), current vita, and up to five reprints representative of the nominee's contributions; nominations submitted via APA's nomination portal.