BAPS invites submissions for its Best PhD Award 2027, which recognizes an outstanding doctoral thesis in any area of psychology defended at a Belgian university. The award aims to support young scientists' careers, both inside and outside academia.
Who can apply? Researchers who obtained (or are about to obtain) a PhD in psychology from a Belgian university, with a public defense in 2025 or 2026. Applicants must be BAPS members in 2026 and renew their membership for 2027. All subdisciplines and both basic and applied research are equally eligible.
How are theses evaluated? An expert panel judges scientific merit, focusing on the quality and impact of the thesis rather than on the number of publications or journal impact factors.
What to submit? A single PDF (named Name Surname_best PhD thesis 2027) containing:
- the full thesis (a submitted draft is accepted if the defense falls after the deadline)
- a CV of max. 5 pages, including the exact defense date
- an English summary of max. 2,000 words (no illustrations)
- an impact statement of max. 500 words, covering scientific, societal and/or public impact
Deadline: 20 November 2026. Send your application to Vera Hoorens (Vera.Hoorens@kuleuven.be).
For more information, click here.
