The call for the BAPS Early Career Award 2026 is still open. BAPS invites full members to nominate outstanding early career researchers in the psychological sciences.
The bi-annual Early Career Award recognises scientific excellence of researchers up to six years after completion of their PhD. All areas of psychology are eligible, irrespective of subdiscipline or whether the research is basic or applied.
Award
- €2,000 prize
- Prize Lecture at the BAPS Annual Meeting 2026
- Invitation to contribute a paper to Psychologica Belgica
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- PhD obtained between 1 January 2020 and 1 January 2024 (extensions possible in case of career interruptions such as parental or sick leave)
- BAPS member for at least two years during 2022–2025
- Primary affiliation with a Belgian research institution for at least the past 12 month
Application Procedure
Candidates must be nominated by a full BAPS member (self-nominations are not accepted)
The nominator submits:
- Two letters of recommendation (one from the nominator, one from a scientist outside Belgium)
- Curriculum vitae (max. 10 pages)
- PDFs of up to five selected publications, with a brief rationale
- Full list of peer-reviewed publications
- Description of the candidate’s main achievements (max. 2 pages)
All application materials must be submitted by the nominator via email to the BAPS past president: jan.dehouwer@ugent.be
Deadline: 15 January 2026
Evaluation Procedure
Eligibility is verified by the BAPS past president. An independent international jury with relevant expertise is appointed according to BAPS procedures, with strict safeguards to prevent conflicts of interest.
