CFPs: Innovative Student Research Grant Program

The Innovative Student Research Grant is offered by the SABA/ABAI (Society of the Advancement of Behavior Analysis/Association for Behavior Analysis International) to support students in psychology or behavior analysis programs conducting applied or basic research in the experimental analysis of behavior. For the 2027 cycle, the application period runs from September 2026 to 13 January 2027. Applicants are notified in June 2027. The Innovative Student Research Grant was created in 2000 to encourage study in the experimental analysis of behavior. The SABA endowment is supported by donations from ABAI members. This grant supports promising student research projects in behavior analysis. Proposals must be clearly written, address a question considered important outside the behavior analytic community, and be methodologically rigorous. Grant recipients will be publicly recognized at the SABA Awards Ceremony during the ABAI Annual Convention and in Inside Behavior Analysis. For the 2027 grant cycle, the following awards are available (amounts vary): The amount awarded will vary, and expenses must be clearly detailed in the proposed budget statement. Preference will be given to grants involving translational research. The Innovative Student Research Grant supports students in doctoral and master’s programs in fields related to psychology or behavior analysis. This grant is designed to fund student research projects in the experimental analysis of behavior. The stated purpose includes supporting research in applied or basic research in the experimental analysis of behavior.

Key proposal expectations include:

Priority/Preference: Preference will be given to grants involving translational research.

This grant is specifically targeted to early-career researchers conducting rigorous, behavior analytic research in psychology or allied disciplines. It supports both doctoral dissertations and master’s theses, with structured expectations for proposal content and required institutional verification (e.g., resources and supervision). Because the grant emphasizes translational research and recognition at the ABAI Annual Convention, it may be especially relevant to student projects designed to connect experimental analysis of behavior with broader real-world questions. The source provides application requirements and submission details for certain supporting documents, but it does not specify the full online submission steps for the main application package. Applicants should follow the official instructions on the opportunity page.

Official opportunity page: Innovative Student Research Grant (SABA/ABAI)

Grant recipients must provide a brief report on what the grant was used for and an outline of expenditures. The report is due to the SABA Board by April 1 of the following year. What is the Innovative Student Research Grant? It is a student research funding opportunity from SABA/ABAI supporting doctoral dissertation and master’s thesis research in psychology or behavior analysis, focused on applied or basic research in the experimental analysis of behavior. How much funding is available in the 2027 cycle? For 2027, awards include up to six doctoral dissertation grants (up to US$5,000 each), up to four master’s thesis grants (up to US$2,500 each), and one grant up to US$1,000. The exact amounts awarded vary. What is the application deadline for 2027? The application deadline is 13 January 2027. The deadline time zone is not specified in the source. Who can apply? Applicants must be enrolled or accepted in a doctoral or master’s program in relevant departments (psychology, education, behavioral science, or allied disciplines) with sufficient behaviorally oriented faculty to supervise the proposed research. What are the ineligible costs? Ineligible costs include indirect costs/overhead, research staff salaries/wages, rental/renovation/maintenance of research space, general research infrastructure/operational expenses, and professional travel except travel to the ABAI Annual Convention to present the funded research. What documents are required? Applicants must submit a completed biosketch (Microsoft Word template), a proposal with specified sections and formatting, and letters of support: one from an academic advisor and one verifying resources from the department/program chair (both submitted by email to [contact details removed]). When will applicants be notified? Applicants are notified in June 2027. Review the official Innovative Student Research Grant (SABA/ABAI) page to confirm formatting, submission steps for the main application package, and any additional guidance not included in the provided text. Then prepare your proposal to meet the required structure and page limits, and arrange advisor/chair letters early to avoid last-minute issues.