APAGS/Psi Chi Junior Scientist Fellowship

APAGS and Psi Chi are committed to promoting psychological science and the needs of research-oriented students. The Junior Scientist Fellowship provides support for students entering their first year, or the first semester of their second year, of a research-oriented graduate program.

Intent

The intent of the Junior Scientist Fellowship is twofold: to recognize outstanding research-oriented students who are entering their first year (or first semester of second year) of graduate study and to help them begin successful research programs/projects. Students in research-based psychology and neuroscience graduate programs are eligible to apply.(see the eligibility section for further information.)

To provide written feedback to applicants. Many students apply for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship(eligibility requirements for the NSF fellowship) without previous experience applying for a research fellowship. It is our intent to provide feedback to strengthen their NSF graduate fellowship application.

Funds

This fellowship provides $1,000 that must be used to support direct research costs. These funds can be used to pay participants, purchase essential equipment or software, acquire books or instruction manuals critical to one's line of research, or for other direct research costs. The funds cannot be used for indirect costs such as salary/stipend, travel, personal computers, or class textbooks.

The funds can be used in a student's first year (or second year, if submitting in the summer following one's first year) of graduate school for projects other than the one discussed in the graduate research plan statement for this application.

Eligibility Checklist

• Be a student entering their first or second year at a research-based psychology or neuroscience graduate program. This means the student has not completed more than 1 academic year in a graduate degree-granting program, unless returning to graduate study after an interruption of 2 or more consecutive years immediately preceding the application deadline.
• Be both a current member of APA (as a student affiliate or other category) and a member of Psi Chi.
• Students entering their first year of graduate school must have joined Psi Chi as an undergraduate.
• Students entering their second year of graduate school may have joined Psi Chi as undergraduates or during their second semester of graduate school.
• Note: Membership in Psi Chi is lifelong, which means that graduate students do not currently need to be at a university that has a Psi Chi chapter if they were previously inducted as an undergraduate.
• Have never earned a master’s, doctoral, or professional degree in any field
• Have never been awarded the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship.
Have never been an APAGS committee/subcommittee member, subcommittee chair or task force chair
• Have never reviewed for the JSF (e.g., as an ad-hoc reviewer)

Students anywhere in the world are eligible provided they meet the above criteria.

Note: APA awards and grants may be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding. Winners will need to complete either IRS form W-9 or IRS form W-8 BEN before a check can be issued.

How To Apply

Each application must include all of the following materials:

1. Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement:

   Includes professionally relevant background information about the applicant, why the applicant believes they should be awarded the fellowship, the applicant's future career goals, and how graduate school will prepare the applicant for future contribution to science and society. This statement should not exceed three (3) single-spaced pages and any references, figures, tables, or appendices must fit within the page limits.

2. Graduate Research Plan Statement:

   This statement includes two major components: previous research experience and future directions.

   • The previous research experience component should demonstrate an understanding of prior research conducted, highlight one's skills and illustrate current development as a scientist.
   • The future directions component can include either a formal proposal for a specific research project or may more generally address the future direction of one's research. This statement should not exceed two (2) single-spaced pages and any references, figures, tables, or appendices must fit within the page limits.

3. Letter of Recommendation:

   The reference letter should include comments on the applicant's potential for contributing to a globally-engaged science and engineering workforce, statements about the applicant's academic potential and prior research experiences, statements about the applicant's proposed research, and any other information to enable reviewers to evaluate the application according to the NSF Merit Review Criteria.
   
   This letter can come from either your undergraduate or graduate research advisor and should not exceed two (2) single-spaced pages.

   General Formatting Requirements for Both Statements:

   • Please include your Psi Chi member number at the end of both statements
   • If you have forgotten your Psi Chi member number, it can be accessed by contacting Psi Chi. Visit the Psi Chi email page if you have forgotten your username or password.
   • 12-point, Times New Roman font
   • 1-inch margins on all sides
   • 10-point font may be used for references, footnotes, figure captions, and text within figures
   • Any references, figures, tables, or appendices must fit within the page limits
   • Do not provide links to web pages within the application, except for reference page DOI links
   • Aside from your Psi Chi member number, do not include any identifying information (i.e., name, institution) in either statement

   Upload instructions

   1. Each statement should be uploaded as a separate PDF file with the following naming structure:
   • Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement: “JSFPBFSYour Psi Chi Number.pdf”
   • Graduate Research Plan Statement: “JSFGRPSYour Psi Chi Number.pdf”
   2. The Letter of Recommendation must be provided directly by your referee. By entering the email address of your referee directly through the online application, the system will automatically send a reference request on your behalf. This letter may be a PDF or Word file.

   Failure to comply fully with the above requirements will result in the application being rejected without review.

   Review Criteria

   All materials will be assessed according to NSF's intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria.

   Submissions

   Submit your application through the online portal. Applications will not be accepted by any other means (e.g., email).
   
   The online system will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on July 28th, 2025. All application materials, including the letter of recommendation, must be submitted by that time. Late applications will not be reviewed.
   
   All applicants will be notified of their status in early September.

APAGS Elections

Please make sure to review the Call for Applications Page before beginning your application.

Eligibility

APAGS welcomes nominations from all qualified graduate students. In selecting members, APAGS considers a broad range of professional experiences, perspectives, and areas of expertise that support its mission. Graduate students from all backgrounds and career stages who can contribute to addressing the field’s evolving needs and challenges are encouraged to seek nomination.  

 Leadership positions are open to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or any other protected category under applicable federal and state law.

Applicants must be current master’s or doctoral students* in good standing at a regionally accredited institution at the time of application, studying psychology or a related field.

* To be eligible for APAGS chair-elect, applicants must be enrolled in a doctoral program in psychology.  All other positions are open to students in master’s programs.

Applicants must have at least one academic year remaining in their graduate program once they start their term.

Additionally, applicants must be:

• An APAGS member
• Organized, responsive, efficient, and responsible
• Able to work effectively and cooperatively with others, including with APA’s professional staff members who support the committee
• Willing to commit to a busy term lasting 24 months (36 for chair-elect) to work on behalf of the needs and interests of APAGS and APAGS members
• Willing to meet virtually (typically monthly) and primarily during normal business hours (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) for the East Coast, where APA is headquartered.
• Willing to represent a professional organization (APA/APAGS) and to follow both APAGS operating procedures as well as APA bylaws and association rules.
• For subcommittee chair, vice chair, or member positions, applicants must demonstrate specific knowledge, expertise, and/or experience in the substantive area of the respective subcommittee to which they are applying

Please read all fields carefully and answer as completely as possible. Required information is marked with a red asterisk and must be completed in order for your application to be considered. Your application must be "Submitted as Final" by 11:59pm (EDT) on September 2, 2025.