We are proud to recognize people who make exceptional contributions to the study of social and personality psychology in health contexts.

Applying for the 2025 Awards Cycle

All nominations for all awards are due by October 31, 2024, and should be submitted using the awards portal at https://tinyurl.com/SPHNawards2025. Reach out to SPHN President, Renee Magnan (renee.magnan@wsu.edu) if you have questions.

Early Career Award

Description. The SPHN Early Career Award honors an early career scholar who has made exceptional contributions to research and/or practice that integrates social/personality and health psychology. Prior nominees who are still eligible are welcome and encouraged to reapply with updated materials. The recipient of the award will be announced at the 2025 SPSP health preconference, and the winner will be formally recognized with the opportunity to give an invited research talk at a SPHN event and/or webinar.

Eligibility: Potential awardees can self-nominate or be nominated by another individual who is familiar with their work. Scholars are eligible to be nominated for this early career award if they have earned a doctoral degree within the past 10 years (i.e., not before February 20, 2015). Nominations should include a CV, a 1-2 page statement describing the research contributions in terms of integration of social/personality and health psychology and indicating any past participation in the SPSP Health Preconference and/or Social Personality & Health Network activities, and 2-3 representative publications. Nominees must be a current member of the Social and Personality and Health Network. 

Awardees are selected by an Early Career Award selection committee appointed by the SPHN executive committee. The awardee may be invited to serve on a subsequent Early Career Award selection committee.

Diversity in Research Award

Description. The SPHN Diversity in Research Award recognizes individuals whose program of research acknowledges the importance of diversity in the study of social and personality psychology in health contexts and informs efforts to promote favorable health outcomes among underrepresented and marginalized groups. The research program should demonstrate a strong commitment to broadening the understanding of underrepresented and marginalized groups in social, personality, and health research. Prior nominees are welcome and encouraged to reapply with updated materials. The recipient of the award will be announced at the 2025 preconference, and the winner will be formally recognized with the opportunity to give an invited research talk at a SPHN event and/or webinar.

Eligibility:  Potential awardees can self-nominate or be nominated by another individual who is familiar with their work. Nominations should include a CV, a 1-2 page statement of their research program as it relates to diversity and health and indicating any past participation in the SPSP Health Preconference and/or SPHN activities, and 2-3 representative publications. This award is open to individuals of all career stages, but a priority is a clear program of research within the last 5 or more years devoted to issues of diversity and the inclusion of underrepresented groups in their research program. Early career applicants are strongly encouraged to also apply for the SPHN early career award. Nominees must be a current member of the Social and Personality and Health Network. 

Awardees are selected by a Diversity in Research Award selection committee appointed by the SPHN executive committee. The awardee may be invited to serve on a subsequent Diversity in Research Award selection committee.

Outstanding Dissertation Award

Description: The SPHN Outstanding Dissertation Award is given to an individual whose dissertation is judged to be an outstanding contribution to the scientific study of social and personality psychology in health contexts and to inform efforts to promote favorable health outcomes. Award winning dissertations demonstrate strong contribution through asking important questions and displaying theoretical rationale and systematic methods. A distinguished dissertation includes a well written summary and is publishable in a top journal.

Eligibility: Potential awardees can self-nominate or be nominated by another individual who is familiar with their work. The nomination should include a blinded (without identifying information) abstract or 1 page executive summary of the dissertation, and a blinded copy of the dissertation. Nominees may submit the abstract as is or may also submit a 1 page executive summary that provides more detail of the project as it relates to social/personality and health psychology. A cover or nominating letter is not required, nor will they be considered in the evaluation process. The nominee should be a member of the Social Personality and Health Network, but can become a member at the time of nomination. Only dissertations completed during the previous two years (8/15/2022 to 8/14/2024) are eligible for the award. The completion date for a dissertation is defined as the date of the oral defense, as officially recorded by the nominee's institution.

Awardees are selected by a Dissertation Award selection committee appointed by the SPHN executive committee. The awardee may be invited to serve on a subsequent Dissertation Award selection committee.

Klein and Rothman Career Service Award

Description: The SPHN Klein and Rothman Career Service Award recognizes outstanding career service to the primary aim of SPHN, which is to advance the scientific study of social and personality psychology in health contexts and to inform efforts to promote favorable health outcomes. It honors a person who has consistently promoted and advanced the aims of the Social Personality and Health Network through non-research, non-clinical work to governmental agencies, public policy groups, editorial roles, public education, or non-governmental charitable or foundation organizations.

Eligibility: Potential awardees can self-nominate or be nominated by another individual. The nomination should include a CV and a 1-2 page statement describing the contributions and achievements of the nominee as they relate to the primary aim of SPHN, focusing on contributions made throughout their career. Nominees must be a current member of the Social and Personality and Health Network.

Awardees are selected by a Career Service Award selection committee appointed by the SPHN steering committee. The awardee may be invited to serve on a subsequent Career Service Award selection committee.