International SELF Research Centre's Dennis McInerney PhD Award 2025

Since 2009, the Global SELF Research Network PhD Award has been presented at the International SELF Conference for the most outstanding doctoral dissertation(s) in the field over the previous three years. For the 2025 conference, all applicants must have been awarded their doctoral degrees between June 2022 and October 2025; applicants must also be registered for the conference.

This award recognizes outstanding contributions made by doctoral students whose thesis focus lies within the different research traditions that drive self and identity research. Topics could include (but are not limited to):

Criteria for the Award

The major criterion will be excellence in the doctoral dissertation, as evidenced by its contribution to the extant scientific literature. The contribution can be theoretical, methodological, or empirical. In addition, the dissertation will be assessed according to the following criteria:

1. Originality and Independence of Research Contributions

• The thesis will be assessed in terms of the original and independent contributions of the applicant. Applicants will be evaluated based on their unique and active role in developing and executing the program of research. This includes all aspects of the research contribution: the formulation of the research question; the selection and use of research methods; the data collection; and data analysis. This should be addressed by the applicant (in the abstract) and the supervisor (in the nomination letter).

2. Significance to the Field

• The thesis will be assessed on its theoretical and/or practical contributions to the field. Depending on the nature of the thesis topic, it should make an original and significant contribution to existing theoretical knowledge and/or provide practical applications to existing problems.

3. Excellence in the Canons of Academic Writing

• Organization: The presentation of the abstract should follow APA guidelines.
• Clarity: Writing should be clear, easy-to-understand, and jargon should be minimized.

4. Excellence in Research

• Conceptual Framework: The abstract should provide a clear statement of the problem. Specific aims, research questions and/or hypotheses should be provided.
• Design: The abstract should contain a clear description of the research design.
• Method: A method section should be included in the abstract. It should contain details of the sample, any apparatus, instrumentation, or materials used, and the procedure employed to collect the data.
• Analysis and Findings: The method of data analysis and the results should be clearly, but succinctly, stated in the abstract.

5. Validity of Conclusions

• Clarity: The abstract should clearly state all conclusions. These should be substantiated by the evidence gathered in the study.
• Validity: In the abstract, both the limitations of the study and the generalizability of the findings should be stated.

Procedure for Nominations

For the 2025 conference, all nominees must have been awarded their doctoral degrees between June 2022 and October 2025; applicants must also be registered for the conference.

Nominations are accepted until (date)

To submit an application, candidates must provide the following documents in a single PDF file.

All nominations should include the following four documents:

1. An extended abstract (2000 words max.)
2. A copy of examiners' reports (strongly recommended, but not eliminatory)
3. A nomination letter from the candidate's primary doctoral supervisor (3 pages maximum - including contact details).
4. A narrative autobiography (500 words maximum) describing salient research experiences, publications, presentations, collaborations, post-PhD accomplishments, and career plans
5. A copy of the diploma or proof of the final submission of the thesis.
6. Please email the completed nomination file to admin@eras.org.sg by 1 July 2025 to be considered.

ERAS Conference Teacher Research Paper Prizes 

In recognition of research by educational practitioners in schools and tertiary institutions in Singapore (e.g., Polytechnics and Technical institutes), ERAS will be presenting up to two prizes of SGD$1,500 each to the presenters/teams who are awarded the Teacher Research Paper Prizes. Each recipient will also receive a certificate.

All entries must fulfill the following conditions:

1. Practitioner- and school-based research papers from educational institutions in Singapore.
2. Authors/Presenters must not be from degree awarding institutions.

3. Entries must have been submitted to the ERAS Track and presented at the ERAS Conference.
4. Research must have an impact on teaching and learning (e.g., a teaching strategy to improve student learning).

Authors/presenters should have first submitted an abstract for presentation by 15 Sep 2023 via the conference website. The application for the ERAS Conference Teacher Research Paper Prizes can be submitted using the online template.
The deadline for submission of Teacher Research Abstracts and Papers is 31 August 2025. (Sunday).

Winners will be announced at the closing of the conference on Friday 24 November 2023.

ERAS Conference Student Research Paper Prizes

In recognition of research by students, ERAS will be presenting up to two prizes of SGD$1,000 each to the presenters/teams who are awarded the Student Research Paper Prizes. Each recipient will also receive a certificate.

All entries must fulfill the following conditions:
1. Research papers authored by students enrolled in educational institutions.
2. The students must have submitted to the ERAS Track and presented their papers at the ERAS conference.
3. Research must have an impact on teaching and learning.

Authors/presenters should have first submitted an abstract for presentation by 31 August 2023 via the conference website. The application for the ERAS Conference Teacher Research Paper Prizes can be submitted using the online template.

The deadline for submission of Student Research Abstracts and Papers is 31 August 2025. (Sunday).

Winners will be announced at the closing of the conference on Friday 24 November 2023.