The NARST Early Career Research Award (ECRA) acknowledges contributions to science education through research by individuals during the seven years immediately following receipt of the doctoral degree. To qualify for the award in 2024, the nominee must have received the doctoral degree on or after January 1, 2016. Research contributions may vary, including but not limited to, empirical, philosophical, historical research, critical perspectives, evaluative studies, policy-related research, and studies reflecting new research techniques.

This award is given to an individual who over the seven years immediately following receipt of the Ph.D. has established a promising research agenda, published noteworthy work, and has the potential to make significant contributions to science education through research.

All NARST members are encouraged to consider nominating an eligible and deserving early career NARST member. Nominators must be current members of NARST; self-nominations will not be considered. The nomination letter should help the committee understand why the researcher’s scholarly record is deserving of recognition and contextualize the impact of the research in the nominee's institution and/or home country.

Nominations for the award must include the following materials:

1. A letter of nomination which discusses the nominee’s impact on the field;
2. The nominee’s vita;
3. A two-page summary of the nominee’s research interests, prepared by the nominee;
4. Three of the nominee’s most significant papers
5. Two letters of support that discuss the nominees research agenda, and significance of the nominee's scholarship; and
6. A signed statement acknowledgement of compliance with the NARST Code of Ethical Conduct (https://narst.org/code-ethical-conduct), which should say: I hereby represent that (a) I have read, am familiar with and believe that I meet the eligibility requirements for the award for which I am under consideration; (b) I have not been finally determined by an appropriate body to have engaged in conduct which would constitute a violation of Sections B. (including without limitation plagiarism and scientific misconduct) or D. (including without limitation unlawful harassment or discrimination) of the NARST Code of Ethical Conduct (NARST website: https://narst.org/code-ethical-conduct); and (c) I have not knowingly violated any aspect of the NARST Code of Ethical Conduct. 

In evaluating nomination materials, the ECRA committee will consider the following:

• Extent to which the nominee has offered new ideas or new directions for the field
• Prominence of journals in which the nominee has published

• The extent to which research is represented both nationally and internationally in peer-reviewed journals
• Research conference presentations
• Research grant awards (relative to opportunities available to the nominee given their national context)
• Extent to which nominee has established himself or herself as an independent scholar

For each of the three papers submitted, the committee will consider the following:

• Intellectual quality of the scholarship
• Quality of theoretical foundations
• Methodological rigor
• Creativity/Innovation
• (For multi-authored papers) The nominee’s contribution to the paper

Questions regarding the award should be directed to Doug Larkin (larkind@montclair.edu) chair of the ECRA Committee, on behalf of members: Eleanor Abrahms, Ben Herman, Christine Lotter, Meg Blanchard, Erin Peters-Burton, Bridget Miller, Larry Yore, Heidi Cian, Juan Diaz, and Laura Zangori

Please send your nomination package as one pdf document to the Chair of the committee, Doug Larkin (larkind@montclair.edu), Nominations are due July 31, 2023.

Doug Larkin

ECRA Chair