We are now accepting applications for the Outstanding Postgraduate Research Award.
The Outstanding Postgraduate Research Award (OPRA) recognises outstanding research conducted by postgraduate student members of SASP. This year, we will administer three awards: one First Place award ($500), one Runner-up award ($250), and a People’s Choice award ($250). The OPRA selection panel will invite up to six student finalists to present their research at the SASP 2026 conference in Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand (26th – 28th November 2026).
Award eligibility:
Be currently enrolled in a postgraduate program or have submitted within the year of your application (i.e., between December 2025 and November 2026)
Be a student member of SASP
Register to attend the SASP 2026 conference
How to apply
Please read the following requirements carefully.
Your application must include all of the following AS ONE DOCUMENT:
A title page with your name, contact information (phone, address, e-mail address), school affiliation, current enrolment status, and title of your research project.
A page with an abstract of up to 200 words summarising your research project.
A research summary limited to 500 words single-spaced on a single A4 page detailing Purpose, Brief Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion/Implications. A reference list is not required.
Supplementary materials: You can include up to two Tables and/or Figures and/or extracts from qualitative interview transcripts that are not included in the word count and may be included on additional pages.
In short, that’s three (3) separate pages in ONE document (with the allowance of 1-2 extra pages for 2 Tables and/or Figures and/or transcript extracts in total).
Please submit applications as an email attachment (Word or PDF format) to Danny Osborne () by COB Friday 11th September 2026. Please use “SASP 2026 OPRA” as the subject of the email. Unfortunately, late submissions cannot be considered.
Selection process
Up to six finalists will be chosen based on the merits of the entire application. In previous years, successful finalists have submitted applications based on projects that [a] are programmatic (i.e., multiple studies that build on each other), [b] are theoretically innovative, and [c] communicate the implications (theoretical and/or practical) of the results.
Finalists and non-finalists will be notified by 30 September 2026.
Finalists will present their research at the SASP 2026 conference in a special OPRA symposium.
The First Place and Runner-Up awards will be decided based on the OPRA panel’s assessment of BOTH the original application and the conference presentation.
The People’s Choice award will be decided based on attendees’ votes immediately after the OPRA session. Be on the lookout for QR codes displayed at the conference to cast your vote!
