Cultural Diversity Research Excellence Award 

Application/Nomination: The application can be a self-nomination or nomination of another individual or team. The application must be submitted in English and include the following:

1. Description of the research conducted in under-served and culturally diverse communities (a maximum of 1000 words, Times New Roman, 12pt font, double-spaced).
   • Describe how this work addresses issues of cultural diversity in autism as defined in this RFA.
   • Specify the scope and significant impact the work has produced or will produce on improving the lives of individuals with autism in those communities.  
   • Describe the innovation of this work.
     
     
2. Using the Cultural Diversity Research Award - Research Program Logic Model provided in this RFA, describe the work (inputs, outputs, and activities) and the impact (short and long-term) of the work on under-served and culturally diverse communities. (Template)
3. Biographical sketch using the provided template. (Template)
4. Up to two (2) peer-reviewed, published articles that exemplify the impact of the nominee’s research on underrepresented communities

The application documents should be submitted as a single PDF document via the online submission form. Applications that do not follow the application instructions will not be reviewed.

Submit any application questions to the INSAR Cultural Diversity Committee, culturaldiversitycommittee@autism-insar.org.

Dissertation Awards

Up to two Dissertation Awards will be granted for the best dissertation in autism accepted by the university in September 2024 – August 2025 (i.e., successfully defended). Applicants are eligible for the Dissertation Award only if they successfully defended their Dissertation (and it was accepted by their University) during the period of September 2024 - August 2025.

These two awards will provide a stipend of $1,500 each. The INSAR Awards Committee will review each of the submitted dissertations, scoring them according to NIH proposal scoring standards. The dissertations with the highest scores will receive the award.

To apply, use the online award application system to submit an electronic file of the dissertation, a letter of recommendation from the dissertation advisor, and a cover letter from the applicant requesting consideration. In the cover letter requesting consideration, note whether any publications have resulted from the dissertation.

Dissertation awardees will be asked to present their dissertation research as a 5-minute presentation at the INSAR 2026 Annual Meeting, either presented in-person or submitted electronically for presentation if not in attendance.

Early Career Investigator Awards (Previously named Young Investigator)

Up to two Early Career Investigator Awards will be given for the best empirical research papers published or in press during the period of September 2024 - August 2025 by an investigator who has been awarded their PhD or MD in the past seven years. Applicants are eligible for the Early Career Investigator Award only if their doctoral degree (e.g., PhD or MD) was awarded no more than 7 years prior to the submission deadline for this award. These awards will provide a stipend of $1,500 USD each. The INSAR Awards Committee will review each of the competing papers. The paper with the highest score will receive the awards.

To apply use the online award application system to submit a copy of the paper, your CV and a cover letter requesting consideration. In the cover letter, please specify your contribution to the paper (e.g., conceived of the project, collected the data, completed the analysis, primary responsibility for writing, etc.).

Individuals who have won the Early Career Investigator Award (previously named Young Investigator) before are not eligible to re-apply. Additionally, a manuscript can only be considered for this award once (i.e., a manuscript cannot be resubmitted a second year even if it is within the date range).

Autistic Researcher Awards

Up to 10 Autistic Researcher Awards will be available to self-identified autistic researchers that have submitted an abstract for INSAR 2026. These awards were created to help support autistic researchers attend and present their research at the INSAR Annual Meeting. We note that the term "autistic" is used here to respect the identity-first preference of many autistic self-advocates. The award is a stipend $1,500 to be used for meeting expenses (travel, lodging, registration).  

The autistic researcher must be 1) a current INSAR member and 2) the Presenting Author on their submitted abstract to be eligible. Priority will be given to applicants that have not received this award previously.

To apply, use the online award application system to submit an application, which includes:

1. A copy of the abstract of the presentation that the researcher submitted to the INSAR 2026 Annual Meeting,
2. The approximate mileage from their location to Prague, Czech Republic and
3. A statement regarding: (a) the impact that presenting at the INSAR meeting will have on science and on their community, (b) the impact they hope that their presented work will have on their own career, (c) the number and type of prior INSAR awards received; and (d) confirmation that they are the Presenting Author on the submitted abstract. 
4. The applicant must also click a button indicating they self-identify as being autistic; no formal documentation is needed or should be submitted to support this self-identification.
   
   

Diversity & Low/Middle Income Country Travel Awards

Up to 35 Diversity & Low/Middle Income Country Travel Awards will be provided to individuals who are currently members of INSAR, studying in or working in autism research in health-related institutions, universities, public agencies, or other stakeholder-related activities. The awards will be given to persons from racial, ethnic, and disability groups that have been historically under-represented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences in their home country. The awards will provide reimbursement for meeting expenses (travel, lodging, registration). Diversity Travel Award winners will receive a stipend of $1500 USD, and Low/Middle Income Country Travel winners will receive a stipend of $2000 USD.  

Diversity Travel Award Eligibility:
INSAR members working in North America, Europe, and other high-income countries (i.e. not LMIC countries) who are from racial, ethnic, and disability groups that have been historically under-represented in science.

Low/Middle Income Country Travel Award Eligibility:
INSAR members who are citizens of, and currently working in, countries identified by the World Bank as low income, lower-middle income, and upper-middle income.

To apply, use the online award application system to submit a cover letter stating:

1. The rationale for requesting the award.
2. The autism research or other stakeholder related activities in which they are engaged.
3. A CV/resume. 
4. Statement that specifies the number of prior INSAR awards they have won, including the type of award and number of times.
5. Statement regarding whether they are applying for any other awards this year.
6. A copy of the abstract (authored or co-authored) which was submitted to the INSAR 2026 Annual Meeting.

Early Career Travel Awards

Up to 15 Early Career Travel Awards will be provided to individuals who are currently members of INSAR, studying in or working in autism research in health-related institutions, universities, public agencies, or other stakeholder-related activities. The award is a stipend of $1000 USD to be used for meeting expenses (travel, lodging, registration).

In addition to being an INSAR member and presenting author on a submitted abstract, they must be an EC researcher (as defined by INSAR): Faculty or non-academic INSAR Full or Early Career members who have completed their formal training (for example, terminal degree, post-PhD fellowship or post-doctoral fellowship, medical residency, or other specialized training) within the past 10 years (advanced postdocs, those beyond their first postdoc, are encouraged).

To apply, use the online award application system to submit a cover letter stating:

1. How you meet the criteria for that award category and your rationale for receiving this award.
2. Your CV.
3. The category of prior INSAR travel awards you have won, and the number of times you've won each award (Applicants who have already received this specific award twice will not be eligible.)
4. The other INSAR awards for which you are applying this year.
5. Copy of the submitted abstract for INSAR 2026 for which you are the presenting author.
6. Distance traveled to attend the meeting (this may be used to make award decisions).

Student and Trainee Awards

Up to 60 Student and Trainee Awards will be available to current Student members actively engaged in autism research. The award will provide a $500 stipend. Student/Trainee must be the Presenting Author on their submitted abstract to be eligible. The first priority will be given to student/trainees who have not received an INSAR Student Award before. Student/Trainees who received the award more than once before will not be eligible. The distance traveled will be considered when making decisions. Citizens of all nations are welcome to apply.

To apply, use the online award application system to submit a request which includes:

1. A copy of the abstract of the presentation that the student/trainee is submitting to the INSAR 2026 Annual Meeting,
2. The name of their advisor and university,
3. The approximate mileage from their location to Prague, Czech Republic and
4. A statement regarding: (a) the number and type of prior INSAR awards received; and (b) confirmation that they are the presenting author on the submitted abstract and (c) whether or not they have applied for any other awards this year).