This award honors an article published in Personal Relationships or Journal of Social and Personal Relationships during 2023 or 2024 that has made a significant and original contribution to the study of personal and relationships. The Awards Committee will review all the articles published in PR and JSPR during those years. All parties, excluding students, must be current members of IARR to receive the award.

To see previous award winners, click here. Please contact the Chair of the Awards Committee, Kristina Scharp, with questions.

This award recognizes a book published by a member of IARR during 2023 or 2024 that has made a significant and original contribution to the study of personal relationships. Self-nominations are encouraged, though both self- and other nominations are welcome. Nominations should include:

• A letter of nomination that describes the contribution of the book
• A PDF copy of the book for review purpose

Fellow status will be awarded to IARR members who have made sustained, outstanding contributions to the field of scientific research into relationships, in the areas of research, teaching, service, and/or application. Candidates will only be considered after 10 years of postdoctoral contribution. Self-nominations are encouraged, though both self- and other nominations are welcome. Nomination materials should include a nomination letter, the nominee’s curriculum vitae, and two additional letters of support. The deadline for nominations is February 1, 2026.

To see previous award winners, click here. Please send all materials to the Chair of the Awards Committee, Erin Basinger.

These awards provide small grants to (1) a graduate student and to (2) a new scholar (within 3 years of receiving their Ph.D.) in support of their research on personal relationships. Self-nominations are encouraged, though both self- and other nominations are welcome. Nominations should include:

• A proposal (5-page maximum) that outlines the relevant literature, the purpose and hypotheses of the research, the proposed design and methodology, and a budget that clearly indicates how the grant monies will be used to support the project
• The applicant’s curriculum vitae
• A letter of recommendation

This award recognizes excellence in teaching in the field of personal relationships at the undergraduate and/or graduate level. Self-nominations are encouraged, though both self- and other nominations are welcome. Nominations should include:

• A teaching portfolio that includes (1) a statement of teaching philosophy, (2) sample syllabi, and (3) summaries of course evaluations
• The nominee’s curriculum vitae
• Two letters of support from colleagues
• Two letters of support from current and/or former students

This award recognizes an outstanding mentor in the field of personal relationships. Self-nominations are encouraged, though both self- and other nominations are welcome. Nominations should include:

• A letter of nomination that describes the manner in which the mentoring relationship has advanced the professional development of those who were advised, supported, or sponsored by the mentor
• The nominee’s curriculum vitae
• Up to three letters of support

This award honors the distinguished scientific achievements of scholars who are within 10 years of receiving their Ph.D. degrees. Self-nominations are encouraged, though both self- and other nominations are welcome. Nominations should include:

• A letter of nomination that describes the accomplishments of the nominee
• The nominee's curriculum vitae
• Two letters of support

Distinguished scientific achievements of scholars who are in the middle stages of their careers, that is, between 10 and 25 years post-Ph.D. Self-nominations are encouraged, though both self- and other nominations are welcome. Nominations should include:

• A letter of nomination that describes the accomplishments of the nominee
• The nominee's curriculum vitae
• Two letters of support

This award acknowledges a full career of eminent, notable contributions to research and theory in relationship science. The award is intended to acknowledge a long span of work that has enriched our understanding of personal relationships and contributed much to the field. Self-nominations are encouraged, though both self- and other nominations are welcome. Nominations should include:

• A letter of nomination that describes the accomplishments of the nominee
• The nominee's curriculum vitae
• Two letters of support

This award honors an outstanding dissertation in the field of personal relationships that was defended from January 2022 to December 2025. A small cash prize accompanies this award. Nominations should include:

• A letter of nomination from the dissertation advisor
• A summary (3-page maximum) of the dissertation
• Nominees advancing to a second round of evaluation will be asked to provide an electronic copy of either the full dissertation or a manuscript that reports the research

Early Career Service Award
The Early Career Service Award recognizes individuals in the early stages of their career who have made outstanding service contributions to IARR and/or related disciplines. Service may include elected or appointed leadership positions in IARR or disciplinary associations, service to their institution, editorial responsibilities, contributions to conference planning or implementation, involvement in leadership, and active participation in events or activities that promote relationship research. To qualify for the award, nominees should have received their doctoral degree no more than 7 years prior to the nomination, or if they do not have a doctoral degree, should be within the first 7 years of their academic career.

Distinguished Career of Service Award
The Distinguished Career of Service recognizes sustained and exemplary service contributions to IARR and/or related disciplines over the course of their professional career (at least 15 years), outside of their teaching or research contributions. Nominees should demonstrate contributions to service in a variety of capacities, which may include elected or appointed leadership positions in IARR or disciplinary associations, service to their institution, editorial responsibilities, contributions to conference planning or implementation, involvement in leadership, and active participation in events or activities that promote relationship research. Nominees should also show substantial engagement with IARR over the course of their career.

Nomination Process
Self-nominations for both awards are encouraged, though both self-nominations and nominations by others are welcome. Nominations should include:

• A letter of nomination that describes the service contributions of the nominee
• The nominee’s curriculum vitae
• Up to two letters of support

These grants aim to promote geographical diversity in relationship research in general and the IARR in particular. We offer up to two small grants (1000 USD each) to relationship scholars who are residing in countries that are underrepresented in the IARR’s current membership base (you may check eligible countries here). We welcome proposals from scholars across all career stages (graduate student or post-PhD) and disciplines (e.g., communication, psychology, sociology). Please send your application to the Chair of the Internationalization Committee, Silvia Donato, at silvia.donato@unicatt.it by May 15, 2026. For further information, please see the Submission Guide.