The 2026 EGEN Research Prize

About the opportunity

The EGEN Research Prize, offered in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University, rewards junior scholars for excellence and innovation in empirical gender scholarship. The program supports empirical research across methodological approaches and subfields, with a particular interest in incubating work in comparative politics and international relations. Winners receive cash prizes ranging from $1,000 to $3,000, several $500 honorable mentions, and a year-long mentorship pairing with a member of the EGEN executive board.

Funding and benefits

• Several prizes of $1,000 to $3,000 for winners.
• Several $500 honorable mentions.
• Mentorship match with a member from the EGEN executive board for the coming year.

Who can apply?

• Open to graduate students and very early career scholars.
• Conducting cutting-edge research on gender and politics.
• Coauthored work is eligible if every co-author is also eligible for the prize.
• Submissions must be original and not generated by AI.

Required documents

• The application form, which includes advisor contact information for graduate students and names of three potential mentors from the EGEN executive board.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) as a PDF named lastname_firstname_CV.pdf.
• An anonymized version of the most polished piece of writing as a PDF named lastname_firstname_writing sample.pdf.

When to apply

• Applications are accepted through October 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

How to apply

• Complete the online application form.
• Provide advisor contact information and name three potential mentors from the EGEN executive board within the form.
• Upload the CV and anonymized writing sample through the designated Dropbox file request link.
• Confirm on the application form that both required files have been uploaded.

Additional information

• Submissions must be in English.
• The EGEN Prize Awards have been generously supported by NSF grant #2215500.