[Archaeological Institute of America](https://www.archaeological.org)

December 1, 2026 (full paper & images submission, Graduate Student Paper Award)

No direct monetary award; winner receives a certificate, complimentary Annual Meeting registration, and two nights hotel accommodation.

Recognizes and rewards outstanding original research by graduate students in archaeology presented at the AIA Annual Meeting.

--- ## Description The Graduate Student Paper Award, offered by the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA), honors exceptional original research conducted by graduate students in archaeology or closely related fields. The award is based on papers presented at the AIA’s Annual Meeting. Submissions are evaluated for originality, concision, and quality of delivery, with attention to both the written and oral/visual presentation. The selection committee consists of AIA faculty and scholars, and the process is anonymous to ensure fairness. The winner is recognized at the following year’s AIA Annual Meeting Awards Ceremony. --- ## Due Dates - December 1, 2026: Submission deadline for full written paper and accompanying images. This is an annual award; the next expected deadline is December 1, 2026. --- ## Funding Amount - The award does not include a direct cash prize. - The winner receives: - Certificate of achievement. - Complimentary registration for the following year’s AIA Annual Meeting. - Two nights of hotel accommodation at the meeting venue. --- ## Eligibility - Open to predoctoral graduate students in any discipline related to archaeology. - Applicants must have had their paper accepted for presentation at the AIA Annual Meeting (via the Program for the Annual Meeting Committee). - Only papers where the graduate student is the sole author are eligible; co-authored papers are allowed only if all contributors are students (no co-authors may hold a Ph.D. at the time of submission). - Eligibility requires checking the “Graduate student paper award” box on the Open Session Submission Form at the time of submission. - Accepted papers must be submitted in full (including images) by the deadline for award consideration. --- ## Application Process - Ensure your paper is accepted for the AIA Annual Meeting and indicate your interest in the award during the submission process. - Submit the complete written paper and all images by email in PDF format to the Graduate Student Paper Award Committee by December 1, 2026. - Formatting requirements: - 12 point Times New Roman font, double spaced, 1″ margins. - Presenter’s name must not appear on any submitted materials. - Include the allotted presentation time immediately under the paper title. - Paper length must be appropriate for the presentation time (about 2 minutes per page). - Images must be submitted as separate files. - All submissions are self-nominations and are judged anonymously. - The committee will notify nominees of the outcome by late spring; the winner is honored at the following January’s Annual Meeting. --- ## Additional Information - The award is highly competitive and recognizes both the quality of research and the effectiveness of presentation. - The winner will be celebrated publicly at the AIA Annual Meeting Awards Ceremony. - Assessment is based on both the written submission and the actual delivery at the meeting. - The award highlights the significant role of graduate students in advancing archaeological scholarship. --- ## External Links - [Graduate Student Paper Award Details](https://www.archaeological.org/grant/graduate-student-paper-award/) - [AIA Grants & Awards Overview](https://www.archaeological.org/programs/professionals/grants-awards/) - [Annual Meeting Prizes Information](https://www.archaeological.org/programs/professionals/annual-meeting/call-for-papers/prizes/) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact | |------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | General inquiries | [awards@archaeological.org](mailto:awards@archaeological.org) | | AIA main contact | [Contact page](https://www.archaeological.org/contact/) | | Phone | 857-305-9350 |

Graduate Student Paper Award

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