K. Anders Ericsson Dissertation Research Grant
K. Anders Ericsson Dissertation Research Grant supports graduate students’ research on expertise and skill acquisition to understand how superior skill develops through expert performance and deliberate practice.
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Funder: American Psychological Foundation
Due Dates: October 30, 2026 (Application deadline) | November 1, 2026 (2027 program year opens)
Funding Amounts: One annual grant: $11,000 on the program page; $12,000 in the application portal; up to 12 months
Summary: Supports graduate students’ dissertation research on expertise and skill acquisition, especially expert performance and deliberate practice.
Key Information: Applicants must be graduate students completing their dissertations and have an eligible institutional affiliation to receive funds.
Description
The American Psychological Foundation (APF) administers this annual grant for dissertation research in expertise and skill acquisition across diverse domains of skill. Established in memory of K. Anders Ericsson, it supports research on how superior skill develops, with a preferred focus on applications of the expert-performance approach and the effects of deliberate practice.
The program defines expertise and skill acquisition broadly. It has special interest in proposals using process tracing methods, the expert-performance approach, or a deliberate practice framework to understand superior skill. Applications are assessed for impact and innovation, dissertation research quality, and alignment with program goals. Previously funded work includes deliberate practice in psychotherapy training and expert-in-the-loop chatbots for patient education.
