John and Polly Sparks Early Career Grant for Psychologists Investigating Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED)
John and Polly Sparks Early Career Grant for Psychologists Investigating Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) funds early-career psychologists' research to advance early intervention and treatment for children with SED.
Funder: American Psychological Foundation
Due Dates: November 1, 2026 (Applications open) | April 23, 2027 (Application deadline, 11:59 p.m. Hawaii Time)
Funding Amounts: Three grants of up to $22,000 each; funding lasts up to 12 months from payment
Summary: Supports early-career psychologists researching early intervention and treatment for serious emotional disturbance in children.
Key Information: Applicants must be no more than 10 years postdoctoral, with a degree from an accredited university.
Description
The American Psychological Foundation (APF), in partnership with the John and Polly Sparks Foundation, supports early-career psychologists conducting research on early intervention and treatment for serious emotional disturbance (SED) in children. The program seeks scientifically based research and programs that could serve as models for broad-based applications across the country.
The grant emphasizes the quality and impact of proposed work, innovation, contributions to the field, and the applicant’s ability to carry out the project. Previously supported research spans early detection, adolescent aggression, family-centered violence risk assessment, youth suicide risk, parent-child relationships, and interventions to enhance positive emotions. APF favors original, independent work but also supports derivative projects within larger studies.
