Early Career Psychologists
Joseph B. Gittler Award
The Joseph B. Gittler Award was established through a bequest from Joseph Gittler, PhD, who wished to recognize psychologists who are making and will continue to make scholarly contributions to the philosophical foundations of psychological knowledge.
This program is no longer accepting applications for the 2026 program year.
The Joseph B. Gittler Award was established through a bequest from Joseph Gittler, PhD, who wished to recognize psychologists who are making and will continue to make scholarly contributions to the philosophical foundations of psychological knowledge.
Eligibility
APF encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds with respect to age, race, color, religion, creed, nationality, ability, sexual orientation, gender, and geography.
Applicants must:
- be psychologists with an EdD, PsyD, or PhD from accredited universities
- demonstrate contributions to the philosophical foundations of psychology, particularly over the last five to 10 years (psychologists of all levels of careers will be considered within this criterion)
Self-nominations are accepted.
Application Instructions
Nomination Materials:
- statement of accomplishments in the targeted area over the last 5 to 10 years
- plan for the next 5 years to contribute to the philosophy of psychological knowledge
- letter of recommendation supporting candidate’s qualifications with reference to the program goals
- current CV
For detailed application instructions including formatting and content, please create or log into your GivingData account and review the comprehensive application instructions in the portal. If you still need assistance after reviewing the portal, please contact APF Programs at programs@ampsychfdn.org.
Please be advised that APF does not provide feedback to applicants on their proposals.
Please review our Program FAQs for important details on the application process.
Recent Recipient
Dr. Catherine Malboeuf-Hurtubise
Université Laval
“Dr. Malboeuf is among the first to adapt the concepts of existential psychology to develop new treatment modalities for children, promoting the study of how children feel about life’s big existential questions, including those pertaining to the meaning of life and death. It has also led her to pursue studies on climate change and eco-anxiety in children, with her recent efforts focusing on children’s experience of despair in the context of an uncertain future. More broadly, her work challenges psychology to engage more directly with existential experiences such as despair, suffering,
death anxiety, and powerlessness across the lifespan and within clinical practice itself.”
Past Recipients
2026
Dr. Catherine Malboeuf-Hurtubise, Université Laval
2025
Dr. Melissa Koenig, The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
2024
Dr. Chaz Firestone, Johns Hopkins University
2023
Dr. Henrike Moll, University of Southern California
2022
Thomas Teo, PhD, York University
2021
Professor Mark Freeman, the College of the Holy Cross
2020
Tania Lombrozo, PhD, Princeton University
2019
Igor Grossmann, University of Waterloo
2018
Lisa Osbeck, PhD, University of West Georgia
2017
Jill Morawski, PhD, Wesleyan University
2016
Blaine Fowers, PhD, University of Miami
2015
Henderikus J. Stam, PhD, University of Calgary
2014
Amedeo Giorgi, PhD
2013
Dean Keith Simonton, PhD, University of California, Davis
2012
Barbara S. Held, PhD, Bowdoin College
2011
Daniel N. Robinson, PhD, Oxford University
2010
Louis Sass, PhD, Rutgers University
2009
Daniel Kahneman, PhD, Princeton University
2008
Jerome S. Bruner, PhD, New York University