IASR Member Awards
IASR members are eligible for the following awards recognizing outstanding research contributions in the field of sexuality.
The Richard Green Founding President Annual Presentation began in 2016 and occurs once per year at the Annual Meeting. The presentation shall consist of a minimum of 20 minutes for an oral presentation with up to 10 minutes for discussion after. Nominations for speakers will be reviewed by a committee composed of three full IASR members, consisting of one full-time member who is either a clinical psychiatrist or clinical psychologist, one full-time member who is a laboratory research scientist, and one full-time member who is either a sociologist, anthropologist, or lawyer.
The speaker shall be reimbursed for expenses to attend the conference. Reimbursement will include coach class travel, other necessary transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, and the Annual Meeting registration fee.
For the 2027 conference, proposals for plenary speakers are due by December 4, 2026 for early consideration or January 8, 2027 for secondary consideration. Consult the call for symposia and plenary speakers for information on submitting a proposal.
Dr. Ellen Laan was not only a top-notch sexual scientist and compassionate and gifted therapist but also a passionate and compelling communicator of sexual science. Over her career, she sought out opportunities to speak about sexual science to the lay public and to advocate for the inclusion of accurate information about human sexuality in educational resources. Her life and work present an inspirational model of translational sexual science, and this annual award ーsupported by Dr. Laan’s Seksueel Welzijn Nederland foundationー is intended to recognize similar efforts in scientists who share their work with the community and ensure that their work reaches those who would most benefit. This award is for candidates that:
Communicate their own scientific findings to lay audiences, through in-service presentations, podcasts, editorials, videos, public forums, etc.
Translate their own scientific findings into clinical or policy interventions or educational materials
Submit your nomination by the December 4, 2026 deadline. Nominators are asked to upload a letter with the required co-signatures outlined above.
This award is to be given on an occasional basis to recognize outstanding significant achievements in sexual science and contributions to the Academy. In order to recognize distinguished scientific achievement, awards often go to individuals who are toward the end of their career, but nominations are encouraged for anyone whose work has had substantial impact in the field. No more than one award will be granted in any particular year, and the Executive Committee will make final decisions about whether an award will be given.
Eligibility requirements:
Nominators must be a member of the Academy in good standing (i.e., dues paid)
Two additional members of the Academy who are all in good standing must endorse the candidate with co-signatures on the nomination letter
Members of the Executive are eligible to be nominators but are not eligible for the award
Nominations must include a letter with the following information:
The nature of the individual’s work and its impact on the field of sexual science
The nature of the individual's involvement with the Academy and their impact on the organization
Submit your nomination by the December 4, 2026 deadline. Nominators are asked to upload a letter with the required co-signatures outlined above.
Early Career Award
The IASR Early Career Award recognizes outstanding achievements in sexual science by emerging scholars. Eligible applicants are individuals who are Assistant Professor or equivalent (i.e., a junior faculty member, prior to promotion) within eight years of completing their terminal degree.
The purpose of this award is to recognize rising scientists who are making meaningful contributions to the field of sexual science through any of the following: research, education, clinical work, service, or engagement with the broader community. Applicants will be evaluated based on their impact across multiple domains; however, we do not expect applicants to have experience or deliverables in all areas.
Areas where applicants can be evaluated include any of the following:
Research: Contributions through scholarly publications, collaborations, conference presentations, grants, white papers, literary work, books/book chapters, and other scientific achievements.
Education: Excellence in teaching, mentorship, and the education of students, trainees, and peers.
Clinical Work: Significant clinical contributions that have enhanced the quality, accessibility, or effectiveness of sexual healthcare through excellence in patient care, clinical innovation, or service development.
Community Engagement: Meaningful partnerships with community organizations, public engagement, or other activities that advance sexual science beyond academia.
Up to three awards can be presented each year. Each recipient will receive a $750 USD award. Final award decisions will be made by a committee of former IASR Presidents and members, who reserve the discretion to determine whether the awards will be presented in a given year.
Eligibility Requirements:
The person being nominated must be a member of the Academy in good standing (i.e., dues paid)
The person being nominated is within 8 years of completing their terminal degree
The person being nominated cannot be a prior recipient of this award
Copy of the person being nominated’s Curriculum Vitae
Nominators must be a Full Members of the Academy in good standing (i.e., dues paid); nominators cannot be on the committee to review applicants
One additional member of the Academy who is in good standing (i.e., paid dues) must endorse the candidate with a co-signature on the nomination letter
Nominations must include a letter with the following information:
The applicant is an Early Career Scientist and their current career status (i.e., postdoctoral scholar, Assistant Professor)
The nature of the individual’s work and its impact on the field of sexual science in any of the above areas: research, education, clinical, and/or community engagement
How the individual’s work is also tied to societal impact
Letters should be 1 page, single space.
Submit your nomination by the December 4, 2026 deadline. Nominators are asked to upload a letter with the required co-signatures outlined above.