2026 CALC Student Publication Award

Call for Nominations

 

The Center on Aging and the Life Course (CALC) is pleased to announce the CALC Student Publication Award, which will recognize an outstanding research publication by a student in the field of aging and the life course. This award highlights exemplary work that contributes to advancing knowledge about aging, with a focus that aligns with the mission of CALC.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. CALC Affiliation: The award is open to all CALC students currently pursuing the dual-title PhD, gerontology minor, or gerontology graduate certificate.
  2.  Publication Requirements: An eligible publication must be peer-reviewed and have a DOI date between 2024 and 2026. The CALC student must be the lead author on the publication. The publication must be related to aging and the life course, and should contribute to the understanding or advancement of knowledge in these areas.
  3. Nomination:  Students wishing to submit a publication for the CALC Student Publication Award must obtain approval from their major professor or mentor to submit the publication. To nominate a publication, submit the publication, along with a nomination letter outlining each author’s contributions and the publication’s relevance to the field of aging and life course studies. Self-nominations are accepted, provided that the student has the approval of their mentor. CALC faculty associates may also nominate student publications. All nominations must be submitted by April 3, 2026 via a Qualtrics survey linked here.  Late submissions will not be considered.

Nominees will be evaluated on the following categories:

  1. Research Excellence (50% of total score): Evaluation of the quality of the research, including the methodology, data analysis, and clarity of presentation. Considers the rigor of the research design and execution.
  2. Significance and Relevance (50% of total score): Evaluation of the significance and relevance of the publication’s topic to the field of aging and the life course. Considers how well the publication addresses current issues or gaps in the field of gerontology.

Award Details
The CALC Student Publication Award will be presented at the annual CALC symposium in the fall semester. The award recipient is expected to attend the CALC symposium in-person on October 2, 2026 to receive the award, which will include a plaque to recognize their scholarly achievements and a monetary award of $500.

Questions may be directed to Paige Ebner at mebner@purdue.edu, or to Cathy Liu, CALC Director, at liu3839@purdue.edu.