Early Career Award

About the award

Instituted in 2010, the Early Career Award recognizes scholars early in their careers who have made outstanding contributions to the field of linguistics. The award provides travel reimbursement (up to $500) and complimentary registration for the next LSA Annual Meeting.

The award is given every year, as nominations warrant.

The nomination period opens on February 18, 2025, and closes at 11:59 PM (ET) on June 30, 2025.

To submit a nomination, log into the Member Portal, click 'Access Membership Benefits' and access the nomination form. If you are not a member, join us today to submit a nomination.

Eligibility

  • All nominators and nominees must be current LSA members.
  • Nominations of women and underrepresented ethnic minorities are particularly encouraged.
  • Nominees must be early career linguists who received their Ph.D. degree between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2024.

The nomination (to be submitted in sections via the online form) should include the following, as appropriate:

  • Evidence of satisfying eligibility criteria
  • Discussion of scholarly products and evaluation of their importance/significance. Mention breadth of (sub)field(s) that are impacted and depth of impact in specific subfields
  • Discussion of publication quality and rate, in comparison to other linguists at that career stage
  • Evidence of original thinking: of having gone beyond dissertation work into different/cutting edge areas, and/or of having explored new approaches to old problems
  • Discussion of contributions to public awareness and exposure to linguistics
  • Discussion of contributions to the field (conference planning, service to local and national organizations, etc.)
  • Discussion of contributions to language community or communities
  • Discussion of contributions to workplace, university/departmental life, if appropriate

Selection

The LSA Awards Committee reviews nominations and makes recommendations to the Executive Committee, which must formally approve the recommendations. The winner will be recognized at the Awards Ceremony at the next LSA Annual Meeting in January.

Awardees

  • 2025: Jorge Rosés Labrada
  • 2024: Laura Kalin
  • 2023: Nicole Holliday
  • 2022: Charles B. Chang and Amy Rose Deal
  • 2021: Nicholas Henriksen 
  • 2020: Gabriela Pérez Báez 
  • 2019: Andrea Berez-Kroeker
  • 2018: Kristen Syrett 
  • 2017: Jeffrey Heinz
  • 2016: Judith Tonhauser 
  • 2015: Lev Michael
  • 2014: Adrian Brasoveanu
  • 2013: Jon Sprouse
  • 2012: Seth Cable 
  • 2011: Andries Coetzee