NI Co-Chairs: Tom Gumpel and Ashlee Curtis

ISRA is soliciting applications for the 2026 New Investigators (NI) Program. The application deadline is March 15, 2026. More details are below. We encourage all current graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, or junior faculty within three years of their terminal graduate degree to apply.

2026 New Investigators Program

Call for Applications

ISRA began its NI Program (formerly known as the Young Investigators Program) at the 2008 World Meeting in Budapest to encourage and assist new scholars at the beginning or early stages of their careers in aggression research. At the July 2026 meeting in St. Catherine’s, Ontario, Canada, the NI program will continue this tradition by focusing on supporting and facilitating the professional development of junior aggression scholars. The NI Program will include:

1.  A Pre-Conference NI Workshop: The 2026 Workshop will bring NIs and group leaders together to engage in didactic and group activities designed to support and facilitate NIs’ professional development and, ultimately, research-based career trajectories. Activities will include developing a research program, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and being competitive in the job market.  Activities will also seek to help NIs connect with senior scholars in the field.
2. Meet with mentors: NIs will meet with a different panel of senior mentors during lunch or dinner each day for informal discussions. Mentors may include plenary speakers, who will be available to answer follow-up questions about their presentations.
3. Networking: NIs will meet with senior members of ISRA. They will also have opportunities to interact professionally and socially with other new investigators during and outside the pre-conference workshop. Mutual support and fruitful collaborations have developed out of past NI interactions.
4. Financial support: Awardees will receive partial monetary support to attend the 2026 ISRA World Meeting.
5. NIs participate in special events in the interim years between World Meetings.
   1. NIs organize and present in a Virtual NI Meeting in which they present their research and academic progress.
   2. NIs participate in the ISRA Speaker Series by organizing one speaker event each year.
   3. NIs are eligible to participate in the New Investigators Mentorship Program, where they will collaborate with more senior ISRA researchers for a 2–4-week collaborative internship. ISRA will provide significant financial support for participating NIs.

NI PROGRAM APPLICATION

WHO AND HOW (Deadline March 15, 2026)

We encourage graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty within three years of their terminal graduate degree to apply. The NI Review Committee selects NI participants based on the originality and promise of their work in human or animal aggression, whether in observational, experimental, or theoretical analyses.

Please submit the following materials via email by March 15th, 2026 to

NI Co-Chair: Tom Gumpel
[email protected]

1. The abstract of the scientific work you have submitted for presentation at the ISRA 2026 meeting.
   1. Note: You will submit this abstract twice: (1) A formal submission through the World Meeting submission portal (be sure to check the box to indicate that you wish to be considered for the NI Program, and (2) inclusion of this same abstract as part of your overall NI application materials submitted via email as indicated above.
2. A standard Curriculum Vitae
3. A 250-word statement summarizing your research interests and how participating in the NI Program would advance your professional development.
4. Predoctoral students only: Please include a letter from your advisor verifying your student status.

Direct any questions about the New Investigators Program to either NI Co-Chairs

Ashlee Curtis
[email protected]
Tom Gumpel
[email protected]

Interested applicants can find more information about the New Investigators Program and previous NIs on the ISRA website and at the New Investigator’s Corner.