The Innovative Student Research Grant in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is designed to support graduate students conducting research on critical DEI issues within the field of behavior analysis. Offered through the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis (SABA), this grant seeks to foster empirical research and demonstration projects that contribute to understanding and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a behavioral perspective.
This funding opportunity offers awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, with a single grant expected to be awarded annually. However, the SABA Board reserves the right to withhold awards in any given year if no proposal meets the required standards. The program supports research conducted by master’s or doctoral students, with the stipulation that one principal investigator be identified if the project is carried out by a team. Students who receive funding may apply for a continuation DEI grant in the following year.
Eligible proposals must directly address one or more aspects of DEI—diversity, defined as the traits and characteristics that make people unique; equity, which concerns fairness and opportunity; and inclusion, focused on social norms and behaviors that promote belonging. Projects must demonstrate methodological rigor and relevance beyond the immediate behavior analytic community. Preference is given to studies that assess the outcomes of DEI interventions within organizational or community settings.
Applications must include a biosketch, a proposal limited to five pages (with up to two pages of references), a letter of support from an academic advisor, and a letter from the department chair verifying access to institutional resources. Proposals should cover title, significance, aims, approach, methods, limitations, timeline, budget, and any matching funding. Letters of support must confirm sufficient time in the student’s program to complete the project.
To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled in or accepted to a graduate program in psychology, education, behavioral science, or a related field with appropriate behavioral faculty support. Applicants must also demonstrate a commitment to basic, applied, or translational behavior analysis research. A report and budget summary must be submitted to the SABA Board by April 1 of the year following the award.
The application period for the 2026 grant opens in September 2025 and closes on January 14, 2026. Selections will be announced in June 2026. Applications are managed by the ABAI DEI Board, with final recipient decisions made by the SABA Board of Directors. Recipients are publicly acknowledged at the SABA Awards Ceremony during the ABAI Annual Convention.
Focus on projects with community/organizational DEI impact; demonstrate behavioral perspective and methodological rigor.
