ASSC
The ASSC William James Prize
for Contributions to the Study of Consciousness
Competition Overview
The William James Prize is awarded every year for published work constituting an outstanding contribution to the study of consciousness.
The paper should be authored by a graduate student or postdoctoral scholar/researcher who obtained a PhD or other advanced degree within 7 years of the submission deadline (i.e – Graduated between 2018 – 2025).
Recent Winners
Shervin Safavi
21st Edition - Winner 2024
The twenty-first William James Prize for Contributions to the Study of Consciousness was awarded to Shervin Safavi in 2024. Shervin's article "Multistability, perceptual value, and internal foraging" was published in Neuron in 2022 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.07.024). The paper proposes a novel computational approach to understand perceptual multistability.
Elisabeth Parés Pujolràs
20th Edition - Winner 2023
The twentieth William James Prize for Contributions to the Study of Consciousness was awarded to Elisabeth Parés Pujolràs in 2023. Elisabeth's article "Latent awareness: Early conscious access to motor preparation processes is linked to the readiness potential" was published in Neuroimage, in 2019 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116140). The paper proposes a novel method to investigate neural correlates of conscious intention.
Ishan Singhal
19th Edition - Winner 2022
The nineteenth William James Prize for Contributions to the Study of Consciousness was awarded to Ishan Singhal in 2022. Ishan's article "Time and time again: a multi-scale hierarchical framework for time-consciousness and timing of cognition" was published in Neuroscience of Consciousness in 2021 (https://doi.org/10.1093/nc/niab020). The paper proposes a new hierarchical model of time-consciousness that provides a theoretical framework for the phenomenology of temporal experience.New information for the Prize:
Starting in 2025, the Prize will no longer alternate between theoretical and empirical contributions. Instead, all publications—whether empirical or theoretical—will be evaluated together, with the award determined solely on the basis of scientific merit and the degree of contribution to the field of consciousness research. To ensure a thorough evaluation process, the review committee will be expanded to include researchers with diverse areas of expertise.
To encourage equal opportunity, the eligibility deadline for being nominated for the Prize has been increased to 7 years post PhD. That duration may be increased to take into account parental leave or any other leave of absence post-PhD. For female applicants, an 18-months extension for each child born before or after the PhD award will be considered.
Next Submission Deadline
Applications must be submitted before: 15/02/2025
The Prize
Cash award
An award of $1500 (USD) will be given to the winner of the competition.
Plenary address
An invitation to present a plenary address at the ASSC conference. (registration, travel and accomodation paid by ASSC).
Lifetime membership
A lifetime membership in ASSC will be awarded to winner of the competition.
Requirements
- Nominations, including self nominations, should be submitted via our online application form.
- The nomination statement should include a brief description as to why the contribution is outstanding, and for co-authored publications, there should be a statement describing the nominee’s role.
- Information regarding a request for an extension of the deadline for maternity leave or any other leave should be filled in the form.
- To be considered, the contribution must be published or accepted for publication and be written in English.
- Electronic copies in PDF format of the contribution and the nominee’s CV (optional) should be attached to the nomination letter.
Prize Committee
Axel Cleeremans
Axel Cleeremans is Professor of Cognitive Psychology and head of the Consciousness, Cognition and Computation (CO3) Group and Center for Research in Cognition & Neurosciences at Université Libre de Bruxelles
Ryota Kanai
Elisabeth Pacherie
Elisabeth Pacherie is a researcher in philosophy at the Institut Jean Nicod at École Normale Supérieure, Paris.
Joseph LeDoux
Joseph LeDoux is a professor and a member of the Center for Neural Science and Department of Psychology at NYU. His work is focused on the brain mechanisms of emotion and memory.
Claire Sergent
2018-2026
Biyu He
2018-2026
Susanna Siegel
Susanna Siegel is the Edgar Pierce Professor of Philosophy at Harvard UniversityInterested?
Submit your nomination or nominee…