Applications are now open for the IWRS Student Research Award, which supports graduate students investigating sentience in insects and other understudied invertebrates.
The annual award, worth $2,000, is aimed at encouraging evidence-based and theoretically grounded research into the subjective experiences of these species, including pain. Funds may be used for research expenses or as a stipend.
Eligibility is open to master’s and doctoral students from any discipline, provided they have not yet completed their thesis defence. Fields of interest include philosophy, neuroscience, entomology, animal behaviour, marine biology and agricultural science. Applicants worldwide are eligible to apply, except in countries subject to international sanctions.
The winning proposal will be selected based on its potential to make a substantive contribution to understanding invertebrate sentience. Candidates are required to submit a brief research proposal, a budget plan, and an impact statement, along with a letter of support from their academic advisor.
The deadline for applications is October 31 2025. The award is administered by the Invertebrate Welfare Research Society (IWRS).
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