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MDPI Books is inviting submissions to its brand-new Early Career Researcher Prize, sponsored by the journals: Humanities, Philosophies, Publications, and Social Sciences. Each journal will select one winning entry, which will receive full editorial support and a complete waiver of book processing charges.
The publisher says the competition offers early career researchers the opportunity to bolster the global visibility of their work through open access (OA) publishing. Entries will be judged by the respective evaluation committees, comprising Editorial Board Members and Editors-in-Chief. Authors are encouraged to include compelling statements about the impact of their proposed book on the relevant field of research. Winners will be selected based solely on their proposals.
Eligibility
The competition is open to early carer researchers within six years of their first academic appointment or the completion of their PhD.
Proposals can be submitted by an individual or predefined team of authors.
Only monograph proposals with a clear, coherent concept are eligible. PhDs and extended PhDs are not eligible for submission.
Proposals must be within the scope of the author’s selected participating journal.
All proposals must be original, unpublished, and intended for OA publication under a CC BY license with MDPI Books.
There are no restrictions based on geographic location, institutional affiliation, or publication history.
Evan Escamilla, project manager at MDPI Books, said: “We launched the Early Career Researcher Prize knowing that publishing opportunities for scholars in the early stage of their academic employment are essential for both their growth and the advancement of knowledge.
“Early publications sharpen communication skills and the competence to produce high-quality work in the early writing stages, while opening doors to further career opportunities, collaborations, and funding. Crucially, early scholars bring diverse perspectives and evolving viewpoints that keep research fields vibrant and innovative.”
Submissions are now open, closing on 16 November 2025; Winning entries will be announced in December 2025.