The current award opportunities offered by SBL are listed below.
The De Gruyter Prize for Biblical Studies and Reception History promotes the study of the reception history of the Bible and aims to highlight the broad impact of the Bible in a wide variety of historical contexts and cultural settings. SBL is grateful to De Gruyter for investing in this growing area of research and teaching, one that also cultivates interdisciplinary studies in the humanities.
Beginning in 2020, the award will be for papers in two categories: Textual Culture and Reception of the Bible, and Material and Visual Culture and Reception of the Bible. De Gruyter will support each category with an annual cash prize of $750. The awarded papers will be published in the Journal of the Bible and its Reception. In addition to being published, the awarded papers will be delivered at the SBL Annual Meeting followed by a panel discussion.
The primary goal of the Paul J. Achtemeier Award for New
Testament Scholarship is to stimulate the finest and most penetrating work in
New Testament studies. In order to compete for the award a paper of
publishable quality must be submitted. It must not have been previously
published or accepted for publication; however, a paper may be submitted that
is under review by a journal or other academic press if a decision to publish
has not been reached at the time of submission. If the paper was delivered at
an annual or international SBL meeting, it must exhibit significant revision,
as demonstrated by submission of both the original draft and the revision.
There is a $1,000 monetary award. The awarded paper will be delivered at a meeting of the presenter's choice (Annual, International, or Global Virtual).
The primary goal of the David Noel Freedman Award for
Excellence and Creativity in Hebrew Bible Scholarship is to encourage the
finest scholarship in biblical studies. In order to compete for the award a
paper of publishable quality must be submitted. It must not have been
previously published or accepted for publication; however, a paper may be
submitted that is under review by a journal or other academic press if a
decision to publish has not been reached at the time of submission. If the
paper was delivered at an annual or international SBL meeting, it must exhibit
significant revision, as demonstrated by submission of both the original draft
and the revision. There is a $1,000 monetary award. The awarded paper will be delivered at a meeting of the presenter's choice (Annual, International, or Global Virtual).
The A. R. Pete Diamond Award for Integrative Scholarship supports junior scholars demonstrating innovative approaches in biblical studies that advance methodological work at the intersection of historical criticism, critical theory, and cultural studies. In order to compete for the award a paper of publishable quality must be submitted. It must not have been previously published or accepted for publication; however, a paper may be submitted that is under review by a journal or other academic press if a decision to publish has not been reached at the time of submission. If the paper was delivered at an annual or international SBL meeting, it must exhibit significant revision, as demonstrated by submission of both the original draft and the revision. There is a $1,000 monetary award. The awarded paper will be delivered at a meeting of the presenter's choice (Annual, International, or Global Virtual).
SBL International Travel Awards
The SBL
International Travel Awards offer opportunities to current SBL members outside
North America to attend the Annual or International Meeting, to participate in
the program, to enhance their professional development, and to build their
network with fellow scholars. These grants help facilitate the work of Program
Units and the International Cooperation Initiative (“ICI”). These grants are
intended to support underrepresented and underresourced scholars. As such,
preference will be given to women, people of historically underrepresented ethnicities, and members from
ICI-qualifying countries. A key criterion
is an applicant’s demonstrable financial need.
Four International Travel Award
Panels (ITAP) will administer the awards each year, serving four geographic regions:
- Africa and Middle East
- Asia and Pacific
- Eastern Europe
- Latin America and Caribbean
Each ITAP will administer two $1,500 awards in each region.
Each year at the SBL Annual Meeting, CSWP
honors women who have been excellent mentors to women in the field. These
mentors have provided invaluable guidance, advice, and encouragement. They
serve as role models and assist other women in navigating career choices,
building professional networks, and developing strategies for work-life
balance. CSWP honors mentors in order to recognize their contributions and to
encourage mentoring relationships.
If you would like to nominate a mentor, please
send your nomination with a descriptive letter of endorsement to
Meira Kensky. Nominations must be received by May 1st. Nominations received after the deadline will be considered for the following year.
Many biblical scholars of color provide exceptional mentoring service to other scholars of color in the context of doctoral programs and/or in less formal but significant ways. They provide invaluable advice at various stages of one's career, help develop important networks, offer support in the process of navigating intricacies of the guild, and serve as role models. CUREMP seeks to honor such outstanding mentors.
If you wish to nominate someone for this award, please send their name along with a letter of nomination to Raj Nadella. The letter should describe the ways the nominee helped your professional advancement and why you think the nominee stands out as an exceptional mentor. You are welcome to nominate your current or former doctoral advisor or someone who has mentored you in less formal ways. Anyone can nominate but the nominees should have been scholars/faculty members at the time of mentoring. The committee might supplement nominations from its historic and ongoing work as needed. Deadline
is May 1. Nominations received after the deadline will be considered for the following year.
The primary goal for the Bernadette J. Brooten Award is to support and encourage early career researchers developing innovative approaches to the critical study of gender, sexuality, and/or embodiment in relation to biblical texts and traditions (broadly cast), especially with projects that foreground feminist, womanist, queer, and/or trans approaches. There is a $1,000 monetary award. The awarded paper will be delivered at a meeting of the presenter's choice (Annual, International, or Global Virtual).
The Richards Award honors members of the
Society of Biblical Literature who have demonstrated excellence in public
scholarship. It seeks to recognize the powerful role of sacred texts in society
and how those texts shape culture.The
award is given in honor of Kent Richards and on behalf his mother, Eva
Richards, who made a difference in seeking the common good, always encouraging
the relevance of religion scholarship.
The Daniel Tran Foskett Hudgins Memorial Student Travel Award is named in memory of Daniel Tran Foskett Hudgins, the beloved son of SBL member Mary Foskett and Scott Hudgins. In late 2021, Daniel was diagnosed with a devastating cancer. He died on 1 March 2022, at the age 21. His brief but beautiful life was characterized by love and service. As a testimony to Daniel’s life and service, the Ethnic Chinese Biblical Colloquium initiated and helped establish this SBL award in his honor.
These awards are made possible due to generous contributions given to SBL. If you would like to securely make a contribution on-line to support these awards, click on the Donate button.Your gifts encourage excellence in biblical scholarship. Thank you for your generosity.
