This annual award is made by SERA to an early career educational researcher for excellence and promise in their work.

The prize is awarded for the best research paper written by an early career researcher based in Scotland and is presented annually at the SERA conference. The prize is awarded following open competition.

The award consists of a certificate and a cash prize of £250, to be presented at the Annual Conference. Arrangements may be made (if appropriate) also for the paper to be presented at the Conference. If the paper has not already been published, the winner will be encouraged to submit it for consideration by the Scottish Educational Review (SER).