The Association of Internet Researchers is pleased to call for submissions for the 2026 AoIR Dissertation Awards. To be eligible for the AoIR Dissertation Awards, a PhD dissertation in the area of internet research must have been filed in the 2025 calendar year. Nominations must be received by May 27, 2026. All methods and disciplines are welcome.
Submissions details:
- A nomination letter that explains why the dissertation is deserving of the award and how it contributes to internet research
- A PDF copy of the dissertation should be emailed to dissertationaward [at] aoir.org
- The graduate or their supervisor must be a member of AoIR (by May 27, 2026)
- Self-nominations are permitted
- “Filed in 2025” means the dissertation has been fully defended, all edits completed, and filed/published in 2025 (this date will usually appear on the front cover or the front pages of the dissertation). A letter that the student’s committee has approved the PhD can also establish this.
The recipients of these awards will be announced in mid-2026. In addition to winning a cash prize, the individual will receive an award during the Association General Meeting (AGM) at the #AoIR2026 conference in Mexico City in November 2026.
The committee is comprised of Jeremy Hunsinger (Wilfrid Laurier University and Committee Chair), Alessandro Gandini (University of Milan), Admire Mare (University of Johannesburg), Bjørn Nansen (University of Melbourne), Tanja Oblak Črnič (University of Ljubljana), Lynn Schofield Clark (University of Denver), and Guobin Yang (University of Pennsylvania).
For any questions, please contact dissertationaward [at] aoir.org.
