The Human Factors Prize was established in 2010 by Editor-in-Chief William S. Marras. The prize recognizes excellence in HF/E research through an annual competition in which authors are invited to submit papers on a specific topic for that year. The topic is selected by the editor-in-chief in consultation with a Board of Referees chaired by the immediate past Human Factors editor.
The prize carries a cash award and consideration for publication of the winning paper in the Society's flagship journal, Human Factors. The award is formally conferred at a special session at the HFES International Annual Meeting, where the recipient presents their work. View a list of all past winners.
About the Prize Topic
The topic for the Human Factors Prize is determined annually and made public when the call for submissions is launched. The Topic for the most recent (2022) Human Factors Prize Competition was: Equity and Inclusivity. Information concerning future Human Factors Prize competitions will be posted here when available.
Submissions must cover original (unpublished) research in the topical area and comply with the requirements in the Human Factors Information for Authors. Review articles are not eligible for the Prize. Any researcher is eligible to submit relevant work; membership in HFES is not required. Review of submissions will be based on the work's originality, significance, sophistication, and completeness.
All submissions are peer-reviewed and considered for publication in Human Factors.
Human Factors Prize FAQs
Why should I submit my research for the Human Factors Prize?
- If accepted, your paper will be published in the highly ranked journal Human Factors (2021 Impact Factor rating of 3.598) and presented at the International Annual Meeting, providing significant exposure. HFES Annual Meetings draw 1,200–1,500 attendees from around the world.
- Your submission will be evaluated by prominent human factors/ergonomics researchers, who will send you constructive feedback about your work.
- Even if you do not win the prize, submissions that are acceptable for publication will be showcased in a special section of the journal, along with the winning submission.
Are any types of submissions not applicable for the Human Factors Prize?
- Review articles and brief reports are not considered for the prize competition; however, they may be submitted via the journal's usual peer-review process.
What resources are available to help me produce a winning paper?
In addition to reading past Prize-winning articles, you might find the following of use in preparing your submission: "Top 10 Tips for Getting Published in Human Factors" American Psychological Association's Publication Manual (6th ed.).
If I do not win, can my research still be considered for publication in Human Factors?
- Yes, and in fact if you do not win but your submission is deemed acceptable by the reviewers, it will be published in a special section. Of course, in the event that major revisions are needed, you may still submit your revised work for consideration through the usual peer-review process. The average time from submission to first decision is 8 weeks. Accepted papers are generally published within 6 months and will appear in OnlineFirst prior to release of the print issue.
What is the prize?
- The winner of the Human Factors Prize is awarded an honorarium in an amount determined annually.
Who can I contact if I have questions about the suitability of my submission?