Exeter academic wins prestigious national award for early career research
An Exeter academic has been awarded a prestigious national early career prize for his work in Psychology.
Dr Luke McGuire, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Exeter, has received the Margaret Donaldson Early Career Award, a major national honour presented by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
The award, given annually by the BPS Developmental Psychology Section, recognises outstanding contributions to developmental psychology by researchers within ten years of completing their PhD. Dr McGuire was presented the award at Royal Holloway, University of London on 10–11 September, where he also delivered a keynote lecture on his research.
Dr McGuire said: “It’s a great honour to be awarded this prize by the BPS Developmental Section and I am very grateful to join a list of scholars I admire as former winners of this award. The Developmental Section, who make this award, is a crucial part of the landscape of developmental psychology in the UK with a rich history, so to be able to contribute in some small way to this, is really fantastic. I’m particularly grateful to those who nominated me for this award, as well as to all my collaborators, colleagues, and especially the students who have played a crucial role in my research since joining Exeter.”
Named in honour of the late Professor Margaret Donaldson, a pioneering developmental psychologist known for her influential work on children’s thinking and learning, the award highlights early career researchers who are shaping the future of the field.
Dr McGuire’s research explores social and moral development, with a particular focus on how children and adolescents navigate conflicts between moral concerns and social norms. Recently, his work has examined young people’s moral judgements about the treatment of non-human animals.
Professor Joanne Smith, Head of the Department of Psychology at Exeter, said: “Dr McGuire is a rising star in the field of social and moral development, and I’m delighted that this has been recognised by this early career award from the British Psychological Society’s Developmental Psychology Section. His research has expanded our understanding of how children, adolescents, and emerging adults navigate the often-complex intersections of moral principles and social norms. Through his ground-breaking work on speciesism and group norms he is opening new fields of research and generating new knowledge. Luke’s record of accomplishment, innovation, and service both to the field and to the psychology department here at Exeter make him a worthy candidate for this award.”
The award places Dr McGuire among a select group of early career researchers recognised for their significant impact on developmental psychology in the UK and internationally.
