Cottrell IMPACT Award Grant

Cottrell IMPACT Award Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Research Corporation
Amount: US $5,000
Last Updated: September 19, 2025

Summary

The Cottrell IMPACT Award recognizes the significant contributions of Cottrell Scholars and Holland Award recipients in advancing science through leadership and service. It encourages excellence in academic leadership while raising the profile of awardees nationally. The award includes a $5,000 cash prize and highlights recipients at the Cottrell Scholar Conference and in professional journals, fostering a community of innovative researchers committed to impactful science.

Overview

NOTE: IMPACT submissions start with a brief nomination from a Cottrell Scholar or Holland Awardee or a nominee’s institutional colleague who is knowledgeable of the nominee’s leadership activities. Self-nominations are accepted.See Letter of Inquiry deadline above.After the nomination deadline, all eligible nominees are contacted by RCSA and invited to submit an application. See Full Proposal deadline above. Research Corporation for Science Advancement Mission The Mission of Research Corporation for Science Advancement is to advance early stage, high potential, basic scientific research. RCSA provides catalytic funding for research and sponsors conferences to support: An engaged community of early career facultyInnovative ideas for basic researchIntegration of research and science teachingInterdisciplinary researchBuilding the academic leadership of the future Strategic Priorities To advance our mission, RCSA is working to: Further develop and strengthen RCSA’s two core programs, Cottrell Scholars and Scialog, which build on its 100-year legacy of supporting innovative basic research in the physical sciences.Leverage partnerships and scientific community building to maximize impact and exercise flexibility to embrace unanticipated opportunities to support innovative research in the physical sciences.Help ensure the future of science is innovative and impactful by welcoming, engaging, and nurturing the brightest minds from the widest range of backgrounds, institutions, and life experiences Cottrell Scholar Program The Cottrell Scholar (CS) program champions the very best early career teacher-scholars in chemistry, physics, and astronomy by providing significant discretionary awards for research. Nurturing an interdisciplinary community of outstanding scientific/educational/academic leaders, the CS program fosters synergy among faculty at major U.S. and Canadian research universities and primarily undergraduate institutions. Outstanding candidates are admitted to the ranks of Cottrell Scholars through a stringent peer-review process based on their innovative research proposals and educational programs. Cottrell Scholars engage in an annual networking event, providing them an opportunity to share insights and expertise through the Cottrell Scholar Collaborative. Although the Cottrell Scholar Award is the entry point to this interdisciplinary community, the program supports Scholars throughout their academic careers with competitive Cottrell Plus awards. Maintaining an active, multigenerational community of academic scientists is a unique aspect of the Cottrell Scholar program. Research Corporation for Science Advancement fosters a welcoming and respectful environment for listening in which the different identities, backgrounds, and perspectives of all participants are valued, and in which everyone is empowered to share ideas as fellow scientists. Cottrell IMPACT Award The Cottrell IMPACT Award is designed to recognize the work of a Cottrell Scholar or Holland Award recipient who has had a national impact in science through leadership and service activities. Additionally, the award encourages academic leadership excellence in the Cottrell Scholar community and beyond, and raises the national profile of the Cottrell Scholars and Holland Awardees. The IMPACT award consists of a $5,000 cash prize. Applications are submitted after nominations by institutional leaders or by Cottrell Scholars or Holland Awardees. The IMPACT Award is highlighted in two venues: Awardees are invited to give a plenary talk at the summer Cottrell Scholar Conference, and RCSA promotes the award in professional journals. The Cottrell Scholar Conference will take place in Tucson.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Cottrell Scholars must be at least 12 years beyond the year of their Cottrell Scholar Award and hold an academic position at a research university or primarily undergraduate institution to be nominated. For this year's award, eligibility will be limited to Cottrell Scholars who received their award in 2013 or earlier.Holland Awardees are eligible to apply, regardless of the year of their award.

Ineligibility

No submissions are accepted from previous IMPACT award recipients.