Cottrell STAR Award Grant

The Cottrell STAR Award recognizes exceptional research and educational achievements of Cottrell Scholars and Holland Award recipients. It aims to enhance science education at U.S. and Canadian universities, promoting the Cottrell Scholars' national profile. The award includes a $5,000 cash prize, with applications initiated through nominations. Highlighted at the summer Cottrell Scholar Conference, the award supports a vibrant community of early career faculty committed to innovative research and teaching in the physical sciences.

NOTE:
STAR submissions start with a brief nomination from a Cottrell Scholar, Holland Awardee or a nominee’s institutional colleague who is knowledgeable of the nominee’s teacher-scholar 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.
RCSA provides catalytic funding for research and sponsors conferences to support:
Strategic Priorities
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 STAR (Science Teaching and Research) Award
The STAR Award is highlighted in two venues. STAR 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

Nominees must be at least 12 years beyond the year of their Cottrell Scholar Award and hold a faculty appointment at a research university or primarily undergraduate institution in the United States or Canada.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 recipients of a STAR or TREE award.