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Cottrell Scholar Award is sponsored by Research Corporation. A program that honors and helps develop exceptional teacher-scholars in the physical sciences (chemistry, physics, and astronomy) by supporting their research and educational leadership. The award provides funds that can be used for most direct costs, including equipment, supplies, and salary for trainees.
Geographic focus: United States and Canada
Focus areas: Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy
Official opportunity description and requirements excerpt:
Cottrell Scholar Award – Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA) Becoming a Scialog Fellow The Cottrell Scholar Award honors and helps develop exceptional teacher-scholars recognized by their scientific communities for the quality and innovation of their research and academic leadership. Awardees join a multigenerational community of scholar‑educators across the U.S. and Canada who contribute significant research and educational advancements. Each three-year award provides $120,000 and may support both research and educational activities. No budget justification or budget pages are required. Funds may be used for most direct costs, including equipment, supplies, undergraduate and graduate salary/wages/stipends, graduate student tuition and fees, postdoctoral salaries, and travel to attend the annual Cottrell Scholar conference and other conferences/workshops. Summer salary is allowed for faculty in non‑doctoral departments. Funds may not be used for indirect costs, academic‑year faculty salaries, routine administrative expenses, books/journals, visa costs, or construction/renovation. For 2026, the proposal deadline is 11:59 PM PDT on July 1, 2026 . The online submission portal opens March 2, 2026. Award decisions for the 2027 cohort will be announced by February 15, 2027. Because approval by the institution’s authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) is required, applicants should allow sufficient time to route through their Office of Sponsored Projects. The award is open to early‑career tenure‑track faculty at U.S. or Canadian research universities or primarily undergraduate institutions. Applicants must hold primary or courtesy appointments in chemistry, physics, or astronomy departments offering bachelor’s or graduate degrees in the relevant discipline. For the 2026 cycle, applicants must have started their first tenure‑track position anytime during calendar year 2023. Eligibility extensions may be granted for parental leave, medical circumstances, or other approved tenure clock delays. Please click here to submit a request for eligibility extension. Q. My primary appointment is outside chemistry, physics, or astronomy, but I hold a joint appointment in one of these departments, and my research interests are in fundamental areas of science. Am I eligible? A. Generally, yes. If your primary appointment is outside our core disciplines, contact Senior Program Director Silvia Ronco to discuss your situation and confirm your eligibility. Q. I previously held a tenure-track position at another institution before I began my present tenure-track position in calendar year 2023. Am I eligible? A. No. Holding any prior tenure‑track position makes you ineligible. Please consult with a program director on eligibility issues. Q. I began my appointment in January. When should I apply? A. You may apply in the third academic year of your first tenure-track position. For example, for January or September 2023 start
Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
Cottrell Scholar Award – Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA) Becoming a Scialog Fellow The Cottrell Scholar Award honors and helps develop exceptional teacher-scholars recognized by their scientific communities for the quality and innovation of their research and academic leadership. Awardees join a multigenerational community of scholar‑educators across the U. S.
and Canada who contribute significant research and educational advancements. Each three-year award provides $120,000 and may support both research and educational activities. No budget justification or budget pages are required.
Funds may be used for most direct costs, including equipment, supplies, undergraduate and graduate salary/wages/stipends, graduate student tuition and fees, postdoctoral salaries, and travel to attend the annual Cottrell Scholar conference and other conferences/workshops. Summer salary is allowed for faculty in non‑doctoral departments.
Funds may not be used for indirect costs, academic‑year faculty salaries, routine administrative expenses, books/journals, visa costs, or construction/renovation. For 2026, the proposal deadline is 11:59 PM PDT on July 1, 2026 . The online submission portal opens March 2, 2026.
Award decisions for the 2027 cohort will be announced by February 15, 2027. Because approval by the institution’s authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) is required, applicants should allow sufficient time to route through their Office of Sponsored Projects. The award is open to early‑career tenure‑track faculty at U.
S. or Canadian research universities or primarily undergraduate institutions. Applicants must hold primary or courtesy appointments in chemistry, physics, or astronomy departments offering bachelor’s or graduate degrees in the relevant discipline.
For the 2026 cycle, applicants must have started their first tenure‑track position anytime during calendar year 2023. Eligibility extensions may be granted for parental leave, medical circumstances, or other approved tenure clock delays. Please click here to submit a request for eligibility extension.
Q. My primary appointment is outside chemistry, physics, or astronomy, but I hold a joint appointment in one of these departments, and my research interests are in fundamental areas of science. Am I eligible?
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Early-career tenure-track faculty at U.S. or Canadian research universities or primarily undergraduate institutions. For the 2026 cycle, applicants must have started their first tenure-track appointment in calendar year 2023. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates $120,000 over three years Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is July 1, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
View foundation profile, grantmaking history, financials, and key people.
View Foundation ProfileApplication snapshot: target deadline July 1, 2026; published funding information $120,000 over three years; eligibility guidance Early-career tenure-track faculty at U.S. or Canadian research universities or primarily undergraduate institutions. For the 2026 cycle, applicants must have started their first tenure-track appointment in calendar year 2023.
Use the official notice and source links for final requirements, attachment checklists, allowable costs, and submission instructions before applying.
A. Generally, yes. If your primary appointment is outside our core disciplines, contact Senior Program Director Silvia Ronco to discuss your situation and confirm your eligibility.
Q. I previously held a tenure-track position at another institution before I began my present tenure-track position in calendar year 2023. Am I eligible?
A. No. Holding any prior tenure‑track position makes you ineligible.
Please consult with a program director on eligibility issues. Q. I began my appointment in January.
When should I apply? A. You may apply in the third academic year of your first tenure-track position.
For example, for January or September 2023 start dates you are eligible for the 2026 submission cycle. Q. Can multiple faculty from the same institution apply in the same year?
A. Yes. There are no institutional limits.
Multiple eligible faculty may apply, and multiple awards may be made within the same department. Q. Can I reapply if I do not receive an award?
A. No. You may only apply once for a Cottrell Scholar Award.
Q. Although my first faculty appointment started in 2023, my tenure clock was stopped for a year in my second year due to personal reasons. Am I eligible to apply in 2026 or 2027?
A. Because your tenure clock stopped, you are eligible to apply in 2027. Please click here to submit a request for eligibility extension.
Q. I started in 2022 but took parental leave in 2024. Am I eligible in 2026?
A. Yes, parental leave qualifies for an eligibility extension. Please click here to submit a request for eligibility extension.
Key criteria for a successful application include the ability to lead strong, innovative research programs, develop impactful educational initiatives, and contribute meaningfully to academic citizenship.
By applying for and accepting funds from Research Corporation for Science Advancement, each applicant agrees to maintain a safe, harassment‑free research environment and to ensure appropriate policies, training, and laboratory safety practices in accordance with the requirements and guidelines established by the investigator’s institutional research safety office.
Cottrell Scholar Award proposals span three years and must include the following elements: Title, five keywords, and abstract clearly stating how the applicant will become an outstanding teacher-scholar with strong academic citizenship skills An academic citizenship statement A letter of support by department head, Dean or Provost A list of references for both Research and Education plans A list of 10 suggested reviewers Publications from the last five years (no abstracts, talks, or conference proceedings) Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) approval and final submission to RCSA Proposals – Research Plan Strong research plans identify relevant problems of high scientific significance and describe innovative and feasible approaches.
Each research plan may or may not describe a new scientific thrust for the applicant, but proposed work should highlight new innovative directions distinct from currently funded or pending projects. A winning proposal must convince external reviewers and the RCSA Cottrell Scholar Selection Committee that the applicant is pursuing an important and independent program of research that is likely to have significant impact.
If unclear whether a particular research area fits programmatic guidelines, contact Senior Program Director Silvia Ronco . The research component is evaluated on its contribution to fundamental knowledge in one of three core disciplines: chemistry, physics, or astronomy.
Applied research projects — aimed at developing known science into new technology, methods, or techniques, or the applications of methods and techniques to topics in disciplines other than the three core disciplines — are eligible only if they clearly advance fundamental knowledge.
Because proposals must include both fundamental scientific research and educational components, submissions are not accepted if the research component is itself focused on science education rather than on advancing a scientific discipline. The research plan should include: Significance of the problem Succinctly state the problem that is to be addressed.
Clearly outline the importance of the problem, the originality of the approach, and the impact it may have on the field, if successful. Give an overview of the broader significance as well as the immediate impact of this research. Then outline your approach to the problem and include preliminary results, if available.
Point out innovative features, relate to previous work, including pertinent references, and indicate how this plan may contribute to the solution of the broader problem posed. Preliminary results can buttress your case, as can prior independent publications. Format: Limit to four pages.
Use Arial 11-point font with 0. 5” margins. Proposals – Educational Plan The educational plan must identify a significant problem in undergraduate or graduate science education and offer a feasible strategy to address it.
Main criteria for evaluating the educational plan include: (a) the originality of the proposal; (b) the potential impact in undergraduate or graduate science courses; (c) the potential impact in student demographics; (d) the applicant’s commitment to excellence in education; (e) knowledge of current science education literature; (f) assessment of the proposed educational plan; (g) departmental buy-in (shown by participation of departmental and/or institutional colleagues); and (h) suitability and sustainability in the institution.
A letter of support from a Departmental Chair, Dean or Provost endorsing the educational proposal and indicating why the applicant is the appropriate faculty member to undertake the project is required. Because each institutional setting is unique and has different needs, the components of a successful educational plan vary widely.
Goals and desired outcomes that will help enhance the applicant’s institutional educational environment must be clearly stated. Prior accomplishments in STEM higher education enhance the case for the applicant’s commitment to education. The educational plan should include three sections using the following headings.
Statement of the problem, significance of the problem, and plan of procedure . Describe identified educational priorities in your department and explicitly detail how your plan fits. Clearly state the problems or issues you wish to address and how they relate to any ongoing work.
Cite precedent. Carefully outline the importance of your plan and the impact it may have on your undergraduate and/or graduate students. Give a viable approach, including examples from your own experience and/or from the literature.
Indicate how completion of this work would have a broader impact. Format: Limit to three pages. Use Arial 11-point font with 0.
5” margins. Assessment plan. Define expected outcomes of your educational plan.
How will your evaluation design provide information to improve your project as it develops and progresses? How will you determine whether your stated project objectives are being met according to the proposed timeline? Identify departmental or institutional colleagues who might play a role in this educational endeavor (as mentors, collaborators, etc.)
as appropriate and describe the role they will play. Format: Limit to one page. Use Arial 11-point font with 0.
5” margins. Courses taught. List all undergraduate and graduate courses you have taught since the beginning of your first faculty appointment.
For each, indicate student enrollment, briefly describe content (up to 30 words) and highlight teaching methods/approaches. (For example, General Chemistry; Freshman level; 200 students; Measurements and Units, Description of Matter, Solutions, Stoichiometry, Thermochemistry, Equilibria, Electrochemistry, Kinetics, Atomic Structure, Chemical Bonding, Molecular Structure; Flipped Classroom) Format: Limit to one page.
Use Arial 11-point font with 0. 5” margins. (These three sections will be combined into one PDF of no more than five pages.)
Examples of Educational Proposals To improve the chances of success for future applicants, we have chosen the following successful educational plans to illustrate the variety of styles and approaches used to show the PI’s passion for teaching in the college setting. Successful plans are multifaceted and may be directed toward the undergraduate or graduate level.
Please keep in mind these examples illustrate a scholar’s understanding of their own institutional culture and setting. They cannot and should not serve as templates for future submissions.
Jeanine Amacher, Cottrell Scholar 2021, Chemistry, Western Washington University, Investigating Sortase Enzyme Activity and Specificity Using Natural Sequence Variation and Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction Rachel Bezanson, Cottrell Scholar 2021, Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Building Bridges in the Steel City: Leveraging the Nearby to Follow Galaxies Across Cosmic Time Thomas Gianetti, Cottrell Scholar 2021, Chemistry, University of Arizona, Developing a Photo-Rechargeable and Symmetrical Organic Redox Flow Battery Christopher Hendon, Cottrell Scholar 2021, Chemistry, University of Oregon, Inorganic Defects in Metal-Organic Frameworks.
Alexandra Velian, Cottrell Scholar 2021, Chemistry, University of Washington, Synthesis of Functional Metal Chalcogenide Lattices Using Symmetry-Encoded, Atomically Precise Clusters Proposals – Academic Citizenship Statement The academic citizenship statement should explain how your service activities support your teaching and research, how they contribute to your professional growth, and how the Cottrell Scholar Award will help build future leadership skills.
Include specific examples of past or ongoing service roles at your institution. Format: Limit to one page. Use Arial 11-point font with 0.
5” margins. Proposals – Letters of Support and Collaboration Support Letters: A letter of support from the Department Chair, Dean, or Provost is required. This letter should endorse the educational proposal and explain why the applicant is well-suited to lead the project.
Letters of support are limited to two pages. Collaboration Letters: For research components, letters of collaboration are required when the proposed work relies on skills or equipment outside the principal investigator’s laboratory. These letters should simply confirm the collaborator’s willingness to participate and must not include commentary on the proposal or applicant.
For educational components, collaboration letters are required only when the collaborator is based at another institution. All collaboration letters must follow NSF formatting requirements and be limited to one page. Proposals – AOR Approval and Final Submission Institutional endorsement of your proposal is required.
Applicants will enter the name and email address of their institution’s Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) into RCSA’s submission system. The AOR will receive a link to review and approve the proposal. Once approved, the application will be submitted to RCSA to review.
Please consult your internal policies on approval timelines and plan to submit accordingly to ensure your proposal meets the deadline. Proposals cannot be submitted to RCSA without institutional approval by the AOR. Proposals – Reviewers FAQ Q.
Who are “inside” and “outside” reviewers? A. An inside reviewer or “insider” is a person who knows you and can assess your abilities.
Former mentors/advisors and collaborators are insiders. Their assessment of you is critical to the overall evaluation of your proposal. An “outsider” is a person with whom you have had no substantive personal or professional contact who is an expert in the research field.
The opinions of outside experts are central to award decisions, so choosing appropriate reviewers is essential. These experts are often individuals whose work you cite in your proposal; omitting such scientists may signal an incomplete understanding of the field. Listing individuals who are not true experts can also undermine reviewer confidence.
It is discouraging when designated “outsiders” report knowing the applicant well or having spent substantial time with them, or when a proposed reviewer returns the proposal noting that the research falls outside their area of expertise. Q. How many reviewers should be listed, and what format should be used?
A. Provide the complete names, titles, complete addresses, and email addresses of at least 10 potential reviewers. At least eight reviewers should be “outsiders,” along with a minimum of two “insiders.
” Verify the accuracy of the information, as inaccuracies may result in delays in the review of your application. Clearly distinguish “outsiders” from “insiders. ” Do not forget to include a brief indication of your relationship to both inside (e.
g. , “Ph. D.
mentor”) and outside reviewers (“never met,” “met once at a meeting,” etc.) Q. Are the reviewers I listed the only ones used in the evaluation of my proposal?
A. No. Program directors select reviewers from those in their experience and your listing whom they believe most suitable to provide assessment of the research that you propose.
If you know of “insiders” or “outsiders” to whom the proposal should not be sent, please provide that information via email to a program director. Q. I work in a very narrow subfield within my scientific discipline and I know everyone in my field.
How do I select “outside” reviewers? A. It is very much to your advantage to have reviews from people who are not at all acquainted with you.
In their efforts to list the most qualified experts in their area of research, most applicants narrow the field of potential reviewers too much. In our experience, individuals working in broader areas that encompass your subfield are often well-qualified to review your proposal and should be included in your reviewer list. Also, be aware that we are willing to seek reviews from qualified experts anywhere in the world.
However, it is advisable to list at least five outside reviewers from U. S. or Canadian academic institutions.
Q. Can I obtain external reviewer comments on my proposal after the final decision on awards has been made? A.
Not typically. Reviewer comments are confidential. At the program directors’ discretion, some comments may be provided.
Q. Will a proposal that arrives after the deadline be accepted? A.
No. The July 1 deadline is firm; late proposals cannot be accepted. Q.
I know how to construct a research proposal, but I don’t have similar experience writing an educational proposal. What do you really want here? A.
Each applicant should propose an educational plan that contains the following elements: (1) past and ongoing educational activities; this is used to measure your commitment to education and your potential for becoming an outstanding teacher-scholar, and (2) innovative future activities that will enhance undergraduate and/or graduate education in your department.
The program identifies unique proposals that show potential for transformative educational impact at your institution and beyond. Because all faculty are expected to mentor undergraduates in their labs, undergraduate research activities should not be the central component of your educational proposal. Please review the Examples of Educational Proposals above.
An educational proposal is a critical component of the application and undergoes rigorous review, which includes evaluation by science education experts. Q. Which research proposal should I use, one in which I am currently successfully engaged, or a new proposal for which I have limited or no preliminary results?
A. We ask you for your “best” project or research idea(s). Either a successful project currently underway or a new plan that you wish to promote is acceptable, but your CS proposal needs to identify new and exciting directions.
To be clear, the research application could be thematically connected to other proposals or ongoing projects, but it must have specific aims distinct from applications submitted to other foundations or funding agencies.
Existing research funding does not negatively influence evaluation of Cottrell Scholar applicants, rather existing funding and prior independent publications are viewed as positive indications of the potential of the applicant and the proposed research plan. Q. Does the proposal require a particular font and font size?
A. Yes. Arial 11 point or greater is required for a proposal to be eligible for review.
RCSA will migrate to a new grant management system in February 2026. This section will be updated as soon as possible with instructions on accessing the Cottrell Scholar Award application in the new system. Evaluation & Award Approval Applications that conform to guidelines are screened by RCSA Program Directors to assess the quality of the educational plan.
Submissions with excellent educational plans then advance to review by external research experts and the members of the Cottrell Scholar Selection Committee . Award recommendations are made by the Cottrell Scholar Selection Committee and approved by the RCSA Board of Directors. Awardees must attend at least two Cottrell Scholar Conferences during the award period.
Travel costs for these conferences should be charged to the Cottrell Scholar award, but other conference costs (hotel room and meals) are covered by RCSA. Attendance at two Cottrell Scholar conferences within the award period is also required to be eligible for Cottrell Plus awards. See the Cottrell Scholar Conference page for more details.
The application process for 2026 Cottrell Scholar Awards is closed. Questions? Contact us at prism@rescorp.
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