AAAS Mentor Awards
The AAAS Mentor Awards honor individuals for outstanding mentorship and leadership that increases diversity among doctoral students in science and engineering fields.
Funder: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Due Dates: June 30, 2026 (Nomination submission deadline for 2027 AAAS Mentor Awards)
Funding Amounts: $5,000 cash prize per awardee; includes plaque, registration, and travel/hotel reimbursement for AAAS Annual Meeting.
Summary: Recognizes individuals for exceptional mentorship and leadership in increasing diversity among doctoral students in science and engineering fields.
Description
The AAAS Mentor Awards honor individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in increasing the participation of underrepresented groups in science and engineering fields and careers. Through mentorship, awardees have guided significant numbers of students—such as women, African American, Native American, and Hispanic men, and people with disabilities—to the completion of doctoral studies. The awards also recognize those who have fostered institutional change to significantly increase diversity among students pursuing and completing STEM doctoral degrees.
There are two award categories:
- Mentor Award: For individuals who have served as mentors for less than 25 years.
- Lifetime Mentor Award: For individuals who have served as mentors for 25 or more years.
Awardees are selected based on the impact of their mentoring efforts, support for students' academic and professional advancement, and demonstrated commitment to increasing diversity in STEM at the doctoral level.
