[American Association for the Advancement of Science](https://www.aaas.org)

June 30, 2025 | June 30, 2026

$5,000 prize per award; includes plaque, registration, and travel/hotel reimbursement for AAAS Annual Meeting

Recognizes individuals for extraordinary leadership in mentoring underrepresented groups to success in science and engineering doctoral programs.

--- ## Description The AAAS Mentor Awards honor individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to increasing the participation of underrepresented groups in science and engineering fields, particularly at the doctoral level. The awards celebrate both direct mentorship—guiding significant numbers of underrepresented students to the completion of PhDs—and broader institutional impact, such as fostering diversity and inclusion within departments or institutions. There are two award categories: the Mentor Award (for those with less than 25 years of mentorship) and the Lifetime Mentor Award (for those with 25 or more years of mentorship). --- ## Due Dates - June 30, 2025: Nomination deadline (for the 2026 award cycle; nominations open April 15, 2025) - June 30, 2026: Nomination deadline (for the 2027 award cycle; nominations open April 15, 2026 and close June 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET) --- ## Funding Amount - Each award (Mentor Award and Lifetime Mentor Award) includes a $5,000 monetary prize. - Recipients also receive a commemorative plaque, complimentary registration, and reimbursement for reasonable travel and hotel expenses to attend the AAAS Annual Meeting. --- ## Eligibility - Open to all individuals, regardless of nationality or citizenship, who have mentored students at a U.S. institution. - Nominees must be living at the time of nomination. - Lifetime Mentor Award: For individuals who have mentored for 25 or more years. - Mentor Award: For individuals who have mentored for less than 25 years. - Nominees must have mentored significant numbers of underrepresented students (women of all racial/ethnic groups, African American, Native American, and Hispanic men, and people with disabilities) who have earned STEM PhDs, or have significantly increased institutional diversity in STEM PhD attainment. - Nominees can be nominated up to three times. --- ## Application Process - Nominations must be submitted online via the [award portal](https://mentorawards.secure-platform.com/a). - Required materials: - Brief citation (25–30 words) describing the nominee’s accomplishments. - Nomination rationale (up to 3 pages) detailing how the nominee reflects the award’s purpose. - Curriculum vitae (up to 5 pages). - Lists of underrepresented students mentored, using [bachelor’s/master’s](https://www.aaas.org/sites/default/files/s3fs-public/bach_masters_students.pdf) and [PhD](https://www.aaas.org/sites/default/files/s3fs-public/phd_students.pdf) templates. - Up to five supporting letters from students and three from colleagues. - Indicate if the nominee has been previously nominated (up to three times allowed). - All materials must be submitted in English and become the property of AAAS. --- ## Additional Information - Both qualitative (letters of support) and quantitative (student lists) evidence of mentorship impact are required. - AAAS encourages nominations from a broad range of backgrounds and geographies. - Awardees are expected to uphold high standards of professional ethics and scientific integrity. --- ## External Links - [AAAS Mentor Awards Information](https://www.aaas.org/awards/mentor/about) - [Nomination Portal](https://mentorawards.secure-platform.com/a) - [Past Recipients](https://www.aaas.org/page/aaas-mentor-award-recipients) - [AAAS Awards Overview](https://www.aaas.org/aaas-awards) - [Education and Human Resources Programs](https://www.aaas.org/programs/education-and-human-resources) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact | |-----------------------|------------------------------------------| | General Inquiries | [awards@aaas.org](mailto:awards@aaas.org?subject=AAAS%20Mentor%20Awards) | | AAAS Main Phone | 202-326-6400 | | AAAS Contact Page | [Contact AAAS](https://www.aaas.org/contact-aaas) | ---

AAAS Mentor Awards

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