Cottrell SEED Award
Cottrell SEED Award supports Cottrell Scholars and Holland Awardees pursuing new research directions or advancing existing projects to address significant research problems and achieve high impact.
Funder: Research Corporation for Science Advancement
Due Dates: March 31, 2026 (2026 deadline) | December 1, 2026 (2027 applications open) | March 3, 2027 (2027 deadline)
Funding Amounts: $60,000 over two years, including indirect costs
Summary: Supports Cottrell Scholars and Holland Awardees launching transformative research or advancing high-impact projects at primarily undergraduate institutions.
Key Information: Applicants must be eligible Cottrell Scholars or Holland Awardees and cannot hold an active SEED award.
Description
Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA) runs the Cottrell SEED—Singular Exceptional Endeavors of Discovery—awards to help members of the Cottrell Scholar community launch high-impact research. The program offers two paths: New Research Directions supports innovative projects that could establish a transformative line of inquiry, while Exceptional Opportunities advances existing research at primarily undergraduate institutions.
New Research Directions strongly encourages risky, interdisciplinary, and exploratory ideas, without requiring preliminary data. Exceptional Opportunities expects preliminary results and an explanation of how the work could produce exciting outcomes that attract further funding. Both paths support two-year projects addressing significant research problems. Review emphasizes innovation, potential high impact, and evidence that the applicant is an accomplished researcher.
