[Research Corporation for Science Advancement](https://rescorp.org)

November 2026 (Nomination) | January 2027 (Application package) | February 2027 (Support letters)

$5,000 cash prize; one-time award; includes recognition and plenary talk invitation.

Recognizes outstanding research and educational achievements of Cottrell Scholars and Holland Awardees to promote science education and academic leadership.

--- ## Description The Cottrell STAR (Science Teaching and Research) Award honors exceptional research and educational accomplishments among members of the Cottrell Scholar community, including Holland Award recipients. The award aims to encourage the improvement of science education at universities and colleges in the United States and Canada and to elevate the national profile of Cottrell Scholars and Holland Awardees. Recipients receive a $5,000 cash prize, are invited to present a plenary talk at the annual Cottrell Scholar Conference, and are highlighted in professional journals. The program is administered by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA). --- ## Due Dates - November 2026: Nomination deadline (anticipated) - January 2027: Complete application package deadline (does not include support letters; anticipated) - February 2027: Support letters submission deadline (anticipated) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - $5,000 cash prize (one-time award). - Additional recognition includes a plenary talk invitation at the Cottrell Scholar Conference and promotion in professional journals. --- ## Eligibility - Nominees must be at least 12 years beyond the year of their original Cottrell Scholar Award and hold a faculty appointment at a research university or primarily undergraduate institution in the US or Canada. - For the next cycle, eligibility will be limited to Cottrell Scholars who received their award in 2014 or earlier. - Holland Awardees are eligible to apply, regardless of the year of their award. - Previous recipients of a STAR or TREE award are not eligible. - Nominees should have earned tenure in a Chemistry, Physics, or Astronomy Department (or closely related disciplines in the physical sciences) and currently hold a faculty or researcher appointment in higher education or a national laboratory. - Nominees are expected to be established teacher-scholars with a strong record of impact and leadership in their field and institution. --- ## Application Process 1. **Nomination**: - Initiated by a Cottrell Scholar, Holland Awardee, or an institutional colleague knowledgeable about the nominee’s teacher-scholar activities. - Self-nominations are accepted. - Nominations require nominee’s name, current institutional affiliation, and a brief (up to 150 words) justification. - Nominations are submitted via RCSA’s PRISM system. 2. **Invitation to Apply**: - Eligible nominees are invited to submit a full application through PRISM. 3. **Application Package** (does not include support letters): - Contact information for two support letter writers. - Two-page bio-sketch (significant publications, awards, honors). - Four-page essay (equal focus on Transformational Research and Excellence in Education). 4. **Support Letters**: - One letter from a relevant institutional administrator (e.g., Vice President for Research, Provost, or Dean). - One letter from a Cottrell Scholar or Holland Awardee. - Letters must address the nominee’s exceptional research and educational accomplishments and their impact. 5. **Review**: - Selection committee of Cottrell Scholar community members reviews applications and makes recommendations to the RCSA President. --- ## Additional Information - Awardees are invited to present a plenary talk at the Cottrell Scholar Conference. - The award is intended to highlight both research excellence and significant educational impact, especially those with reach beyond the home institution. - The program is highly competitive, with a focus on established teacher-scholars demonstrating national or international impact. --- ## External Links - [Cottrell STAR Award Program Page](https://rescorp.org/cottrell-scholars/cottrell-plus/cottrell-star-award) - [Research Corporation for Science Advancement Homepage](https://rescorp.org) - [Cottrell Scholars List](https://rescorp.org/cottrell-scholars/awardee-dashboard/) - [Holland Awardees List](https://rescorp.org/cottrell-scholars/robert-holland-jr-award/robert-holland-jr-awards) - [PRISM Submission Portal](https://rescorp.org/cottrell-scholars/cottrell-plus/cottrell-star-award) (see program page for access) --- ## Contact Information | Name / Office | Email | Phone | Web Contact Form | |-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------|----------------------------------| | Silvia Ronco (Program Director) | sronco@rescorp.org | +1 520-571-1111 | [Contact RCSA](https://rescorp.org/contact) | ---

Cottrell STAR Award

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