Grants

COTTRELL COLLEGE SCIENCE AWARDS

COTTRELL SCHOLAR AWARDS

Research Corporation has completed its strategic planning initiative, which will result in changes to its existing science advancement programs. These changes will include the termination of some programs, changes in ongoing programs and the initiation of an entirely new program. The Foundation has decided to sharpen the focus of its programs on early-career academic scientists in the United States. Key changes are highlighted below:

Terminated Programs:

  1. Research Innovation Awards
  2. Research Opportunity Awards
  3. Special Opportunities In Science Awards
  4. Department Development Awards

A major new program to support targeted innovative research open to faculty from all institutions in the United States will be announced in summer 2008.

Changes to the Cottrell Scholar Awards (CSA) program will be announced in spring 2008.

Changes to the Cottrell College Science Awards (CCSA) program:

COTTRELL COLLEGE SCIENCE AWARDS (CCSA) program:


SINGLE INVESTIGATOR COTTRELL COLLEGE SCIENCE AWARDS
Support of significant research that contributes to the advancement of science and to the professional and scholarly development of faculty at undergraduate institutions along with their students

Eligibility
The principal investigator must have a faculty appointment at a US college or university in a department of astronomy, chemistry or physics, or, if from another department, propose research that significantly overlaps with research in astronomy, chemistry or physics. The applicant’s home department must offer at least baccalaureate, but not doctoral, degrees. At the time of application the applicant must be within the first three years of her/his first tenure track appointment.

Criteria
The potential of a proposed research project to add to fundamental scientific knowledge is a prime criterion in its evaluation, as is its potential for developing into a long term viable program capable of attracting future support from other agencies. Other factors considered are the environment for research at the institution, student participation, and the contribution the research will make to the college's science programs.

Funding
Cottrell College Science Awards provide direct expenses for support of the proposed research. Total requests for Research Corporation (RC) funds for the two-year award must be within the range of $25,000 to $45,000, depending on the needs of the proposed project. Expenses are limited to five budget categories: equipment, supplies, student stipends, faculty stipends, and travel away from the home institution to conduct research. Requests for RC funds have the following limits: supplies up to $6,000 per year, student summer stipends up to $3,500 for 10 weeks, faculty summer stipends up to $7,500 for 8 weeks, travel costs to conduct research and reasonable fees for instrument use off campus up to $2,500 per year. No indirect costs or fringe benefits (other than FICA at 7.65%) are allowed from RC funds.

Applications
Target dates for completed applications are November 15 or May 15 for consideration at the spring or fall Program Advisory Committee meetings, respectively. All potential applicants begin the submission process by completing the Eligibility Quiz. If you meet the basic eligibility guidelines you will be directed to submit a brief pre-proposal that is due 60 days in advance of the proposal target date. For example, pre-proposals for the May 15, 2008, target date will be due on March 17, 2008. All eligible applicants must complete the pre-proposal. See the complete program guidelines for further details.

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MULTI-INVESTIGATOR COTTRELL COLLEGE SCIENCE AWARDS

The collaborative multi-investigator program will begin in 2009. Details on this program will be available in late 2008.

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COTTRELL SCHOLAR AWARDS
Cottrell Scholar Awards are for beginning faculty members who wish to excel at both research and teaching

Eligibility
Applicants should be tenure-track beginning faculty members whose primary appointment is in a Ph.D.-granting department of astronomy, chemistry or physics. Eligibility is limited to those in the third year of their first tenure-track position during the calendar year of application. Those appointed to their first academic position in September of one year are eligible two years later. Faculty who assumed their tenure-track positions anytime in calendar year 2005 are eligible for applications with deadline for receipt of September 4, 2007. Consult the complete program guidelines for full details.

Criteria
The proposal consists of brief proposals for both research and teaching. Originality, feasibility, and the prospect for significant fundamental advances to science are the main criteria for the research plan. Contributions to education, especially at the undergraduate level, aspirations for teaching, and the proposed strategies to achieve educational objectives are factors in assessments of the teaching plan. The ability of applicants to mount a strong research program and their commitment to teaching are weighed in the two-phase review process. Consult the complete program guidelines for full details.

Applications
The deadline for receipt of proposals is 5 pm (MST) on the first regular business day in September. Applications must conform to guidelines and directions, and need to be endorsed by the institution. Potential applicants can begin the online submission process by completing the online submission Eligibility Quiz (Unavailable). If eligible, you will be able to download the application materials.

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