Research Corporation is considering various potential modifications to the eligibility for their Cottrell College Science Award (CCSA) Program. For nearly 40 years, eligible faculty members have been restricted to those with appointments in departments of astronomy, chemistry and physics. However, the physical and molecular sciences have become interdisciplinary and now share interfaces with the life and material sciences (for example), resulting in a variety of departments and/or programs now housing qualified scientists. To more fully support outstanding research in the physical and molecular sciences and their interfaces with other disciplines, we aim to revise our eligibility criteria to include faculty with appointments in other departments and/or programs in addition to those in astronomy, chemistry and physics.
The Current Program
Current Cottrell College Science Award Program eligibility requirements stipulate that applicants must be in the first three years of a tenure-track appointment to a bachelors-granting, non-Ph.D.-granting astronomy, chemistry or physics department. Under the established investigator provision, tenure-line faculty beyond their third year may apply for support of projects that represent a new research direction. However, they are currently held to the same departmental appointment criteria. For complete Program guidelines, visit http://www.rescorp.org/cottrel_guide.php . For examples of current CCSA funding, go to http://www.rescorp.org/recent_ccsa.html .
The Future Program
The Faculty: Under the potential CCSA Program eligibility revisions currently begin considered, eligible applicants could hold a tenure-line appointment to (potentially) any bachelors-granting, non-Ph.D.-granting science department. Faculty member could apply in the beginning of a tenure-track appointment or later, under the established investigator provision.
The major potential change to CCSA Program eligibility is the removal of a specific requirement for an astronomy, chemistry or physics department appointment. Under the potential revision to eligibility, qualifying faculty (above) who are appointed to departments of astronomy, chemistry or physics will remain eligible but those who lack an appointment to these departments AND who have appropriate research interests (see below) would become eligible.
The Research: Under the potential CCSA Program eligibility revision, Research Corporation will continue support of research that is centered in astronomy, chemistry and/or physics but would include support of research involving other disciplines that interface or overlap with astronomy, chemistry and/or physics. Other disciplines may include (but are not necessarily limited to) biochemistry, biology, biophysics, computer science, environmental science, geology/earth science, material science, mathematics, meteorology, molecular biology, neuroscience, and pharmacology/toxicology. The CCSA Program supports fundamental scientific research; research in applied science is not eligible for CCSA Program support.