National and International Awards

The Office of the Provost has compiled a list of some of the most prestigious national and international awards for which our faculty can apply and/or be nominated.

Definition - The Alan T. Waterman Award, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, is awarded annually and honors an outstanding young U.S. scientist or engineer. The awardee receives a grant of $1 million over five years for scientific research or advanced study in any field of science, plus a medal and other recognition. A candidate must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. He or she must be 40 years of age or younger, OR not more than 10 years beyond receipt of the Ph.D. degree, by December 31st of the year in which they are nominated. The candidate should have demonstrated exceptional individual achievements in scientific or engineering research of sufficient quality to be placed at the forefront of his or her peers.

The Humboldt Research Award is granted in recognition of a researcher's entire achievements to date to academics whose fundamental discoveries, new theories, or insights have had a significant impact on their own discipline and who are expected to continue producing cutting-edge achievements in the future.


Applications: Accepted on an ongoing basis; selection committee meets two to three times per year.

Timeline: Nominations for the Waterman Award are typically due in September each year.

More Information: Alan T. Waterman Award

Definition - Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers is for research projects conducted within Germany only. An academic host institution is required. In providing Humboldt Research Fellowships for experienced researchers, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables highly-qualified scientists and scholars from abroad, who completed their doctorates less than twelve years ago to spend extended periods of research (6-18 months; may be divided up into a maximum of three blocks) in Germany.

The Humboldt Research Award is granted in recognition of a researcher's entire achievements to date to academics whose fundamental discoveries, new theories, or insights have had a significant impact on their own discipline and who are expected to continue producing cutting-edge achievements in the future.

Applications: Accepted on an ongoing basis; selection committee meets two to three times per year.

Timeline: The complete application should be submitted to the Humboldt Foundation at least four to seven months ahead of the prospective selection date. The selection committee meets every year in March, July and November. If an application has been approved, a fellow arriving from abroad may start the fellowship two months after the selection meeting at the earliest.


Definition - The ACLS Fellowship program invites research applications in all disciplines of the humanities and related social sciences. The ultimate goal of the project should be a major piece of scholarly work by the applicant. ACLS does not fund creative work (e.g., novels or films), textbooks, straightforward translation, or pedagogical projects. The ACLS Fellowships are intended as salary replacement to help scholars devote six to twelve continuous months to full-time research and writing. ACLS Fellowships are portable and are tenable at the fellow's home institution, abroad, or at another appropriate site for research.

Applications: Online submission including two reference letters.

Timeline: September deadline; notifications in February.

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Definition - The American Philosophical Society was founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin for the purpose of “promoting useful knowledge.” Today, it honors and engages distinguished scientists, humanists, social scientists, and leaders in civic and cultural affairs through elected membership and opportunities for interdisciplinary, intellectual fellowship. It supports research and discovery through grants and fellowships, lectures, publications, prizes, exhibitions, and public education.

Timeline: The deadlines for award nominations and fellowship applications vary.

Definition - The AERA Fellows Program honors education researchers for their exceptional contributions to, and excellence in, education research. The program is intended to be inclusive of the scholarship that constitutes and enriches education research as an interdisciplinary field.

Nominations: By current AERA Fellows only.

Timeline: Nomination forms are available on September 1st and due on November 10th.

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Definition - The Beckman Young Investigator (BYI) Program is intended to provide research support to the most promising young faculty members in the early stages of academic careers in the chemical and life sciences particularly to foster the invention of methods, instruments and materials that will open up new avenues of research in science.

Applications: First step is Letter of Intent describing project and rationale; candidates invited to apply are then notified and given further information.

Timeline: Letter of intent submission due in September; candidates invited to apply in December; award announcements in July.


Definition - The Center offers a residential fellowship program for scholars working in a diverse range of disciplines that advance research and thinking in social science. Many Fellows come from the core social and behavioral sciences (anthropology, economics, history, political science, psychology, and sociology), but potential Fellows from fields in the humanities, education, linguistics, communications, and the biological, natural, health, and computer sciences are welcome to apply if their work has human behavioral and social dimensions.

Application: Various awards available and the application process is different for each.

Timeline: For the core Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, September 15 is the typical application deadline.

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Definition - The core Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program provides approximately 800 teaching and/or research grants to U.S. faculty and experienced professionals in a wide variety of academic and professional fields. Grants are available in over 125 countries worldwide.

Application: Various awards available and the application process is different for each.

Timeline: For the core Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, September 15 is the typical application deadline.


Definition - The Foundation offers Fellowships to further the development of scholars and artists by assisting them to engage in research in any field of knowledge and creation in any of the arts, under the freest possible conditions and irrespective of race, color, or creed.

Applications: The Foundation receives between 3,500 and 4,000 applications each year. Although no one who applies is guaranteed success in the competition, there is no prescreening: all applications are reviewed. Approximately 200 Fellowships are awarded each year.

Timeline: TBA


Definition - The Jefferson Science Fellowship is open to tenured, or similarly ranked, faculty from U.S. institutions of higher learning who are U.S. citizens. Selected Jefferson Science Fellows spend one year on assignment at the U.S. Department of State or USAID as science advisors on foreign policy issues. Assignments are tailored to the needs of the hosting office, while taking into account the Fellows’ interests and areas of expertise.

Applications: Click the 'How to Apply' button to view eligibility criteria, terms of the fellowship and instructions for applying.

Timeline:The application period opens in early August and closes in early November. The fellowship begins in August.

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Definition - The National Academy of Sciences sponsors a number of awards given annually, recognizing outstanding research in an array of fields related to chemistry, physics, biology, astronomy, geology, food science, computer science, neuroscience, psychology, and others. NAS membership is not required to nominate candidates or to be considered for an award.

Timeline: Nominations for NAS Awards are typically due in early October each year.

Definition - Fellowships support individuals pursuing advanced research that is of value to humanities scholars, general audiences, or both. Recipients usually produce articles, monographs, books, digital materials, archaeological site reports, translations, editions, or other scholarly resources in the humanities. Projects may be at any stage of development.

Applications: Online submission process via grants.gov

Timeline: Online applications accepted through end of April for projects beginning as early as January 1. Applicants will be notified of the decision by e-mail in early December.

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Definition - The Center annually welcomes up to forty scholars from all fields of the humanities. Individually, the Fellows pursue their own research and writing. Together, they create a stimulating intellectual community.

Applications: Applicants will be asked to complete an online application form and to upload the following documents: 1,000-word project proposal, short bibliography, curriculum vitae, and a one-page tentative outline of the structure of the project.

Timeline: Online application system is open at beginning of July; application deadline including the reference letters is mid-October.


Definition - The medal is awarded annually to individuals, teams (up to four individuals), companies or divisions of companies for their outstanding contributions to America’s economic, environmental and social well-being. The purpose of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation is to recognize those who have made lasting contributions to America's competitiveness, standard of living, and quality of life through technological innovation, and to recognize those who have made substantial contributions to strengthening the nation's technological workforce.

Nominations: Anyone can nominate for the National Medal of Technology and Innovation by submitting the nomination form and six letters of support at www.uspto.gov/nmti.

Timeline: Deadline for nominations is approximately the beginning of June.


Definition - The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations.

Applications: Only Assistant Professors without tenure are eligible to apply. Press the 'Applicant FAQ' button for frequently asked questions.

Timeline: July submission deadline for applications.

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Definition - The Nobel Prize is an international award administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden, and based on the fortune of Alfred Nobel, Swedish inventor and entrepreneur. Each Prize consists of a medal, a personal diploma, and a cash award.

Nominations: “Qualified Nominators” submit proposals for awardees.

Timeline: Nominations submitted by February; award ceremony in December.

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Definition - The Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering provides the nation’s most promising early-career scientists and engineers with flexible funding and the freedom to take risks and explore new frontiers in their fields of study.

Nomination: Up to two nominations may be made by the president of each institution. Candidates must be faculty members in the first three years of their faculty careers.

Timeline: Nominations are requested in January of each year from the presidents of 50 universities selected by the Advisory Panel. Nominations due in March.


Definition - Each year NSF selects nominees for the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from among the most meritorious recent CAREER awardees. [see above for information on the prerequisite CAREER awards].

Selection for this award is based on two important criteria:

  • Innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology that is relevant to the mission of NSF
  • Community service demonstrated through scientific leadership, education or community outreach

Applications: Individuals cannot apply for PECASE. These awards are initiated by the participating federal agencies. At NSF, up to twenty nominees for this award are selected each year from among the PECASE-eligible CAREER awardees who are most likely to become the leaders of academic research and education in the twenty-first century.



Definition - The Sackler Prizes are intended to promote originality and excellence of research in the field of Biophysics, Chemistry and Physics. They are administered by Tel Aviv University through an advisory committee comprised of the President and Rector of TAU as ex-officio members and others selected ad personam by the President and the Rector.

Nomination: Only selected or invited members may submit formal nominations of candidates.  The Sackler Prizes are awarded on a rotating schedule, with each one given out every two or three years.  Nominations are typically due in November. 



Definition - The Sloan Research Fellowships seek to stimulate fundamental research by early-career scientists and scholars of outstanding promise. These two-year fellowships are awarded yearly to 126 researchers in recognition of distinguished performance and a unique potential to make substantial contributions to their field.

Nominations: Candidates may nominate themselves. All nomination materials for the Sloan Research Fellowships must be uploaded electronically through Interfolio.com.

Timeline: Nominations open in summer and are to be submitted by mid-September.

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Definition - Since 1978, the Wolf Foundation has presented the highly prestigious Wolf Prize to outstanding scientists and artists from around the world. The scientific categories of the prize include medicine, agriculture, mathematics, chemistry, and physics. The art categories include architecture, music, painting, and sculpture. Typically 5 Wolf Prizes are given out annually, rotating among the scientific and artistic fields. Each prize consists of a diploma and US $100,000, and is presented in Israel.

Nominations: Candidates may nominate themselves. All nomination materials for the Sloan Research Fellowships must be uploaded electronically through Interfolio.com


Timeline: The deadline for nominations falls in September each year.


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Definition - The World Food Prize has come to be known as the "Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture" and aims to recognize and inspire breakthrough achievements in feeding the world. This $250,000 prize is awarded to individuals who have improved the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.


Nominations: Any academic institution, private or public organization, or governmental unit may submit a nomination for the World Food Prize.


Timeline: Nomination deadline approximately beginning of May.


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