The Alan T. Waterman Award, named after Alan Tower Waterman, is the United States's highest honorary award for scientists no older than 40, or no more than 10 years past receipt of their Ph.D. It is awarded on a yearly basis by the National Science Foundation. In addition to the medal, the awardee receives a grant of $1,000,000 to be used at the institution of their choice over a period of five years for advanced scientific research.
History of the Award
The United States Congress established the annual award in August 1975 to mark the 25th Anniversary of the National Science Foundation and to honor its first director, Alan T. Waterman. The annual award recognizes an outstanding young researcher in any field of science or engineering supported by the National Science Foundation.
Eligibility and nomination process
Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Prior to the 2018 competition, candidates must have been 35 years of age or younger or not more than 7 years beyond receipt of the Ph.D. degree by December 31 of the year in which they are nominated. As of the 2018 competition, these requirements were changed to 40 years of age or 10 years post-PhD. Candidates should have demonstrated exceptional individual achievements in scientific or engineering research of sufficient quality to place them at the forefront of their peers. Criteria include originality, innovation, and significant impact on the field. Potential candidates must be nominated and require four letters of reference, but none can be submitted from the nominee’s home institution. Solicitation announcements are sent to universities and colleges, scientific, engineering and other professional societies and organizations, and members of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering.
Award process and committee composition
Candidates are reviewed by the Alan T. Waterman Award committee, which is made up of 12 members, 8 rotators and 4 members ex officio. The current ex officio members are Ralph Cicerone, President of the National Academy of Sciences, Subra Suresh, Director of the National Science Foundation, Steven C. Beering, Chairman of the National Science Board, and Charles M. Vest, President of the National Academy of Engineering. After review of the nominees, the committee recommends the most outstanding candidate(s) to the Director of the National Science Foundation and the National Science Board, which then makes the final determination.
List of recipients 2024 Muyinatu A. Lediju Bell
Katrina G. Claw
Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio
2023 Natalie S. King
Asegun Henry
William Anderegg
2022 Jessica Tierney
Daniel B. Larremore
Lara Thompson
2021 Nicholas Carnes
2021 Melanie Wood
2020 Emily Balskus
2020 John Dabiri
2019 Jennifer Dionne
2019 Mark Braverman
2018 Kristina Olson
2017 Baratunde A. Cola
2017 John V. Pardon
2016 Mircea Dincă
2015 Andrea Alù
2014 Feng Zhang
2013 Mung Chiang
2012 Scott Aaronson
2012 Robert Wood
2011
2010 Subhash Khot
2009 David Charbonneau
2008 Terence Tao
2007 Peidong Yang
2006 Emmanuel Candes
2005 Dalton Conley
2004 Kristi Anseth
2003 Angelika Amon
2002 Erich Jarvis
2001 Vahid Tarokh
2000 Jennifer A. Doudna
1999 Chaitan Khosla
1998 Christopher C. Cummins
1997 Eric Allin Cornell
1996 Robert M. Waymouth
1995 Matthew P.A. Fisher
1994 Gang Tian
1993
1992 Shrinivas R. Kulkarni
1991 Herbert Edelsbrunner
1990 Mark E. Davis
1989 Richard H. Scheller
1988 Peter Schultz
1987 Lawrence H. Summers
1986 Edward Witten
1985 Jacqueline Barton
1984 Harvey Friedman
1983 Corey S. Goodman (de)
1982 Richard Axel
1981 W. Clark Still
1980 Roy Schwitters
1979 William Thurston
1978 Richard A. Muller
1977 J. William Schopf
1976 Charles Fefferman
References
External links Alan T. Waterman Award NSF Page Alan T. Waterman Award 2021 Change of Eligibility Criteria