The External Awards and Recognition Office supports University of Iowa faculty in pursuing awards and honors from organizations outside the university.
We partner with UI faculty, departments, and colleges to elevate faculty profiles on a national and international scale, enhancing the university's reputation and showcasing our faculty's achievements in research, creative scholarship, teaching, and service.
External awards and honors represent valuable opportunities for faculty to enhance their scholarly reputation, garner additional funding, and expand the impact of their work.
Our office provides tailored guidance and resources to align external award opportunities with faculty career goals.
EARO Year in Review
In 2025, the External Awards and Recognition Office (EARO) broadened national engagement, supported a record number of high-impact nominations, and strengthened strategic partnerships to elevate faculty recognition across campus. EARO supports UI faculty in pursuing awards and honors from organizations outside the university.
Featured External Awards
American Academy of Arts and Sciences Membership
Election into membership of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is a highly prestigious honor for leaders who have made exceptional contributions in the arts and sciences, business, philanthropy, or public affairs. Membership is divided into five classes and thirty sections. Around 250 new members are elected each year.
Cottrell Scholar Award
The Cottrell Scholar Award honors and helps to develop outstanding teacher-scholars who are recognized by their scientific communities for the quality and innovation of their research programs and their academic leadership skills. Tenure-track faculty in chemistry, physics, or astronomy who started their first tenure-track appointment anytime in calendar year 2023 are eligible to apply.
Beckman Young Investigator Program
The Beckman Young Investigator (BYI) Program provides around $600,000 in research support to promising young faculty members in the early stages of their 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.
News and Highlights
Faculty Awards & Honors
Learn more about our exceptional faculty, which includes National Academy Members, Guggenheim Fellows, and national and international award winners.