Steven Cohen Award for Student Research

Theropod trackway, Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite, Wyoming, photo credit: Thomas Holtz

The Steven Cohen Award for Student Research is to foster excellent student research in the study of vertebrate paleontology by making funds available to an exemplary student or students. The funds awarded may be used by students in support of field research, museum research, laboratory research or other academic research activities.  Particular consideration is given to proposals for research that is innovative, unpredictable, and unusual; research that has direct application to understanding and interpreting the vertebrate fossil record.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 

  • Current membership in SVP is required. If you have not joined or renewed your membership for the current calendar year, please do so before submitting your award application.
  • The competition is open to all current SVP graduate student members.
  • Immediate past Cohen Award winners are not eligible to apply.

The successful applicant will be chosen on the basis of scholarly contribution of the proposed research.

AWARD INCLUDES

  • A cash award.
  • A frameable certificate presented at the SVP Annual Awards Banquet.

HOW TO APPLY 

Submit applications during the annual application period via the SVP online system. You will be asked to provide the following:

  1. Title and description of the proposed research, no longer than three double-spaced pages (including references). The description is to include goals, objectives, methods, a major category budget, and estimated timetable of the research.
  2. Written statement (500-character limit) of how this award would contribute to the success of the proposed research.
  3. Two recommendation letters directly addressing the exemplary academic quality of the student and that of the proposed research. At least one of these letters must be from a sponsor at the institution where the student is currently enrolled as a graduate student and must verify the applicant’s graduate student status. These should be emailed to the SVP Business Office by the sponsors (not submitted with the application form) as per the instructions indicated in the online application form.
  4. A recent photo of the applicant and a brief (300-500 word) bio (these will only be used for the SVP Awards Banquet if the applicant receives this award).

Applications for the 2025 Steven Cohen Award are now being accepted. Click here to access the online application form. The submission deadline is April 1, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET.

QUESTIONS?

Louis Taylor and Louis Jacobs, Co-Chairs, Cohen Prize Panel

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