Ruth I. Michler Memorial Prizes

The Ruth I. Michler Memorial Prize of the AWM is awarded annually to a woman recently promoted to Associate Professor or an equivalent position in the mathematical sciences. The prize provides a fellowship for the awardee to spend a semester in the Mathematics Department of Cornell University without teaching obligations. Recently promoted Associate Professors face many challenges as they prepare to take on greater leadership in research and in the profession.

The Ruth I. Michler Memorial Prize will honor outstanding women at this stage of their careers and enable them to focus on their research in the stimulating environment of the Cornell University Mathematics Department.

Lauren M. Childs

2023-2024 Michler Award Recipient

Application Period: August 15 – October 1

Application Location: All applications can be made at MathPrograms.org. To locate the application form in MathPrograms, click on  “View Programs” at the top right of the page. Scroll down to the programs listed for “Association for Women in Mathematics” and click “Apply” next to the Michler Prize.

Applicant: The applicant must be a woman recently promoted to Associate Professor or the equivalent in the mathematical sciences at an institution of higher learning other than Cornell University. If you are nominating someone else, know that any person can be a nominator! People of any gender can be a nominator and you do not need to be an AWM member to nominate someone for this award.

Application Packet: An application packet should include:

  • Curriculum Vitae including career history, list of publications and invited addresses, and other awards and support.
  • A proposal, approximately two to three pages in length, describing the research or book project to be undertaken during the fellowship period and explaining how the semester in the Mathematics Department of Cornell University will benefit the applicant’s project or their research career.  If the proposal includes plans for joint work with a specific member of the Cornell faculty, then that faculty member should write a brief note confirming the willingness and availability to participate in the proposed research.
  • Three letters of recommendation addressing the candidate’s research strengths and accomplishments. Reference letter writers should be asked to submit their letters online through MathPrograms.org.

All submitted materials become the property of the AWM.

Award Criteria: This prize will be awarded annually. The primary selection criteria for the Michler Prize are the excellence of the candidate’s research and the potential benefit to the applicant of a semester in the Mathematics Department at Cornell.

Nominee Requirements. Applicants must be women recently promoted to Associate Professor or the equivalent in the mathematical sciences at an institution of higher learning other than Cornell University. There is no restriction either on the nationality of the applicant or on the country in which she holds a position. The applicant is expected to spend a full semester at Cornell. Applications from underrepresented minorities are especially encouraged. 

Presentation of Award. A $50,000 prize will be awarded to a woman, recently promoted to Associate Professor or the equivalent, for a semester of mathematical research without teaching obligations in the Mathematics Department of Cornell University. A supplement housing/subsistence stipend award of $3,000 will be provided. Office space, library access, and computing facilities will be provided by Cornell.

2023-2024  Lauren Childs, Virginia Tech
2022-2023  Emily Witt, University of Kansas
2021-2022  Shabnam Akhtari, University of Oregon
2019-2020  Anna Skripka, University of New Mexico
2018-2019  Julie Bergner, University of Virginia
2017-2018   Julia Gordon, University of British Columbia
2016-2017   Pallavi Dani, Louisiana State University
2015-2016   Malabika Pramanik, University of British Columbia
2014-2015   Sema Salur, University of Rochester
2013-2014   Megumi Harada, MacMaster University
2012-2013   Ling Long, Iowa State University
2011-2012   Anna Mazzucato, Pennsylvania State University
2010-2011   Patricia Hersh, North Carolina State University
2009-2010   Maria Gordina, University of Connecticut
2008-2009   Irina Mitrea, University of Virginia
2007-2008   Rebecca Goldin, George Mason University

Questions? Call AWM Administrative Specialist at 401-455-4042 or email awm@awm-math.org.