Topical Group on Physics Education Research Fellowship
Fellowship in the American Physical Society is a great honor. In accordance with the APS Constitution, "there shall be elected to Fellowship only such Members who have contributed to the advancement of physics by independent, original research or who have rendered some other special service to the cause of the sciences." All APS members are invited to nominate deserving colleagues as potential Fellows of APS.
Rules and eligibility
Nominating a colleague for APS Fellowship is a way to commend them for excellence in physics and their service to the physics community.
To nominate a colleague for APS Fellowship, you and the additional nominating co-sponsor must be active APS members. The colleague you nominate must also be an active APS member.
Process and selection
To nominate a colleague for APS Fellowship, please include the following:
- The nominee's name
- The co-sponsor's name, and email address
- A 300 character suggested citation that does not include the nominee's name, gendered pronouns, or symbols, and begins with, "For..."
- A 2,500 character paragraph expanding on the citation to indicate the originality and significance of the contributions
- A PDF sponsor's recommendation letter
- The co-sponsor's recommendation letter, which must be uploaded by the co-sponsor
- The nominee's curriculum vitae (CV), which must include academic and employment history, professional honors, a list of principal publications only, and other significant contributions to physics
- Optional: Up to two additional PDF letters of support, which must be uploaded by the letter writers
Selection Committee
- MacKenzie Stetzer
- Bethany Wilcox
- Danny Caballero
- Melissa Dancy
- Leslie Atkins
Recent recipients
Eleanor C. Sayre
2025 recipient
For outstanding contributions to the physics education research community through mentoring and development of emerging scholars, extensive scholarship, impactful service, and encouraging critical discourse amongst community members.
Melissa Dancy
2025 recipient
For foundational research on the adoption and implementation of curricular innovations in physics classrooms and groundbreaking work on how racial and gender inequalities are expressed and perpetuated in physics.
Vashti Sawtelle
2024 recipient
For foundational research on self-efficacy, introductory physics for life sciences, and community college student persistence; for broadening participation and promoting engagement among all physics students; and for enduring contributions to the rigorous use of qualitative methods.
Stephanie Viola Chasteen
2024 recipient
For significant contributions to physics education research, including groundbreaking work on departmental change, teaching upper-division courses, evaluating and supporting numerous research projects and dissemination programs, and outstanding service to the APS Topical Group on Physics Education Research.
John R. Thompson
2023 recipient
For performing seminal research on student use of mathematics in physics and the learning and teaching of thermal physics, for leading interdisciplinary collaborations and conferences, and for leadership in the physics education research community.
APS Honors recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the global physics community. Guided by our core values, APS Honors encourages nominations that reflect the full range of talent, distinction, and experience in our field, and supports broad canvassing for professional achievement across diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise.
Nominees for and holders of APS Honors (prizes, awards, and fellowship) and official leadership positions are expected to meet standards of professional conduct and integrity as described in the APS Ethics Standards. Violations of these standards may disqualify people from consideration or lead to revocation of honors or removal from office.
Topical Group on Physics Education Research Fellowship
Related
Prepare your nomination materials and review the submission process to recognize your colleagues and students.
Prepare your Fellowship nomination materials and review the submission process.
As approved by the Council of Representatives on April 10, 2025.
APS honors exceptional contributions to the physics community, including travel support for students and early career physicists.