Awards

The Muhlmann Award will not be given in 2025

Nomination guidelines for the Maria and Eric Muhlmann Award*

Purpose

The Maria and Eric Muhlmann Award of the ASP is given annually for recent significant observational results made possible by innovative advances in astronomical instrumentation, software, or observational infrastructure. The Award will be made to the scientist(s) who acquired the results, to the designer of the instrument/software (if a different individual), or to both as appropriate. Individuals as well as small teams of individuals are eligible. The Award will be granted for significant advances in any areas of astronomy, without restriction to wavelength or space/ground-based observations.

Eligibility

This award is open to nominees from any country who have accomplished significant observational results made possible by innovative advances in astronomical instrumentation, software, or observational infrastructure.

Nominations Requirements

Nominations will be accepted from any member of the astronomical community. 

Submissions must include:

• Resume or CV of the nominee
• Nominator letter of no more than two pages explaining in detail the specific contributions and achievements of the nominee that merit the Award. Appropriate journal citations to the scientific results must be included.  The letter should discuss the significance of the scientific results and clearly delineate the importance of the instrumentation/software/infrastructure advancement that enabled its achievement. Appropriate journal citations to the scientific results must also be included.
• Two independent letters of support (also no more than two pages each) for each nomination.
• Letters for the Muhlmann Award should discuss the significance of the scientific results and clearly delineate the importance of the instrumentation/software/infrastructure advancement that enabled the achievement. Letter should also present evidence for mentoring the next generation of instrumentalists. 

Due Date

For a new nomination to be considered in any particular year, all nomination documents must be received by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific by March 15* of that year. Exceptions will be noted that year.

*Beginning in 2023, the new submission deadline for all ASP Awards is March 15.

Selection

All nominations are reviewed by the Awards Committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. The Awards Committee recommends a recipient of the Award to the Board of Directors, which then makes the final selection. The Award recipient will be notified in the summer of the award year. If, in the opinion of the Awards Committee, none of the nominees is sufficiently outstanding, or if there are an insufficient number of nominations, the Award will not be given for the year in question.

The Award

The Award includes a $500 cash award, an award plaque, and travel expenses to attend the ASP Awards Gala.

Contact the Awards team if you have any questions or need more information.

Nominations close each year on March 15, 8:59pm PT

*Nomination Guidelines have been updated as of December, 2024