Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz has been named a recipient of the Research Corporation for Science Advancement’s (RCSA) Robert Holland Jr. Award, which honors outstanding contributions to research, leadership, and mentorship in the sciences. The award, which includes a $5,000 cash prize, commemorates the late Robert Holland Jr., an engineer and corporate executive who served on RCSA’s board of directors.
Established to recognize exceptional scholars within the scientific community, the Holland Award highlights individuals who excel in research and also play a pivotal role in mentoring the next generation of scientists. Ramirez-Ruiz's recognition reflects his commitment to advancing scientific discovery and fostering talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
“Holland Awardees add critical depth and experience to conversations and collaborative projects aimed at helping more students with interest in science reach their full potential,” said Daniel Linzer, RCSA president and CEO.
Leading research on the transient universe
Ramirez-Ruiz, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics, is a world-leading authority in the burgeoning fields of compact binary mergers, tidal disruption of stars by supermassive black holes, sources of gravitational waves, and transient astrophysics. He uses complex computer simulations to better understand the violent universe, with an emphasis on stellar explosions, transient astrophysics, gravitational wave sources, and accretion phenomena.
Since joining the UC Santa Cruz faculty in 2007, Ramirez-Ruiz has won several awards for his research, including a Packard Fellowship, the NSF CAREER Award, the HEAD Mid-Career Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the Dwight Nicholson Medal from the American Physical Society, and many others. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and a member of both the Mexican Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
“This award is a tremendous honor, and I am deeply appreciative to RCSA for considering me worthy of such a prestigious recognition,” said Ramirez-Ruiz, who holds the Vera Rubin Presidential Chair at UC Santa Cruz.
Created to recognize outstanding scholars in the scientific community, the Holland Award honors individuals who excel in research and actively mentor the next generation of scientists.To foster talent in STEM, Ramirez-Ruiz established the Lamat Institute, which primarily recruits students from community colleges. For 15 years, Lamat—meaning "star" in Mayan—has provided hundreds of students with one of the most impactful introductory research experiences in astrophysics in the nation. As a result, Lamat has played a key role in doubling the number of historically marginalized students enrolled in top astronomy Ph.D. programs in the U.S. between 2017 and 2021.
Distinguished community of scholars
Ramirez-Ruiz joins two other distinguished scholars as 2025 Holland Award recipients: Kevin Hewitt of Dalhousie University’s Department of Physics and Rice University chemist Angel Martí. All three honorees will become part of the prestigious Cottrell Scholar community, a network dedicated to advancing research and education in the physical sciences.
The Holland Award recipients will be formally introduced and present their work at the Cottrell Scholar Conference this summer in Tucson, Ariz. The July 16-18 event serves as a platform for scholars to collaborate and discuss innovative approaches to education and research in STEM fields.
“Like Bob Holland, Cottrell Scholars have long been committed to breaking down barriers to STEM education,” said Silvia Ronco, RCSA senior program director. “Our 2023 and 2024 Holland Awardees have already become terrific assets to the community, and we are delighted to welcome Kevin, Angel, and Enrico.”
The RCSA is a private foundation dedicated to funding fundamental research in the physical sciences, including astronomy, chemistry, and physics. Through initiatives such as the Cottrell Scholar, Scialog, and RCSA Fellows programs, the organization fosters engaged communities of early career researchers, promoting collaboration and scientific excellence.
