Two University of Wisconsin professors received 2009 Cottrell Scholars Awards for excel-lence in teaching and research, it was announced Thursday.

Snezana Stanimirovic, assistant professor of astronomy, and Robert McDermott, assistant profess-or of physics, were each awarded a $100,000 grant by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement, a firm dedicated to the advancement of science through the funding of scientific research.

As part of the corporation’s dedication to science, the Cottrell Scholars Award is granted to young professors who show potential and dedication in aspects of both teaching and research. Prospective applicants submit research and teaching proposals as part of an application process that remains selective in granting awards.

A total of 10 professors from across the United States were presented with the award, and of those 10, Stanimirovic and McDermott represented UW..

“It’s nice to get funding for research, but at the same time, it’s nice to know my research is getting substantial recognition from the outside scientific community,” Stanimirovic said.

Stanimirovic’s research involves the study of the interstellar medium, the gas and dust between stars in our galaxy and surrounding galaxies, she said. To gather and measure spectra, Stanimirovic uses radio telescopes, including the world’s largest telescope at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.

Using data from the radio telescopes, Stanimirovic studies variations in the interstellar medium between the Milky Way and other galaxies.

Currently, Stanimirovic is working on building three small radio telescopes that will be placed atop Sterling Hall. She said she plans to use part of the grant received from the Cottrell Scholars Award to aid their completion.

Once finished, the radio telescopes will be used in classes to teach students how to take measurements using these telescopes, she said.

In addition, Stanimirovic hopes to develop tutorials for undergraduate students that include step-by-step instructions for using radio telescopes. These tutorials would be used to help teach students how to interpret data and discover what it is telling us.

Although he could not be reached for comment, McDermott’s work focuses on the study of quantum computing, said Mark Rzchowski, associate chair of the Physics Department.

Through the use of different calculation techniques, quantum computing has the potential to go beyond today’s normal computers, Rzchowski said.

“He is a young faculty member who has made some significant advances in a short time,” Rzchowski said.

Stanimirovic and McDer-mott are not the first UW professors to receive the Cottrell Scholars Award. Last year, Tehshik Yoon, assistant professor of chemistry, was among those who received the $100,000 grant. UW has maintained a good representation of professors who receive the competitive award, Jill Sakai of UW Communications said.