The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) celebrates these remarkable individuals for their various achievements in the realm of life sciences.
ASCB takes immense pride in presenting honorific awards to honor our extraordinary members. These accolades hold special significance as they symbolize the brilliance of our peers in research, education, mentoring, and their unwavering dedication to the Society. Please join us in congratulating our colleagues for their remarkable contributions and for serving as an endless source of inspiration and motivation.
The following people were recognized by either receiving an honorific award or being invited to present a keynote speech or lecture.
WICB Sandra K. Masur Senior Leadership Award: Bestowed by the Women in Cell Biology Committee (WICB) to any later-stage career scientist with outstanding scientific achievements and a record of active leadership in mentoring women and individuals from underrepresented groups.
- Mary Dasso, Senior Investigator, NICHD-DIR; Associate Scientific Director, Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, NICHD-DIR; and Scientific Co-director, NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program
Public Service Award: Honoring national leadership and outstanding public service in support of biomedical research or advocacy of sound research policies. Awardee selected by the Public Policy Committee.
- Peter Hotez, Dean, National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine
E.B. Wilson Medal: Presented to distinguished researchers for their far-reaching contributions to cell biology over a lifetime in science.
- Denise Montell, Distinguished Professor and Robert and Patricia Duggan Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara
Bruce Alberts Award for Excellence in Science Education: Given to an individual who has demonstrated innovative and sustained contributions to science education, prioritizing the national impact of the nominee’s activities.
- Sara Brownell, President’s Professor, Arizona State University
E.E. Just Lecture: Honoring the early 20th-century biologist Ernest Everett Just, who made foundational contributions to cell and developmental biology, to recognize the outstanding scientific achievements of a U.S. researcher belonging to a historically excluded racial or ethnic group. Awardee selected by the Maximizing Access to Cell Biology for PEERS Committee.
- Jorge Torres, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Vice Chair of Undergraduate Education, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Director, NIH T32 Graduate Student Training Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of California Los Angeles
Keith R. Porter Lecture: Named in memory of Keith R. Porter and presented to an outstanding and innovative leader at the forefront of cell biology, actively contributing fundamental new knowledge to our understanding of cell biology.
- Sergio Grinstein, Senior Scientist, Cell Biology Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children
The David Burgess Award for Excellence in Inclusivity: Recognizing one scientist who has a track record of excellence in research or serves a critical role in fostering cell biology research and, has demonstrated the importance of inclusion and diversity in science through mentoring, cultural change, outreach, or community service.
- Katherine Wilson, Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Mentoring Keynote: An invited speaker who exemplifies mentoring by their impact on training scientists and scholars belonging to underrepresented groups, particularly racial and ethnic minorities. Awardee selected by the Minorities Affairs Committee.
- Sonya Neal, Associate Professor, HHMI Freeman Hrabowski Scholar, UC San Diego, HHMI
ASCB Award for Excellence in Research by an Historically Excluded Person (HEP): Presented to an early career ASCB member who self-identifies as a Historically Excluded Person (HEP) for making exceptional scientific contributions to cell biology, developing a strong independent research program, and exhibiting the potential for continuing at a high level of scientific endeavor and leadership.
- Lilian Kabeche, Assistant Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Member, Yale Cancer Biology Institute, Yale University
WICB Junior Award for Excellence in Research: Presented to a woman or non-binary person in an early stage of their career making exceptional scientific contributions to cell biology, developing a strong independent research program, and exhibiting the potential for continuing at a high level of scientific endeavor and leadership.
- Minna Roh-Johnson, Associate Professor, University of Utah
Scholarship of Diversity Keynote: An invited speaker chosen by the co-PIs of the Innovative Programs to Enhance Research Training grant and approved by the Minorities Affairs Committee.
- JoAnn Trejo, Professor of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego
Günter Blobel Early Career Award: Given to an outstanding early career life scientist who has served as an independent investigator for no more than seven years at the time of nomination.
- Monther Abu-Remaileh, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and of Genetics, Stanford University
Innovation in Research: Recognizes early and mid-career scientists for their new and innovative research in cell biology. For this purpose, innovation is defined as an accomplishment that significantly impacts progress in advancing the field of cell biology and is based on work done within three years before the nomination.
- Siyuan Wang, Associate Professor, Yale University
Porter Prizes for Research Excellence: Prizes are given to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers based on scientific excellence. In the spirit of Keith Porter, the emphasis will be on their contributions to the advancement of science and the novelty and creativity of their findings.
Graduate:
- Sichen Yang, Graduate Fellow, The Rockefeller University
Postdoctoral
- Mengxiao (Mandi) Ma, Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University
Merton Bernfield Memorial Award: Established to honor outstanding postdocs or graduate students with member donations in memory of pediatrician and cell biologist Merton Bernfield.
- Dhiman Sankar Pal, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Cell Biology and Center for Cell Dynamics, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University
MBoC Paper of the Year Award: Awarded to the first author on a paper (grad student or postdoc) chosen by the Editorial Board of ASCB’s science research journal, Molecular Biology of the Cell (MBoC), as the best papers published from June of the previous year to May.
- Laura Schenkel, ETH Zurich
“A dedicated cytoplasmic container collects extrachromosomal DNA away from the mammalian nucleus” - John Brooks, Research Assistant, The University of Queensland
“Caveola mechanotransduction reinforces the cortical cytoskeleton to promote epithelial resilience“ - Virginia King, Associate, Cure Ventures
F-actin–rich territories coordinate apoptosome assembly and caspase activation during DNA damage–induced intrinsic apoptosis
MBoC Early Career Paper Award
- So Youn Moon for the paper: Cell contractility drives mechanical memory of oral squamous cell carcinoma
- Tamás Maruzs for the paper: Interaction of the sorting nexin 25 homolog Snazarus with Rab11 balances endocytic and secretory transport and maintains the ultrafiltration diaphragm in nephrocytes
- Dalma Feil-Börcsök for the paper: Interaction of the sorting nexin 25 homolog Snazarus with Rab11 balances endocytic and secretory transport and maintains the ultrafiltration diaphragm in nephrocytes
- Michael Tobin for the paper: Differences in cell shape, motility, and growth reflect chromosomal number variations that can be visualized with live-cell ChReporters
- Charlotte Pfeifer for the paper: Differences in cell shape, motility, and growth reflect chromosomal number variations that can be visualized with live-cell ChReporters
- Matthew Flagg for the paper: Exploring The “Misfolding Problem” by Systematic Discovery and Analysis of Functional-But-Degraded Proteins
About the Author:
This post was collaboratively written by several ASCB staff members.
