Newswise — The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) recognizes 18 outstanding individuals for their diverse achievements in the life sciences.
“The ASCB Honors Awards recognize individuals who make significant contributions to our community,” said ASCB CEO Rebecca Alvania. “The Society honors those whose research significantly advances our understanding of the cell, whose dedication to education and mentorship in cell biology prepares the next generation, whose commitment to public policy helps make advancing biomedical research and whose achievements in creating inclusive scientific cultures ensure continued progress. in developing a more equitable and diverse community of cell biologists.
The following individuals have been recognized either by receiving an honorary award or by being invited to present a keynote or lecture.
ASCB will feature the profiles of some of these winners on its website in the coming months. The ASCB will mention the winners throughout the Cell Bio 2022 meeting, December 3-7, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
E. B. Wilson Medal: Presented to distinguished researchers for their considerable contributions to cell biology over a lifetime of science.
Don W. Cleveland: Head, Cell Biology Laboratory, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Emeritus Professor and Chair of the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego
Bruce Alberts Award for Excellence in Science Education: Awarded to an individual who has demonstrated innovative and sustained contributions to science education, prioritizing the national impact of the nominee’s activities.
David J. AsaiSenior Director, Science Education, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
EE Just Conference: Tribute to early 20th century biologist Ernest Everett Just, who made seminal contributions to cell and developmental biology, to recognize outstanding scientific achievement by an American researcher from a historically excluded racial or ethnic group. Recipient selected by the Minority Affairs Committee.
Renato J. Aguilera, Deputy Research Director of the Border Biomedical Research Center (BBRC); Director of the Cellular Characterization and Bioreserve Unit of the Research Infrastructures of the BBRC; director of the graduate program in biological sciences; Director of the U-RISE and G-RISE NIH training programs at the University of Texas, El Paso
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 new knowledge fundamental to our understanding of cell biology.
Juan S. Bonifacino, Associate Scientific Director, Neurosciences and Cellular and Structural Biology Division; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health
Sandra K. Masur Senior Leadership Award: Awarded by the Women in Cell Biology Committee (WICB) to any late-career scientist with outstanding scientific achievement and active leadership in mentoring women and people from underrepresented groups.
Rebecca HealdProfessor, Co-Chair, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Berkeley
WICB Junior Award for Research Excellence: Presented to an early-career female or non-binary individual making outstanding scientific contributions to cell biology, developing a strong independent research program, and exhibiting the potential to pursue a high level of scientific endeavor and leadership.
Shirin BahmanyarAssociate Professor, Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University
Excellence in Inclusion Award: Recognize a scientist who has a strong research background or plays a critical role in advancing cell biology research and who has demonstrated the importance of inclusion and diversity in science through mentorship, change cultural, outreach or community service. A grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute funded this award.
Needhi BhallaProfessor of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz
Public Service Award: Honor national leadership and outstanding public service in support of biomedical research or the promotion of sound research policy. Recipient selected by the Public Policy Committee.
George LangfordProfessor Emeritus of Biology, Syracuse University
Mentoring talk: A guest speaker who exemplifies mentorship through its impact on the training of scientists and scholars from underrepresented groups, especially racial and ethnic minorities. Recipient selected by the Minority Affairs Committee.
John T. MatsuiDirector, Biology Scholars Program and Associate Dean, Biological Sciences, University of California, Berkeley
Diversity Scholarship: A guest speaker selected by the Co-Principal Investigators of the Innovative Programs to Enhance Research Training grant and approved by the Minority Affairs Committee.
Gina GarciaAssociate Professor, Department of Educational Foundations, Organizations, and Policy, University of Pittsburgh
LGBTQ+ Keynote: A guest presenter chosen by the members of the LGBTQ+ Committee.
Erin GoleyAssociate Professor of Biological Chemistry, Director of Admissions, BCMB Graduate Program
Associate Professor of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Günter Blobel Early Career Award: Awarded 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.
Dorothy A. LeritAssociate Professor, Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine
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 achievement that has a significant impact on progress in advancing the field of cell biology and is based on work performed in the three years prior to nomination.
Manuel (Manu) LeonettiGroup Leader II, Quantitative Cell Science, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub
Innovation in Education Award: Awarded to an individual who demonstrates innovation in education, defined as a new educational achievement that has a significant impact on the achievement of the ASCB mission. Innovation must be aligned with the core principles of the ASCB Statement on Effective and Inclusive Undergraduate Biology Education.
Jayme DyerAssistant Instructor in the Department of Biology, Durham Technical Community College
Merton Bernfield Memorial Award: Created to honor outstanding postdocs or graduate students with membership donations in memory of pediatrician and cell biologist Merton Bernfield.
Jaye GardinerPostdoctoral Research Associate, Fox Chase Cancer Center
Porter Prize for Excellence in Research: Two prizes, one awarded to a graduate student and one to a postdoctoral researcher selected on the basis of scientific excellence. In the spirit of Keith Porter, the focus will be on their contributions to the advancement of science and on the novelty and creativity of their discoveries.
Ben T Larsonpostdoctoral researcher, University of California, San Francisco
Saket Rahul BagdePhD Student, Institution or Organization Affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Weill Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Cornell University
Molecular Biology of the Cell Paper of the Year Award: Awarded to the first author of a paper (graduate student or postdoctoral fellow) chosen by the editorial board of the ASCB Journal of Basic Science Research, Molecular biology of the cellas the best article published from June of the previous year to May.
Vilma Jiménez SabininaCell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
“Three-dimensional superresolution fluorescence microscopy maps the variable molecular architecture of the nuclear pore complex.” https://doi.org/10.1091/mbc.E20-11-0728
