E.B. Wilson Medal
About the Award
Nominations/Applications for all 2026 awards are now closed.
| Self-Nominate | Nominate a Colleague |
The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) presents the E.B. Wilson Medal to distinguished researchers for their significant and far-reaching contributions to cell biology over a lifetime in science.
Award Details
In addition to the medal, the recipient will be invited to speak at the annual Cell Bio Meeting, receive a $1,000 prize, and complimentary meeting registration and abstract submission.
Who is Eligible
An individual who has demonstrated significant and far-reaching contributions to cell biology over a lifetime in science. Nominators and nominees must be ASCB members.
Selection Criteria
- Candidate’s contributions to and impact on the field of cell biology
- Candidate’s demonstrated commitment to ASCB’s vision and values
How to Apply
Candidates may either self-apply or be nominated.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
If nominating someone
- Letter describing the candidate’s background, contributions, and qualifications for receiving the award, no longer than 2 pages.
- Letter of support also describing the above, no longer than 2 pages.
If self-applying
- Narrative statement describing your background, contributions, qualifications for receiving the award, and demonstrated commitment to ASCB’s values, no longer than 2 pages.
- A letter of support endorsing your application, no longer than 2 pages.
- Biosketch (NIH format or similar) no longer than 5 pages.
Please Note
- ASCB wants to ensure that the pool of award candidates is as diverse and inclusive as possible. The demographic questions are for internal reporting only and are not viewable by award reviewers. The questions are not mandatory, however we would appreciate your responses so that we can assess our level of inclusivity.
- As a founder of the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) ASCB does not use journal impact factors or other journal-based metrics in the evaluation process for its awards. ASCB looks at an individual’s research contributions and impact on the field, rather than the prestige of the journals where work is published.
Award Winners
- 2026—William Earnshaw
- 2025—Sandra Schmid
- 2024—Denise Montell
- 2023—Tom Misteli
- 2022—Donald Cleveland
- 2021—Pietro De Camilli
- 2020—Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz
- 2019—Peter Devreotes
- 2018—Barbara Meyer
- 2017—Ulrich Hartl
- 2017—Arthur Horwich
- 2016—Mina Bissell
- 2015—Elaine V. Fuchs
- 2014—William. R. Brinkley, John E. Heuser, and Peter Satir
- 2013—John R. Pringle
- 2012—Susan L. Lindquist
- 2011—Gary G. Borisy, J. Richard McIntosh, and James A. Spudich
- 2010—Stuart Kornfeld, James Rothman, and Randy Schekman
- 2009—Peter Walter
- 2008—Martin Chalfie and Roger Tsien
- 2007—Joel Rosenbaum
- 2007—Richard O. Hynes and Zena Werb
- 2005—Joan Steitz
- 2004—Thomas Pollard
- 2003—Marc Kirschner
- 2002—Avram Hershko and Alexander Varshavsk
- 2001—Elizabeth Blackburn
- 2000—Walter Neupert and Gottfried Schatz
- 1999—Edwin Taylor
- 1998—James Darnell and Sheldon Penman
- 1997—John C. Gerhart
- 1996—Donald D. Brown
- 1995—Bruce Nicklas
- 1994—Barbara Gibbons and Ian Gibbons
- 1993—Hans Ris
- 1992—Shinya Inoue
- 1991—S. Jonathan Singer
- 1990—Morris Karnovsky
- 1989—Christian de Duve
- 1988—Elizabeth Hay
- 1987—Marilyn Farquhar
- 1986—Gunter Blobel and D. Sabatini
- 1985—H. Swift
- 1984—H. Eagle and T. Puck
- 1983—Joseph Gall and H. Huxley
- 1982—C. Leblond and A. Novikoff
- 1981—Daniel Mazia, George Palade, and Keith Porter

