Keith R. Porter Lecture

About the Award

Nominations/Applications for all 2026 awards are now closed.

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The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) presents the Keith R. Porter Lecture at the annual Cell Bio meeting in memory of Keith R. Porter. The lecture is given by an outstanding and innovative leader at the forefront of cell biology who is actively contributing fundamental new knowledge to our understanding of the field.

The recipient receives a crystal award, complimentary meeting registration and abstract submission, as well as funding for travel, lodging, and meals.

This award is made possible by the generous support of the Porter Foundation.

Who is Eligible

This award is open to scientists of all nations, races, genders, ages, orientations, etc., as we affirm that diversity in thought, approach, and background is a central tenet in the free and open pursuit of science.

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

1. Letter describing the candidate’s background, contributions, and qualifications for receiving the award, no longer than 2 pages.
2. Letter of support also describing the above, no longer than 2 pages.

If self-applying

1. Narrative statement describing your background, contributions, qualifications for receiving the award, and demonstrated commitment to ASCB’s values, no longer than 2 pages.
2. A letter of support endorsing your application, no longer than 2 pages.
3. Biosketch (NIH format or similar) no longer than 5 pages.

Please Note

1. 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.
2. 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.

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