Awards for Trainees

Open to graduate students and postdocs beginning their careers

  • ASCB Porter Prizes for Research Excellence

    One graduate student and one postdoctoral researcher will be selected on the basis of scientific excellence. In the spirit of Keith Porter, the emphasis will be on their individual contributions to the advancement of science and on the novelty and crea…


    Submission Deadline: June 30, 2022
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  • Merton Bernfield Memorial Award

    This award for postdocs and graduate students was established with member donations in memory of Merton Bernfield.


    Submission Deadline: June 30, 2022
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Early and Mid-Career Awards

For members who have been independent investigators for up to 15 years

  • WICB Junior Award for Excellence in Research

    A woman or non-binary person in an early stage of their career (within seven years of appointment to an independent position at the nomination deadline) who is making exceptional scientific contributions to cell biology, is developing a strong independ…


    Submission Deadline: May 16, 2022
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  • Günter Blobel Early Career Award

    This award is given to an outstanding life scientist who has served as an independent investigator for no more than seven years as of May 16. It was previously called the Early Career Life Scientist Award but was renamed in 2020 to honor Günter Blobel.


    Submission Deadline: May 16, 2022
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  • Innovation in Research Award

    The ASCB Innovation in Research Award recognizes early and mid-career scientists for their new and innovative research in cell biology.  Innovation for this purpose is defined as an accomplishment that has significantly impacted progress in advancing t…


    Submission Deadline: May 16, 2022
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  • Innovation in Education Award

    This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated innovation in education. Innovation is defined as a novel educational accomplishment that has significantly impacted progress in achieving ASCB’s mission on the basis of work done within 3 years…


    Submission Deadline: May 16, 2022
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Senior Awards

For established investigators or tenured faculty

  • Sandra K. Masur Senior Leadership Award

    Any scientist at a later career stage (generally full professor or equivalent) whose outstanding scientific achievements are coupled with a record of active leadership in mentoring women and individuals from underrepresented groups in their scientific…


    Submission Deadline: May 16, 2022
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  • Public Service Award

    The Society’s honor for national leadership supporting biomedical research is selected by the ASCB Public Policy Committee. The ASCB Public Service Award recognizes outstanding public service in support of biomedical research or advocacy of sound resea…


    Submission Deadline: May 16, 2022
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  • E.B. Wilson Medal

    The E.B. Wilson Medal is presented to distinguished researchers for their far-reaching contributions to cell biology over a lifetime in science.


    Submission Deadline: May 16, 2022
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  • Bruce Alberts Award for Excellence in Science Education

    This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated innovative and sustained contributions to science education, with a priority on national impact of the nominee’s activities.


    Submission Deadline: May 16, 2022
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  • ASCB Fellows

    Election as a Fellow of ASCB is an honor bestowed upon ASCB members by their peers. Fellows are recognized for their meritorious efforts to advance cell biology and/or its applications, and for their service to the Society. Successful nominees will be…


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  • E.E. Just Lecture

    The purposes of this award are to honor early 20th century biologist Ernest Everett Just, who made seminal contributions to cell and developmental biology, and to recognize the outstanding scientific achievements of a U.S. researcher belonging to an hi…


    Submission Deadline: May 16, 2022
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  • Keith R. Porter Lecture

    This lecture, named in memory of Keith R. Porter, will be presented at Cell Bio 2022–An ASCB|EMBO Meeting by an outstanding and innovative leader at the forefront of cell biology, who is actively contributing fundamental new knowledge to our understan…


    Submission Deadline: May 16, 2022
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Early to Senior Awards

For members at all career stages

  • ASCB Prize for Excellence in Inclusivity

    ASCB’s Prize for Excellence in Inclusivity is an annual award recognizing one scientist who has a strong track record in research or serves a critical role in fostering cell biology research, and has demonstrated the importance of inclusion and diversi…


    Submission Deadline: May 16, 2022
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  • Mentoring Keynote

    The Mentoring Keynote Lecture is given to an individual who exemplifies mentoring by their impact on the training of scientists and scholars who belong to underrepresented groups, particularly racial and ethnic minorities. Also open to senior scientist…


    Submission Deadline: May 16, 2022
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  • MBoC Paper of the Year

    Chosen by MBoC Associate Editors, the first author of the paper judged to be the best of the year, from June to May. Nominators must be ASCB members.


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Past Awards

Awards no longer offered by the ASCB