The McPherson Eye Research Institute is proud to announce that our Associate Director Kevin Eliceiri has been named the inaugural recipient of the Spencer Shorte Legacy Award, presented by the Association of Biomolecular Research Facilities and Core Technologies for Life Sciences.
Eliceiri, Professor of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, is being recognized for his exceptional leadership in scientific collaboration, mentorship, and community building. The award will be presented at the ABRF Annual Meeting on March 31, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
As part of this honor, Eliceiri will launch the Illuminating People Program (IPP), a mentoring initiative designed to connect experienced researchers with early-career scientists—particularly those without existing mentorship networks. The pilot program will support ten students annually over two years, with the goal of growing into a sustainable, long-term effort.
The selection committee highlighted Eliceiri’s rare combination of scientific excellence and generosity, noting his ability to foster meaningful connections across disciplines and his deeply human-centered approach to leadership.
This recognition reflects Eliceiri’s lasting impact on both scientific discovery and the collaborative communities that make it possible.