December 19, 2025
ABRF Members,
The Association of Biomolecular Research Facilities (ABRF) and the Core Technologies for Life Sciences (CTLS) are pleased to announce the new Spencer Shorte Legacy Award (SSL) to recognize efforts to uplift the community.
SPENCER SHORTE LEGACY AWARD
Honoring a Legacy of Character
dECEMBER 2025
The Association of Biomolecular Research Facilities (ABRF) and the Core Technologies for Life Sciences (CTLS) are pleased to announce the new Spencer Shorte Legacy Award (SSL) to recognize efforts to uplift the community.
About the Honoree
Spencer Shorte was widely recognized for his exceptional scientific contributions. The Spencer Shorte Legacy Award honors not only these accomplishments, but also the humanity by which he lived-qualities that made him a deeply respected figure. He was a gifted scientist and an accomplished individual investigator who merged multidisciplinary technologies to advance capability and discovery across decades, countries, and continents.
Spencer was remembered even more for his extraordinary character. His humility allowed him to collaborate openly and learn from others, his community focus inspired him to build up those around him, and his selfless nature put the needs of others before his own. The warmth he showed to everyone he met made a profound and lasting impact. His legacy lives on in the colleagues he elevated, mentored, and nurtured with such grace and humility. It is hard to encapsulate the breadth and depth of his impact on any single accolade.
This award serves as a living tribute to Spencer's memory by honoring someone who embodies these core values. The recipient is not selected for a single discovery or a list of publications, but for the exemplary way they conduct themselves - for their dedication to uplifting their community, their quiet selflessness, their unwavering integrity, and the genuine warmth they bring to every interaction. It is a way to ensure that Spencer's ethos, spirit of kindness and collaboration continues to influence and inspire others for years to come.
- Travel, meals, and accommodation expenses to attend the ABRF Annual Meeting
- Recognition and Award presentation during the meeting
- Presentation at the ABRF annual meeting describing the work recognized by the ABRFSSL Award
- Invitation to the "Leadership Reception"
- Awardee's details (name, affiliation, year awarded) listed as recipients on the Spencer Shorte Legacy Award webpage
- Up to $15,000 towards a recipient-led program that is focused on community building
Recipients are required to be an ABRF or CTLS member in good standing.
Award Presentation: At the ABRF Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, March 28–31, 2026
Key Dates:
- Dec 18, 2025 Announcement of Award
- Jan 19, 2026 Nominations Due
- Jan 26, 2026 Finalists Selected
- Mar 2, 2026 Finalist Applications Due
- Mar 9, 2026 Awardee Selected
- Mar 31, 2026 Inaugural Spencer Shorte Legacy Award Presented
Nominations for the Spencer Shorte Legacy Award (SSL) are accepted during the open nomination period (December 18, 2025 – January 19, 2026). For the current Award, please submit nominations to the Spencer Shorte Legacy Award Committee via ABRF Executive Director Ken Schoppmann by Monday, January 19, 2026 by completing the Award Nomination Form. The inaugural Spencer Shorte Memorial Legacy Award will be presented at the 2026 ABRF Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, PA March 28-31.
The ABRFSSL Award nomination committee will accept nominations for individuals whose efforts have significantly contributed to a more integrated and cohesive community through one or more of the following avenues:
- Humility and open collaboration
- Consistently learns from others, shares credit, and works across teams or disciplines
- Dedication to community-building
- Actively uplifts, mentors, and supports colleagues; fosters growth among those around them
- Creates a lasting positive impact on the culture and capacity of the scientific community
- Selflessness and service orientation
- Regularly prioritizes others' needs over personal recognition; practices "quiet leadership"
- Genuine warmth and kindness
- Treats people with respect and care; promotes an inclusive, welcoming environment
- Integrity and ethical conduct
- Maintains high standards of honesty and fairness in research and interpersonal interactions
- <w:sdt sdttag="goog_rdk_0" id="-1751100847"></w:sdt>Demonstrated scientific advancement with multi-institutional impact
- Evidence of creating bridges to advance capability and discovery
- Contributions spanning multiple years and, ideally, across countries/continents
- Alignment with Spencer Shorte's values of kindness, collaboration, and humility (Read Spencer Shorte's Bio) (40%)
- Recognizes how the nominee conducts themselves and their influence on others, not just the number of discoveries or publications (30%)
- Potential impact of the proposed project (30%)
Please share this information with your colleagues and invite them to nominate eligible individuals for this significant new Award.
Contact us if you have any questions.
Thank you.
ABRF Executive Board