Spencer Shorte was well known for his scientific accomplishments. The Spencer Shorte Legacy Award honors not only these accomplishments, but the humanity he lived by that made him a beloved 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 in any single accolade.
This award serves as a living tribute to Spencer's memory by honoring someone who embodies these core values. The recipient isn't chosen for a single discovery or a list of publications, but rather for the way they conduct themselves, for their dedication to lifting up their community, for their quiet selflessness, integrity, and for the genuine warmth they bring to their interactions. 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
Benefits: Spencer Shorte Legacy Award
- Recognition and Award presentation at the ABRF and CTLS meetings
- Presentation at the ABRF Annual Meeting and the CTLS biennial Congress
- Travel, food, and accommodations expenses to attend ABRF2027 and CTLS2027
- Up to USD$15,000 of financial support for a self-directed project that exemplifies Spencer Shorte's legacy
- The Award recipient will be invited to attend the Leadership Reception at both Award presentation event: the 2027 ABRF Annual Meeting, April 4-7 in Dallas, Texas and the CTLS2027 biennial Congress, June 22-25 in Milan, Italy
- Awardee's details (name, affiliation, year awarded) will be listed on the Spencer Shorte Legacy Award web page.
Award Eligibility
Nominees must be ABRF or CTLS members in good standing.
Nomination and Timeline:
ABRF Annual Meeting, Dallas, TX, April 4-7, 2027
CTLS Biennial Meeting, Milan, Italy, June 22-25, 2027
Key Dates:
August 18, 2026 Award Announcement and Nominations Open
September 22, 2026 Nominations Due
October 6, 2026 Finalists Notified
November 10, 2026 Finalists' Applications Due
April 4-7, 2027 ABRF 2027
June 22-25, 2027 CTLS 2027
Nominations for the Spencer Shorte Legacy Award (SSL) are accepted at any time during the nomination period until its conclusion. The Spencer Shorte Legacy Award will be presented at the ABRF Annual Meeting and CTLS Biennial Meeting.
Nomination Criteria:
The ABRFSSL Award nomination committee will accept nominations of 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
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
Selection Criteria
- 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%)
- Scientific and collaborative impact (20%)
- Strength of nomination evidence (10%)