Awards are presented annually to two women who have combined scientific achievement and support of other women in science. Criteria for scientific achievement include accomplishments made in the laboratory, but not limited to academic or discovery research. Service could have been to the scientific community through professional societies or schools, or to women directly, such as mentoring and career development. The Judith Pool Award is for a senior scientist (10+ years past training) and the Ellen Weaver Award for a woman early in her career (5-10 years past training).
A third award, the Distinguished Professional Award, is presented to a woman who continues to promote career development for women scientists, while her professional role has moved her to administrative or other spheres of influence. It was renamed as the Sherrie Wilkins Award in 2012.
These awards are established to recognize that assisting others in career development is an important aspect of our professional life. When evaluating nominees for the awards, it is excellence in this area that is being particularly sought. Nominations are solicited primarily from corporate sponsors and chapter members, but other worthy nominations are welcomed. Nominators and nominees need not be AWIS members. Nominations should include a brief (1-2 page) resume or CV and a letter of nomination, explaining the nominee's support of women in science.
Past Award Recipients
Judith Pool Award: In Honor of Judith Pool, Ph.D., 1919-1975 Each year, the Northern California Chapters present an award in honor of Judith Pool. Dr. Pool was very active in promoting opportunities for women in the field of medicine and science. She was the first co-President of AWIS, formed in 1971, and the founder and first chairwoman of the Professional Women of Stanford Medical School. Dr. Pool was an exceptional scientist, making major contributions in two areas. In the field of physiology, she was the first to measure the membrane potential of single cells. Dr. Pool was highly regarded in hematological circles, both nationally and internationally, for her work on blood coagulation. She published extensively in the field and contributions included assays of coagulation factors, in vitro synthesis of coagulation factors, studies of the anti-coagulant coumadin, and antibody inhibitors of factor VIII. Dr. Pool also developed a method to purify factor VIII cheaply and easily from plasma, greatly improving the lives of hemophiliacs. In 1972, Dr. Pool was promoted to Professor, making her one of the first two women to attain this position at Stanford Medical School. It was, in part, her struggle for recognition at Stanford that led her to co-found AWIS. In addition to her significant contributions to science and to women, she also raised three children. Judith Pool died of cancer in 1975, at the age of 56.
2023 Xi Zhao-Wilson, Ph.D., BioMarker, Inc. 2021 Ingrid Oakley-Girvan, Ph.D., M.P.H., Medable, Inc. 2020 Tejal Desai, Ph.D., UC San Francisco 2019 Katherine W. Ferrera, Stanford University 2018 Yasmin Chandrasekher, Ph.D., Allertope, Inc 2017 Laura Smoliar, Ph.D., Global Innovation Foundry, LLC 2016 Leilani Miller, Ph.D., Santa Clara University 2015 Susan W. Lindgren, Ph.D., CSU Sacramento 2014 Deanna Kroetz, Ph.D., UCSF 2013 Telle Whitney, Ph.D., Anita Borg Institute for Women in Technology 2012 Marlene Rabinovitch, M.D., Stanford University 2011 Tonya L. Kuhl, Ph.D., UC David 2010 Patricia R. Burchat, Ph.D., Stanford University 2009 Helen E. Moore, Ph.D. 2008 Marilyn Winkleby, Ph.D., Stanford University 2007 Ann Reisenauer, Ph.D., San Jose State University 2006 Gail Schechter, Ph.D.l, BioIntelligence 2005 Dora Games, Ph.D., Elan Pharmaceuticals 2004 Elaine S. Yamaguchi, Ph.D., Chevron Oronite 2003 Carolyn M. Kane, Ph.D., UC Berkeley 2002 Sheila McCormick, Ph.D., UCDA-ARS 2001 Paula Jardieu, Ph.D., Genentech 2000 Paula J. Sadle, Ph.D., Bayer Corp. 1999 Cherrill M. Spencer, Ph.D., SLAC 1998 Phyllis Gardner, M.D., Alza Corp. 1997 Kathelyn Sue Steimer, Ph.D., Chiron Corp. 1996 Lynda J. Goff, Ph.D., UC Santa Cruz 1995 Ellen Weaver, Ph.D., San Jose State University
Ellen Weaver Award: Established in 1996 in Honor of Ellen Weaver, Ph.D., 1925-2011 Each year, the Northern California Chapters of AWIS present an award in honor of Ellen Weaver. Ellen Weaver is a Past-President of National AWIS. After receiving her B.A. in chemistry from Flora Stone Mather College of Western Reserve University, she worked as an analytical chemist for the Manhattan Project, Standard Oil of Ohio and Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park, CA. She returned to school, earning her M.A. in biological sciences from Stanford University and her Ph.D. in genetics from UC Berkeley. Dr. Weaver worked for several years on the genetics and mechanism of photosynthesis before joining the faculty of San Jose State University. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Dr. Weaver has served as Director of the SJSU Research Foundation and as Interim Executive Vice President. Retiring from teaching in 1991, she served two additional years as Associate Dean for Development in the College of Science. Dr. Weaver has been an officer and director of many professional societies and organizations including Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, Mills College Science Advisory Board, Associated Western Universities, Institute of Marine Resources, the Sea Grant Committee and the American Society of Plant Physiologists. Dr. Weaver is a board member of the Semper-Virens Fund, a conservation organization dedicated to acquiring and preserving natural land and scenic vistas in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and thereby extending Big Basin and Castle Rock State Parks. She previously served as its President. Dr. Weaver is also on the board of The Textbook League which works towards the improvement of secondary texts in science, history, social sciences, geography and health. Dr. Weaver was an early member of AWIS, serving as membership chair from 1971-75. She was national AWIS president from 1992-1993. This award honors a woman not yet established in her career.
2023 Abbie Stack, M.S., Bayer 2021 Violet Votin, Ph.D., Machaon Diagnostics 2020 Andrea Schmidt, Ph.D., Lawrence Livermore National Lab 2019 Kim E. Williams, Ph.D., Fibrogen, Inc. 2018 Chen-Ting Kelly Lee, Ph.D., Senti Biosciences 2017 Fan Yang, Ph.D., Stanford University 2016 Wendy Fantl, Ph.D., Stanford University 2015 Christina D. Smolke, Ph.D., Stanford University 2014 Melissa Cline, Ph.D., UC Santa Cruz 2013 Becket Feierbach, Ph.D., Genentech Inc. 2012 Amy Herr, Ph.D., UC Berkeley 2011 Angelique Y. Louie, Ph.D., UC Davis 2010 Nadine C. Gassner, Ph.D., UC Santa Cruz 2009 Juliet V. Spencer, Ph.D., University of San Francisco 2008 Angela I.M. Barth, Ph.D., Stanford University 2007 Adina Paytan, Ph.D., Stanford University 2006 Wendy B. Levine, Ph.D. Genemed Biotechnologies 2005 Rebecca MacKenzie, M.S., roche Bioscience 2004 Maureen A. Sharberg, Ph.D., San Jose State University 2003 Katy Kuo Korsmeyer, Ph.D. Santa Clara County Biotechnology Education Partnership 2002 Kimberly Tanner, Ph.D., UC San Francisco 2001 Sharron Penn, Ph.D., Aeomica 2000 Kathryn M. Stephens, Ph.D., GeneTrace 1999 Rosario C. Denoga, Bayer Corp. 1998 Aurora Sosa, M.A., Bayer Corp. 1997 Rona G. Giffard, M.D., Ph.D., Stanford University
1996 Deborah Bravo, Ph.D., Bayer Corp.
Sherrie Wilkins Award (Distinguished Professional) This award recognizes a woman using her science away from the bench who is committed to mentoring. 2023 Abby Kennedy, Ph.D., CymaBay Therapeutics 2021 Mitra Kashanchi, M.S., Chevron Chemicals 2020 Debbie Ovadia, M.S., Sangamo Therapeutics 2019 Manjula Chinnappa, Personalis, Inc. 2018 Janice Zdankus, Hewlett Packard Enterprise 2017 Olga Potapova, Ph.D., Cureline, Inc. 2016 Tracy Lin, R.Ph., Johnson and Johnson 2015 Jennifer Saltzman, Ph.D., Stanford University 2014 Bonnie Charpentier, Ph.D., Cytokinetics 2013 Roopa Ramamoorthi, Ph.D., BIO Ventures for Global Health 2012 Michelle Runge, Ph.D., Genentech Inc. 2011 Patricia Chandler Seawell, Stanford University 2010 Toby Beth Freedman, Ph.D. 2009 Sherrie Fasola Wilkins, Ph.D., Community Breast Health Project 2008 Doris E. Davis, RN, BSN, BABCN 2007 Monica A. Rosoff, Genentech 2006 Audrey S. Erbes 2005 Carol Muller, Ph.D., MentorNet 2004 Susan L. Bernhard, Ph.D., Elan Pharmaceuticals 2003 Krishna Ghosh, Ph.D., Agilent Corp 2002 Elise Brownell, Ph.D., Bayor Corp. 2001 Coreen Booth