Announcing the 2023 Recipient of the Dickson Prize in Science

Dear Members of the CMU Community:

I am thrilled to announce that Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Carnegie Mellon University Dickson Prize in Science. Dr. Lippincott-Schwartz is a senior group leader and head of 4D Cellular Physiology research area at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Research Campus in Ashburn, Virginia, which pursues scientific questions with potential for transformative impact.

Dr. Lippincott-Schwartz is recognized as one of the world’s most preeminent cell biologists. She has pioneered groundbreaking techniques in live-cell imaging, and her work has overturned the notion that cellular organelles are static structures, bringing forth a dynamic view of subcellular organization. Dr. Lippincott-Schwartz has changed the very foundations of modern cell biology and her innovations in imaging have fueled new discoveries. Working across disciplines, she has brought about a paradigm shift in how we view the functioning of the cell, transforming the cornerstones of modern cell biology. Among her awards and recognitions, Dr. Lippincott-Schwartz became a Distinguished National Institutes of Health Investigator in 2008, was elected Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (Biochemistry Section) in 2008, Fellow of the Institute of Medicine in 2009, and was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019.

CMU's Dickson Prize in Science was established in 1969 by Pittsburgh physician Joseph Z. Dickson and his wife Agnes Fisher Dickson. One of the most prestigious awards bestowed by CMU, the prize recognizes substantial achievements or sustained progress in engineering, the natural sciences, computer science or mathematics. Additional information about the award, including a complete list of previous winners, can be found on the Dickson Prize website.

Dr. Lippincott-Schwartz will be presented with her award when she delivers the annual Dickson Prize in Science lecture on Feb. 15, 2024, as part of the University Lecture Series. Information and registration details will be shared ahead of the event. I look forward to welcoming Dr. Lippincott-Schwartz to CMU to hear about her transformative work and contributions to the field of science.

Sincerely,

Jim Garrett
Provost and Chief Academic Officer