2026 Distinguished Service Awards

Distinguished Service Awards

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals whose contributions have helped shape and sustain the Society for In Vitro Biology. It honors those who have given generously of their time, expertise, and energy. These are the members and colleagues whose efforts, often carried out behind the scenes, allow the Society to serve its community and advance its mission.

This year’s recipients reflect the many forms that meaningful service can take. Each individual listed below is recognized for the specific contributions captured in their profile from guiding governance and strengthening membership, to relaunching educational programs, keeping members informed through the Society’s newsletter, and managing the organizational work behind the Society’s meetings and activities. The Society extends its sincere gratitude to each of them for the lasting difference they have made.

Fredy Altpeter , University of Florida
In his role as Vice President, Fredy Altpeter led the Development Committee’s efforts to strengthen the Society’s fundraising initiatives. He brought a strategic, thoughtful approach to this work, helping to advance the financial health of the organization and support the goals that depend on a strong resource base. Under his guidance, the committee worked to build and sustain the kind of support that allows the Society to invest in its programs, its members, and its long-term priorities.

As a member of the Board, Fredy also worked closely with the President, lending his perspective to the leadership and governance of the Society throughout his tenure.

Raj Deepika Chauhan, Pairwise
As Chair of the Membership Committee, Raj Deepika Chauhan brought both initiative and long-range thinking to her role. One of her signature contributions is the establishment of the MATCH Mentoring Program, which created new avenues for professional connection and growth by pairing members across career stages and areas of expertise. The program has helped members build relationships, share knowledge, and find support within the Society.

Alongside this work, she developed a long-term strategy for membership engagement and retention, looking beyond immediate needs to consider how the Society could better serve its members over time. Her approach emphasized diversifying the services and offerings available to members and broadening participation across the community. Through these efforts, she has strengthened the Society’s connection with its members and set a clear course for its continued growth in the years ahead.

Ian S. Curtis, Upstream Biotechnology & Aileen Qi, Columbia University
Ian S. Curtis and Aileen Qi are recognized together for their contributions to the relaunch of the SIVB/CAST webinar program, an initiative aimed at bringing timely, engaging content to the Society’s members. Each contributed to the planning behind the program, helping to identify relevant topics and recruit knowledgeable speakers suited to the interests of the community. Their combined efforts gave the initiative momentum at an important stage in its revival and helped it connect with members through content of genuine interest and practical value. Together, they played a meaningful part in the program’s successful return and its continued place among the Society’s educational offerings.

Michael J. Fay, Midwestern University
As the long-serving Editor-in-Chief of the In Vitro Report, Michael J. Fay has been central to the Society’s communications for many years. He has shaped the content and direction of the SIVB’s quarterly newsletter, curating each issue to reflect the interests and activities of the membership. Under his editorship, the In Vitro Report has spotlighted member news, achievements, and milestones, while also keeping readers current on public policy developments, meeting updates, and other matters of importance to the community.

His steady work behind each issue has made the newsletter a dependable link among members, connecting individuals across the Society’s diverse fields of interest. By giving the community a reliable window into both one another’s accomplishments and the issues shaping in vitro biology, he has helped sustain a sense of shared identity and engagement within the Society. His years of service in this role represent a lasting contribution to the way the Society communicates and stays connected.

Kolla Kristjansdottir, Midwestern University
As IVACS Member-at-Large on the Board, Kolla Kristjansdottir has served as an active voice in the Society’s leadership. She has engaged closely with the matters under the Board’s consideration, offering perspectives that helped shape discussion and move deliberations toward workable outcomes. Throughout her term, she has approached the responsibilities of the role with genuine interest in the well-being of the Society and the members it serves.

Her contributions have extended across a range of the Board’s priorities, from issues important to the membership to the structure and content of the Society’s annual meeting. She has brought a considered, constructive perspective to these conversations, helping the Board think through both immediate decisions and longer-term direction. In doing so, she has made herself a valued contributor to the Society’s governance and to the continued development of its programs, and her engagement has strengthened the quality of the Board’s work throughout her service.

Hong Luo, Clemson University
Serving as PBS Member-at-Large on the Board, Hong Luo has brought a practical, considered approach to the Society’s governance. Drawing on years of experience in his field, he has offered guidance on the questions facing the organization and lent a grounded perspective to the Board’s discussions, helping colleagues weigh options carefully before arriving at decisions.

His involvement has been marked by sound judgment and a readiness to think through the longer-term implications of the choices before the Board. Whether considering the organization’s strategic priorities or the practical realities of carrying them out, he has contributed insight that helped inform the direction of the Society’s planning. Across his term of service, his steady participation has added a valuable dimension to the Board’s work and to the decisions that guide the organization forward.

Brad L. Upham, Michigan State University
As Chair of the Education Committee across several years, Brad L. Upham has advanced the Society’s educational mission with focus and consistency. Under his direction, the committee has worked to build and support the Society’s student membership, developing opportunities that help early-career scientists connect with the field and find their place within the community. His leadership has helped make the Society a welcoming environment for students and young researchers at a formative stage in their careers.

Beyond his committee work, Brad has been an engaged mentor to students and early-career scientists, offering guidance and encouragement that extend well past the formal responsibilities of his role. Through this sustained attention to student engagement and development, he has helped strengthen the pathways that bring new members into the Society and keep them involved over time. His work reflects a clear understanding that the vitality of the organization depends on cultivating its next generation, and his contributions in this area have helped secure a strong future for the Society and the community it serves.

Submitted by Piero Barone