The ISAC International Innovators Program is designed to support and promote early-career scientists and engineers working to bring new cytometry technologies to the scientific community. International Innovators will have the opportunity to collaborate with ISAC members to identify unmet needs, share new cytometry technologies and tools through participation in the CYTO Innovation Committee, and expand their knowledge of paths to market for these technologies. Both commercial (industry or startup) and non-commercial (open-source, academic, and governmental) technologists are encouraged to apply.

Specifically, the program will offer networking and access to experts in key areas of technology translation to the market, including intellectual property protection and licensing, corporate organization and funding, sales and marketing, production and regulatory issues, as well as ample opportunities for interaction with experienced entrepreneurs and industry professionals to obtain industry feedback on priorities in the commercial cytometry market.

This four-year program provides Innovators with a complimentary membership in the Society, an electronic subscription to Cytometry Part A, complimentary registrations and partial travel funds to attend the Society’s annual CYTO conferences and eligibility to apply for individual project funds.

Eligibility Requirements

All innovators with expertise applicable to extending the reach of cytometry into currently uncharted fields are encouraged to apply. Recent graduates with backgrounds in engineering, chemistry, physics, and materials science are particularly welcome. Special consideration will be given to those advancing their ideas for new cytometric paths in the required 2-4 page essay indicating how your aspirations could lead to new tools and thus new information for cytometrists. Please include information on any tools that you have already developed or are in the process of developing.

Performance Expectations

Innovators will be expected to attend the annual CYTO congress, participate in the CYTO Innovation session and associated CI events as well as in broad Society activities such as committees, program planning, session chairs at the annual meeting, etc. Interactions with the other two ISAC leadership track groups, the Marylou Ingram Scholars and the SRL Emerging Leaders, is strongly encouraged. Quarterly web-based meetings with CI committee members will allow Innovators to inform the CI committee of their progress, needs and develop the approach to share their breakthroughs with wider ISAC community. In addition, an annual report will be required outlining the ISAC and innovation related activities of each participant. Innovators will make their best effort to promote the ISAC message of innovation and advancement of cytometry in local communities.

Current ISAC Innovators

2026

2024 – 2027

2025 – 2028

International Innovators