Vik Meadows, PhD, to Receive 2026 ASIP Young Scientist Leadership Award

The 2026 recipient of the ASIP Young Scientist Leadership Award is Dr. Vik Meadows, a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology and Organ Pathobiology and Therapeutics Institute at the Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (Pittsburgh, PA).

The ASIP Young Scientist Leadership Award recognizes outstanding and sustained achievements at the earliest stages of a career in biomedical research. Characteristics expected of the awardee include exceptional volunteered service and/or leadership within the ASIP, as well as achievements that form the foundation for a successful career as an experimental pathology researcher (scientific publications, scientific presentations at national/international meetings, and awards for excellent research).

Dr. Meadows completed her BS at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Belton, TX), MS at Oregon Health & Science University (Portland, OR), and PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Indiana University School of Medicine (Indianapolis, IN). From 2022–2024, Dr. Meadows was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ). In 2024, she relocated to the University of Pittsburgh.

As a graduate student, Dr. Meadows received the Sherry Queener Graduate Student Excellence Award and the William M. Plater Civic Engagement Medallion from Indiana University for her leadership and outreach with the local Indianapolis community. Her postdoctoral work has been similarly celebrated, earning awards such as the Robert A. Scala Postdoctoral Scholar Award and funding through the Momental Foundation Mistletoe Research Fellowship. As a postdoctoral researcher at Rutgers University, Dr. Meadows’ research and mentorship earned prestigious awards such as the NIH-IRACDA Postdoctoral Fellowship and the Rutgers Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship. Within the ASIP, Dr. Meadows received the Monga-Hans Excellence in Liver Pathobiology Award (2021, 2022, 2025), the Predoctoral Award for Outstanding Research (2021), and the Experimental Pathologist in Training Award (2024).

Dr. Meadows has been a member of the ASIP since 2020. Dr. Meadows is committed to championing the ASIP’s outreach and science communication efforts. As a co-host of the Behind Our Science podcast, supported by ASIP and the Histochemical Society, she highlights novel, open-access research for the general audience and generates content to humanize scientists and their findings. In her nomination letter, Dr. Contreras-Shannon (Professor of Biological Sciences, U-RISE Program Director, and Director of Biomedical Science and Research at St. Mary’s University) describes Dr. Meadows’ enthusiasm as a leader: “Through her efforts, [Dr. Meadows] has welcomed many new, young members to ASIP and made them feel like this society could be their professional scientific home. While us older generation of members can encourage our trainees to join the society, it’s members like Vik and the programs they support that give them a reason to stay.”

Dr. Meadows also serves as a member of the ASIP Committee for Equal Research Opportunities (CERO), advocating for equitable programming that support trainees and early-career scientists. At the Tissue, Matrix & Pathobiology Meeting in 2023, she presented a Trailblazer lightning talk emphasizing the value of cultural heritage and community-building in her STEM career. Furthermore, she was a participant in the ASIP Leadership Academy (2022) and involved in the inaugural FASEB Fellows for the Future cohort (2025), strengthening her skillset for increased inclusion and excellence in experimental pathology.

Her commitment to leadership extends beyond ASIP—she committed to dismantling systemic barriers in STEM and academia within her institutions. Dr. Traci Parry (Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro) comments in her nomination: “As a proud Latina and first-generation student, [Dr. Meadows] has emphasized the importance of community behind her personal and professional achievements.” Dr. Meadows serves a Más Mentor for the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), mentoring students from undergraduate to graduate in navigating their next career steps. At Rutgers, she co-founded the Rutgers University Latinx/Hispanic Affinity Group, which has since been officially recognized, ensuring its long-term impact. Dr. Parry underlines, “what started as a WhatsApp chat for five Latino/a postdoctoral fellows has now grown into a dynamic membership of over 50 grad students, post docs, and early career faculty across the Rutgers campuses! This group has monthly social outings and serves as a method for camaraderie and celebration of a shared heritage and culture.” Dr. Meadows is also a member of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease, the American Physiological Society, the American Chemical Society, the Society for Mucosal Immunology, and SACNAS.

Dr. Andrew Duncan (Associate Professor in the Pittsburgh Liver Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh) comments in his nomination that “Dr. Meadows exemplifies the qualities of scientific excellence, visionary leadership, and a steadfast commitment to community engagement that this prestigious award seeks to recognize.” He continues on, “Dr. Meadows’ research accomplishments are equally impressive. Her work on the gut-liver axis has led to critical insights into bile acid signaling and experimental pathology.” To date, she has published 36 peer-reviewed articles with two additional papers, one as first author, currently under revision. Dr. Duncan emphasizes, “her scholarly output exemplifies the research excellence this award celebrates.”

Dr. Meadows will receive the 2026 ASIP Young Scientist Leadership Award during Pathobiology 2026.