Given each year, the Helen Dean King Award brings an inspiring and prestigious scholar to Philadelphia. Their expert lecture gives insights into the latest advancements in their respective field and creates an opportunity to talk about the persistent challenges with increasing participation of women in the science.
The award is named after Dr. Helen Dean King (1869– 1955), a well-respected geneticist and the first woman hired as a scientist at Wistar. She was one of only a handful of women researchers in the nation who worked in the male-dominated field at the turn of the 20th century. Dr. King was instrumental in breeding the first standardized laboratory model known as the Wistar rat, which is still used worldwide today. This award is given in testament of Dr. King for her contribution to biomedical science and paving the way for more women to create their own indelible scientific legacy.
Past Award Recipients
Helen Dean King, Ph.D., was a geneticist and one of a small handful of women scientists working in the largely male-dominated field of science at the turn of the 20th century. She was Wistar’s first female scientist, employed from 1909 until her retirement in 1950. At the time, she was the only woman in America to be hired as a full professor in research. At Wistar, she bred the “Wistar rat” and used it as an experimental model to elucidate the implications of genetics in human heredity. Dr. King published more than 80 research papers and belonged to many scientific societies. In 1932, Dr. King was awarded the Ellen Richards Research Prize, once known as the “Women’s Nobel.”
