Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, has awarded Mason Porter the 2008 Young Investigator Award in the
physical sciences and engineering. The award is to be accepted at the 2008 Sigma Xi Annual Meeting
and Student Research Conference that will take place November 20-23, 2008 in Washington, D.C..
The Award includes an honorarium of $5,000, a Certificate of Recognition, and the opportunity to
present the 2008 Young Investigator Award Lecture at the Society’s Annual Meeting to an audience
of distinguished scientists and engineers as well as 200-250 undergraduate and graduate students
participating in the Student Research Conference.
This selection marks the eleventh presentation of the Young Investigator Award. The Society’s
Board of Directors established the Award in 1996 “to recognize researchers in the early stages of
their careers whose outstanding contributions best exemplify the ideals of Sigma Xi.” The Award
recognizes individuals within 10 years of earning their highest graduate degree for their scientific
achievements, interdisciplinary research, and the ability to communicate the significance of their
achievements to the public. The Award recognizes the physical sciences and engineering in even
numbered years and the life and social sciences in odd numbered years.