Eduardo Rosa-Molinar, PhD, a professor of cell biology and physiology, and of neuroscience at WashU Medicine, has received prestigious honors from two scientific societies: the American Society for Cell Biology, which named him a 2026 fellow, and the Histochemical Society, which named him the 2026 recipient of the Anna-Mary Carpenter and Ellen M. Rasch Award. These honors recognize Rosa-Molinar’s scientific excellence, mentorship and research in cellular imaging.
As the scientific director of the Washington University Center for Cellular Imaging, Rosa-Molinar leads a multidisciplinary team that helps investigators design experiments, prepare samples and analyze complex imaging data. His research focuses on mixed synapses — rare, poorly understood junctions where neurons communicate with both electrical and chemical signals. To study these elusive structures, he developed a systems-engineering approach that integrates nanoscale and 3D imaging, providing scientists with a more detailed view of how neurons connect and communicate. The methods, reagents and technologies he’s developed also have the potential to help researchers examine other structures that influence how cells function in health and disease.
The American Society for Cell Biology selects fellows for scientific excellence, leadership, mentorship and service to the cell biology community. Rosa-Molinar’s election recognizes both the impact of his discoveries and the innovative tools he has developed to make hidden cellular structures visible. He will be inducted at Cell Bio 2026, the joint meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology and the European Molecular Biology Organization, held Dec. 12–15 in San Diego.
The Anna-Mary Carpenter and Ellen M. Rasch Award is presented by the Histochemical Society, an organization dedicated to advancing visual and biochemical techniques for studying biological systems. The award honors a midcareer or senior scientist who has made exceptionally meritorious contributions to histochemistry and cytochemistry. It will be presented during the society’s annual meeting in New Orleans Nov. 15–18.