The award recognizes exceptional service to the society and cytometry community, and achievements that have advanced the field. The award includes a plaque and lifetime membership in the society. Robinson, who is the director of the Purdue University Cytometry Laboratories, served the society in many positions on committees, as a member of the managing council and served as president from 2006-2008. He also was involved in the establishment of a student award program and the ISAC Scholars program. Robinson's lab developed hyperspectral flow cytometry technology that is currently commercialized by Sony Corp. and has developed fully automated cell analysis technologies. Robinson also is the founding editor of Current Protocols in Cytometry.