NOVELTY - Molded porous crosslinked polymeric particle (I) having spherical cavities joined by interconnecting pores, where the particle has a void volume of at least 70% and retains the shape of the mold in which it was polymerized, is claimed.    USE - (I) is useful: as a substrate in separation technologies; in solid phase synthesis; as a substrate for immobilizing a molecule such as a polypeptide, an enzyme, an oligonucleotide or other macromolecule; in cell culture methods; to contain whole viruses; as carriers of active ingredients such as pharmaceutical agents; as carriers for various cosmetic formulations and skin care applications; to contain a catalyst; or as an adhesive carrier (claimed); e.g. in consumer applications such as cosmetics, feminine care, oral care and wound treatment; as an absorbent material and also as a solid support in a variety of chemical, biotechnology, biomedical and related applications, including chromatographic separations, solid phase synthesis, immobilization of antibodies or enzymes, cell culture and tissue engineering; as a scaffolding for tissue culture applications, synthetic cartilage, and artificial organs e.g. liver; in gene therapy applications; for fuel cell applications; as a low-density filler; in conjugation with conductive polymer applications; for protecting cells from shear effects; in conventional stirred or airlift bioreactors; and in drug delivery application. No biological data given.    ADVANTAGE - (I) has substantially no coating or skin present on the surface.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) a modified particle, where the particle: is functionalized; is carbonized; has a gel or pre-gel deposited within the particle cavities; and/or has a chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and/or formulation deposited within the particle cavities;    (2) a combination of different particles or groups of particles, where the different particles or groups of particles differ in shape, size, color, and/or included material;    (3) a population of particles, where the particles may be the same or different other than their shape, and particles have substantially uniform shape that varies on average by less than 20% in each dimension, less than 10% in each dimension, or 5% or less in each dimension; and    (4) a process for producing a porous, crosslinked polymeric microbead comprising: combining to form an emulsion, (a) an oil phase comprising an oil-soluble, monofunctional monomer, an oil-soluble, polyfunctional crosslinking agent, and an emulsifier that is suitable for forming a stable water-in-oil emulsion, and (b) an aqueous discontinuous phase, where the emulsion comprises at least 70% aqueous discontinuous phase; adding the emulsion to a mold having a volume of 65-525 mm3; and polymerizing the emulsion.