Bruce Alberts Award for Excellence in Science Education
About the Award
Nominations/Applications for all 2026 awards are now closed.
| Self-Nominate | Nominate a Colleague |
The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) presents the Bruce Alberts Award for Excellence in Science Education to an individual who has demonstrated innovative and sustained contributions to science education, with priority given to the national impact of the nominee’s activities.
Award Details
The winner will receive a plaque, $1,000 prize, complimentary registration and abstract submission for the annual Cell Bio meeting, and an invitation to speak at the meeting.
Who is Eligible
Nominators must be ASCB members but candidates do not.
Selection Criteria
- Candidate’s innovative and sustained contributions to science education.
- Candidate’s demonstrated commitment to ASCB’s vision and values.
How to Apply
Candidates may either self-apply or be nominated.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
If nominating someone
- Letter describing the candidate’s background, contributions, and qualifications for receiving the award, no longer than 2 pages.
- Letter of support also describing the above, no longer than 2 pages.
If self-applying, or once nominated
- Narrative statement describing your background, contributions, qualifications for receiving the award, and demonstrated commitment to ASCB’s values, no longer than 2 pages.
- A letter of support endorsing your application, no longer than 2 pages.
- Biosketch (NIH format or similar) no longer than 5 pages.
Please Note
- ASCB wants to ensure that the pool of award candidates is as diverse and inclusive as possible. The demographic questions are for internal reporting only and are not viewable by award reviewers. The questions are not mandatory, however we would appreciate your responses so that we can assess our level of inclusivity.
- As a founder of the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) ASCB does not use journal impact factors or other journal-based metrics in the evaluation process for its awards. ASCB looks at an individual’s research contributions and impact on the field, rather than the prestige of the journals where work is published.
Award Winners
- 2026—Brian Couch
- 2025—Janet Iwasa
- 2024—Sara Brownell
- 2023—Sue Wick
- 2022—David Asai
- 2021—David A. Micklos
- 2020—Jamie Shuda
- 2020—Steven Farber
- 2019—Mary Pat Wenderoth
- 2018—Erin Dolan
- 2017—Kimberly Tanner
- 2016—David Lopatto
- 2015—Deborah Harmon-Hines
- 2014—Edison Fowlks
- 2013—Deborah Allen
- 2012—L.C. (Cam) Cameron
- 2011—Peter Bruns
- 2010—BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium
- 2009—Manuel Berriozábal and Toby Horn
- 2008—Wm. David Burns and Karen K. Oates
- 2007—Patricia J. Pukkila
- 2006—A. Malcolm Campbell and Sarah C.R. Elgin
- 2005—Samuel Silverstein
- 2004—William Wood
- 2003—Nancy Hutchison
- 2002—Sandra Mayrand
- 2001—David Bynum
- 2000—Virginia Shepherd
- 1999—Eugenie Scott
- 1998—Robert DeHaan

