Viktor Hamburger Outstanding Educator Prize

Established in 2002 by the SDB Board of Directors and Professional Development and Education Committee in honor of Dr. Viktor Hamburger, this award honors individuals who have made outstanding and innovative contributions to teaching and learning. These contributions will be considered in the broadest context and may reflect impact on education at any level. SDB members are invited to submit nominations for this award, and are strongly encouraged to consider candidates reflecting the diverse communities and scientific disciplines represented by SDB. The recipient will deliver a named lecture at the SDB Annual Meeting an Award with Viktor Hamburger’s image.

Deadline is December 15, 2026 11:59 PM ET.

2027 Nomination Guidelines

Hamburger Outstanding Educator Prize Recipients

• 2026: Roberto Mayor (University College London) | Prize lecture
• 2025: Erica Crespi (Washington State University)
• 2024: Neil Shubin (University of Chicago) | Prize lecture
• 2023: Alana O’Reilly and Dara Ruiz-Whalen (Fox Chase Cancer Center and eCLOSE Institute) | Prize lecture
• 2022: Christopher Wright (Vanderbilt University) Prize lecture
  
• 2021: Michael Barresi (Smith College) | Prize lecture
  
• 2020: Jo Handelsman (Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison) | Prize lecture
  
• 2019: Gary C. Schoenwolf (University of Utah School of Medicine) | Prize lecture
  
• 2018: Drew M. Noden (Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine) | Prize lecture
  
• 2017: Freeman A. Hrabowski, III (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) | Prize lecture
  
• 2016: Ida Chow (Society for Developmental Biology)
  
• 2015: Kathryn Tosney (University of Miami)
  
• 2014: Larry Bock (Founder, USA Science & Engineering Festival)
  
• 2013: William B. Wood (University of Colorado, Boulder)
• 2012: Steve Farber and Jamie Shuda (BioEYES Co-Directors, Carnegie Institution for Science and University of Pennsylvania)
  
• 2011: Mary S. Tyler (University of Maine)
• 2010: Maxine F. Singer (Carnegie Institution) | Prize lecture (pdf)
  
• 2009: Sean B. Carroll (University of Wisconsin)
• 2008: Leland Johnson (Augustana College Sioux Falls, SD and Univ. of Maine Darling Marine Center, Walpole, ME)
• 2007: Eugenie C. Scott (National Center for Science Education)
• 2006: Robert DeHaan (Emory University)
• 2005: Bruce Alberts (National Academy of Sciences)
• 2004: Leon Browder (University of Calgary)
• 2003: Lewis Wolpert (University College London)
  
• 2002: Scott Gilbert (Swarthmore College)