Suzanne Barbour, PhD, professor of cell biology, dean of the graduate school, and vice provost for graduate education at Duke University, has received the Sustained Leadership Award from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), the society announced on September 5.
The ASBMB awards recognize members for making significant contributions to biochemistry and molecular biology as well as to the training and support of emerging scientists. The Sustained Leadership Award recognizes an individual at the full professor or senior scientist level with more than 15 years of experience since receiving a PhD. and/or MD.
Barbour has combined influential research in lipid biochemistry with a sustained record of mentoring, leadership and advocacy for inclusive excellence in science. To this end, she has organized annual meeting symposia, served as a mentor for the National Institutes of Health Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers, or MOSAIC, program and is an ASBMB fellow. In addition, Barbour served on the ASBMB Council, the Education and Professional Development Committee, the Annual Meeting Program Planning Committee and the Journal of Lipid Research editorial board. She was recently elected ASBMB secretary.
“I am deeply honored by this award,” Barbour said. ASBMB has given me more than I could ever give back. I hope my award inspires others to get involved!”
Barbour and 10 other winners will give talks about their work at the society’s 2026 annual meeting, March 7–10 in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
The ASMBM awards recognize individuals with a broad range of experiences, ideas and perspectives for a variety of activities in the field, including innovation, sustained commitment to breaking down barriers, and exceptional contributions to teaching.
The ASBMB is a nonprofit professional society that builds and empowers a broad community of molecular life scientists to advance discovery. Its 11,000 members include researchers and scientist educators spanning students to senior scientists.