About the Academy
The mission of the Society for Developmental Biology (SDB) Academy is to recognize and celebrate the achievements of long-standing SDB members who have made significant contributions to the Society’s overarching goals while positively engaging with the Society. These contributions may be diverse in nature and include research, mentorship, education, inclusion, and otherwise fostering advancement of the Society and the broader developmental biology community. Elected members of the Academy will serve as ambassadors for SDB. Moreover, the Academy provides a community to those members who demonstrate a long-term commitment to the Society.
Nomination Process
Membership in the SDB Academy is achieved by election through the nomination process. Current SDB members at any level, in good standing, may nominate candidates for the Academy. Self-nominations are allowed in the interests of encouraging diversity among the nominee pool. Nominators will submit nomination information for the candidate by March 2, 2026, using the SDB Academy Nomination Form. Following the nomination, the SDB Academy Election Committee (AEC) will vet the candidates for eligibility and qualifications. After initial review, the AEC will contact nominees for additional information, including a CV and a one-page statement. The AEC selects up to ten candidates for approval by the Board of Directors. A maximum of ten Academy Members may be elected annually.
Past and Present SDB Presidents and Developmental Biology Editors-in-Chief will be appointed Honorary Members of the Academy. Conklin Medalists, Lifetime Achievement Awardees, and Hamburger Outstanding Educator Prize winners who meet the ten-year SDB full membership requirement will be appointed as Honorary Members of the Academy. The Honorary Members do not count toward the number of Elected Members each year.
Eligibility
Candidates must be active full or emeritus SDB members who have been full members for at least ten years. *The AEC will ensure nominees meet the eligibility requirements.
Contact SDB (sdb@sdbonline.org) with any questions about the nomination process.