Distinguished Scientist Award
Nominations for the 2026 SRS Awards are now closed. The next cycle will open in August of 2026.
The Distinguished Scientist Award is the Sleep Research Society’s highest award and recognizes significant, original, and sustained scientific contributions to the sleep and circadian research field. This award honors a single prominent individual who has conducted influential basic, translational, clinical, or theoretical research spanning an entire career.
Selection Criteria may include:
- A substantial body of research that is considered inspired, meritorious, and significant, and which has had a major impact on the field, both nationally and internationally.
- Additional substantial or outstanding contributions that have advanced the field.
- Nominee should exemplify highest ethical standards, including inclusive excellence.
Please note that while the nominator must be an SRS member, the nominee does not need to hold membership. For self-nominations, the individual must be a member of the SRS. Current SRS board members and editors-in-chief are not eligible for this award.
Questions? Please contact the SRS Coordinator at coordinator@srsnet.org.
2026 Recipient
“I am tremendously honored and humbled to receive this recognition from the Sleep Research Society. Honored because of my respect and admiration for our SRS colleagues whose works distinguish our society and this award in particular. Humbled because I realize that I have been extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to benefit from the ideas, insights, scientific brilliance and plain hard work of so many students, trainees, and colleagues. This award recognizes their contributions as well as mine. Thanks to the SRS and my wonderful associates past and present.”
Past Recipients
2024–Elizabeth Klerman, MD, PhD
2023–Chiara Cirelli, MD PhD
2022–Thomas E. Scammell, MD
2021–Allison G. Harvey, PhD, CBSM, DBSM
2020–Phyllis C. Zee, MD, PhD
2019–Louis J. Ptáček, MD
2018–David F. Dinges, MS, MA, PhD
2017–Thomas S. Kilduff, PhD
2016–Charles M. Morin, PhD
2015–Derk-Jan Dijk, PhD, FSB
2014–Sonia Ancoli-Israel, PhD
2013–Eve Van Cauter, PhD
2012–Clifford Saper, MD, PhD
2011–Fred W. Turek, PhD
2010–Ronald M. Harper, PhD
2009–Barbara E. Jones, PhD
2008–Charles Czeisler, PhD, MD
2007–Mary A. Carskadon, PhD
2006–James M. Krueger, PhD
2005–Christian Guilleminault, MD, PhD and Jacques Montplaisir, MD, PhD, CRCPc
2004–Rosalind D. Cartwright, PhD
2003–Alexander A. Borbely, MD
2002–Adrian Morrison, DVM, PhD and Jerome Siegel, PhD
2001–J. Christian Gillin, MD
2000–Gerald Vogel, MD
1999–Michael H. Chase, PhD and Ottavio Pompeiano, MD
1998–J. Allan Hobson, MD and Thomas Roth, PhD
1997–Pier Luigi Parmeggiani, MD
1996–Irwin Feinberg, MD
1995–Robert W. McCarley, MD
1994–Dennis J. McGinty, PhD
1993–Laverne C. Johnson, PhD
1992–Wilse B. Webb, PhD
1991–David Foulkes, PhD and William C. Dement, MD, PhD
1990–Michael Jouvet, MD
1989–Allan Rechtschaffen, PhD and Mircea Steriade, MD, DSc
1997 – Pier Luigi Parmeggiani, MD
1996 – Irwin Feinberg, MD
1995 – Robert W. McCarley, MD
1994 – Dennis J. McGinty, PhD
1993 – Laverne C. Johnson, PhD
1992 – Wilse B. Webb, PhD
1991 – David Foulkes, PhD and William C. Dement, MD, PhD
1990 – Michael Jouvet, MD
1989 – Allan Rechtschaffen, PhD and Mircea Steriade, MD, DSc