Neuroscience Professor Nationally Recognized for Innovative Leadership
December 19, 2025
Julio Ramirez, R. Stuart Dickson Professor of Psychology and Director of Davidson College’s Neuroscience Program, has been honored by the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) with its Innovative Leadership Award.
The AIBS Innovative Leadership Award recognizes commendable, innovative leadership in the biological sciences community. Since its creation in 2023, the award has celebrated professional community members who have made significant, demonstrable, and innovative contributions to the biological sciences.
This latest recognition from AIBS highlights Ramirez’s lifetime contributions to the sciences through his mentorship, leadership and commitment to undergraduate education.
A Career of Impact
Ramirez’s career has been defined by his commitment to nurturing the next generation of scientists. He has launched and expanded national mentorship programs for neuroscientists ranging from undergraduate students to early-career professionals. He is a prominent leader in undergraduate neuroscience education, having launched the national organization Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience. With fellow Davidson Professor Barbara Lom, he co-founded the Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education, a peer-reviewed education journal..
His previous accolades include the prestigious 2009 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.
Ramirez’s many students and mentees have gone on to successful careers in fields like ophthalmology, neurological surgery and oncology, with many working at top-tier institutions such as Harvard University and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
I am deeply honored and humbled to have my work in neuroscience and biological psychology recognized by my biology colleagues at the American Institute of Biological Sciences. This is a wonderful reminder that the borders among the various sciences are porous, and we all succeed when we work together across fields of inquiry, whether it is in scientific investigation, science education, or mentoring of the next generation of scientific explorers.
R. Stuart Dickson Professor of Psychology | Director of the Neuroscience Program
Founded in 1947 as a spinoff of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) is a diverse group of 98 scientific organizations, including scientific societies, museums, botanical gardens and universities.
