Brian A. Couch, Susan J. Rosowski Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), has received the 2026 Bruce Alberts Award for Excellence in Science Education from the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB), one of the nation's leading organizations dedicated to advancing cell biology research, education and professional development.
The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated innovative and sustained contributions to science education, with particular emphasis on the national impact of their work. In addition to the award, Couch has been invited to present at the annual ASCB Cell Bio meeting, where he will be recognized for his contributions to science education.
Since joining UNL in 2014, Couch has become a national leader in biology education research, helping transform how undergraduate science is taught. His scholarship focuses on evidence-based teaching practices, student learning and assessment, while creating practical resources that educators across the country continue to adopt in their own classrooms.
Rather than limiting innovations to a single institution, Couch develops tools, assessment methods and faculty development resources that are widely shared throughout the science education community. His work has helped instructors move beyond traditional lecture-based teaching toward more active, research-supported approaches that improve student learning.
Colleagues who nominated Couch for the award highlighted both the breadth of his influence and his commitment to students.
"Dr. Couch builds resources the community keeps using, unites people who would otherwise work apart, and never loses sight of the students at the end of it all," one nominator wrote.
Others praised his ability to bridge research and classroom practice, noting that "his innovations flow continuously in both directions: from the classroom up into his research, and from his research back down into his teaching."
In addition to advancing biology education research, Couch has helped build collaborations among biology, chemistry and physics education researchers, creating opportunities for faculty across disciplines and institutions to exchange ideas and strengthen undergraduate STEM education. He is also recognized for mentoring educators and generously sharing evidence-based teaching practices that extend well beyond his own classroom.
One nominator described Couch as "exactly the kind of person the Bruce Alberts Award is meant to recognize."
Couch earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Regis University before completing a doctorate in molecular biophysics and biochemistry at Yale University. He later completed a postdoctoral fellowship in biology education research at the University of Colorado Boulder. He was named a Susan J. Rosowski Professor in 2024.
Through his research, teaching and national leadership, Couch continues to advance science education by helping instructors create more engaging learning environments while ensuring that educational research leads to meaningful improvements for students in classrooms across the country.
