Leadership Award

Leadership Award 

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2025 Winner: Amy Burgin

Dr. Amy Burgin earned her Ph.D. from Michigan State University (2007) and completed a postdoctoral training at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies (2008-09) before tenure-track positions at Wright State University (2009–2011), the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (2011–2015), University of Kansas (2015–2024). She is currently Chair and Professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology at Iowa State University. Amy joined SFS as a graduate student in 2003 (Athens, GA) and has consistently attended and supported SFS. She served as Co-Chair of the 2017 Annual Meeting (Sacramento, CA). She served as an Associate Editor for Freshwater Science in 2016–2021, after which she stepped into the position of Chair of the SFS Publications Committee. As Chair, she also served on the Board of Directors, Finance Committee, and Journal Endowment Fund.

Dr. Burgin’s research focuses on how human activities alter biogeochemical cycles and water quality across aquatic ecosystems, including streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Her collaborations all emphasize high-quality undergraduate to postdoctoral training, building effective mentoring practices, and creating inclusive scientific teams. She received the 2015 Holling Family Junior Teacher Award (from UNL), the 2019 Mentor of the Year from the KU Office of Diversity in Science Training (ODST), and the 2022 University Scholarly Achievement Award from KU. She has co-authored over 60 publications and secured more than $10M in direct federal research support while training more than 50 undergraduates, 10 graduate students, and 6 post-doctoral scientists. She teaches courses on the Ecology of Lakes and Rivers, Water in the Anthropocene, Scientific Communication, and Team Science.

From Dr. Burgin's letters of nomination for this award:

Through her scientific contributions and her service, Dr. Burgin has emerged as a leading figure in our community and an invaluable role model for many of our members. Dr. Burgin’s career provides a stellar example of the profound impact a dedicated mid-career scientist can have on our Society. With over 70 published works and a long history of service, Dr. Burgin has become a preeminent leader in our field. Her contributions to SFS span scholarship, mentorship, service, and public outreach.

About the Award

Instituted in 2021, the SFS Leadership Award recognizes early or mid-career (<20 years from PhD) SFS members for extraordinary work on behalf of the society. While applications will be accepted annually, the award will only be granted to exceptional nominees and may not be granted annually. We encourage nominations of early and mid-career SFS members. Successful nominations will make the case that the nominee has had a positive and demonstrable impact on some aspect of SFS and furthers its mission, especially by expanding the impact of our scientific society and of freshwater science.  

Recipients