David S. Bruce, Ph.D.
The Bruce Awards were created in 2004 in memory of David S. Bruce, Ph.D., from Wheaton College and
honor his commitment to promoting undergraduate involvement in research, in the APS annual meeting, and, ultimately, in research careers.
The Bruce Awards are given annually to undergraduate students who submit first-author abstracts to and present their research at the Experimental Biology meeting.
In 2011, the Awards were split into two awards: David S. Bruce Outstanding Undergraduate Abstract Awards for the abstract itself, and the David S. Bruce Excellence in Undergraduate Research Awards for the presentation of the research.
David Bruce (1939 – 2000) served as Chair of the APS Teaching Section and as a professor of physiology at Wheaton College from 1978-2000. Dr. Bruce was a dedicated physiology educator who played active roles in both the APS and the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society. As an undergraduate educator at Wheaton College, Dr. Bruce had a particular interest in engaging undergraduate students in scientific research. He not only encouraged and supported his students in participating in research, but he also regularly brought undergraduate students to the Experimental Biology meeting, often to present their research findings. In 2000, Dr. Bruce died at the age of 61 of complications following a kidney transplant.