For more than two decades, Mark Blumberg, University of Iowa Distinguished Chair in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, has been investigating the development of sleep in human and non-human animals.
Monday, February 17, 2025

Mark Blumberg, University of Iowa Distinguished Chair in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was awarded the 2025 Distinguished Scientist Award from the Sleep Research Society.  

The Sleep Research Society aims to advance research on sleep by recognizing and supporting scientists across the country. The Distinguished Scientist Award recognizes individuals for their significant contributions to our understanding of sleep and circadian rhythms over their career.  

Mark Blumberg

“I was genuinely surprised,” Blumberg said about the recognition. “There are so many deserving sleep scientists who have not yet won this award, and it was humbling to join a list of awardees that includes so many pioneers and leaders in the field." 

Blumberg has been a faculty member at the University of Iowa since 1992 and currently serves as the chair of the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.  

His research contributions have been recognized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology, and the American Psychological Association. Blumberg has published over 150 articles and chapters, as well as three books of general science. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health for over 30 years.  

Much of his recent research aims to answer the fundamental question of why animals, including humans, sleep the most when they are young.  

“To answer this question, our research focuses on the development, neural mechanisms, and functions of sleep. We conduct our research using newborn rodents, in which we can record and manipulate brain activity, and premature and full-term human infants,” Blumberg said.  

Blumberg will be recognized at the upcoming plenary session at SLEEP 2025 in Seattle this June.  

“Beyond the personal honor, I thank the Sleep Research Society for recognizing the significance of developmental research for our field,” Blumberg said. “I am grateful to the trainees, collaborators, and colleagues who, through a shared commitment to developmental research, have expanded our understanding of sleep.”