Published: 02-07-2024 12:48 | Updated: 02-07-2024 12:49

Bob Harris receives newly established education award

Robert Harris. Photo: Stefan Zimmerman

Professor Bob Harris, academic vice-president of doctoral education, has been awarded the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) Education Award. This is the first time that the prize has been awarded.

Professor Bob Harris receives the first FEBS Education Award.
Professor Bob Harris receives the first FEBS Education Award. Foto: N/A

"It makes it a special honour to receive this award. I am also pleased that it is my efforts in leadership development and teaching at university level that are being recognised," says Bob Harris, professor at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience and academic vice-president of doctoral education, Karolinska Institutet.

The Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) was founded in the 1960s and is one of Europe's largest organizations in the field of molecular biosciences. 

During the organization's 60th anniversary this weekend, the new FEBS Education Award was presented to highlight and honor a teacher with a distinguished career in teaching and education in the field of molecular biosciences. 

Striving for development

Bob Harris has previously received KI Pedagogical Prize (2014). As vice-president for doctoral education, he holds teaching at all levels; from undergraduate courses in his field of immunology and neurology to in-depth courses in pedagogics for KI's supervisors. 

A teacher must constantly be on their toes and strive for continuous development, he believes. 

"Of course, in undergraduate education, I get a lot of recurring questions where I know exactly how to answer, but suddenly a student comes up with something I've never thought of before."

His courses in pedagogics and development of university teachers are in demand all over the world. 

"It's always fun to lecture, but this area is particularly close to my heart because I get to give those who listen tools to develop themselves and their teaching," he says.