Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB) Director Dr. Gene Robinson of the University of Illinois has been chosen to receive the iBIO^® Institute’s 2013 iCON Innovator Award. The award recognizes excellence in both teaching and scholarship of biotechnology in Illinois. Robinson will be honored at a ceremony in Chicago later this year.

Robinson is an internationally preeminent entomologist, known for his study of honey bee genetics and a pioneer in the field of sociogenomics. His work has appeared in Science as well as the New York Times, and he led the group that first published the full honey bee genome in 2006. He has previously received multiple commendations for his work and holds several recognitions, including Fellow of the Entomological Society of America, Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

David Miller, president & CEO of iBIO, stated “I can think of no better recipient for the 2013 iCON Innovator Award than Gene Robinson, and the vote of our board of directors was both unanimous and enthusiastic. His world class research and leadership of the Institute for Genomic Biology give him the kind of international stature which made him such a great choice for this honor.”

The iBIO Institute, established in 2003 by the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization (iBIO), works to educate both students and teachers about the biotech industry as well as provides specialized resources for Illinois-based startups. The iCON Innovator Award is given annually, and has been previously won by University of Illinois faculty member John Rogers of the Department of Material Science and Engineering.

iBIO itself is an association of life science organizations nationally, including global corporations, research institutions, biotech startups, and top tier providers of services to the industry. iBIO’s members are committed to advancing both the region’s economic growth and international quality of life through science in the agricultural, bio-industrial, and health care sectors.

In addition to iCON Innovator, the iBIO Institute issues two other annual awards: the Civic iCON Award, given to an individual or organization that has served the community or developed valuable regional infrastructure, and the iCON Knowledge Builder Award, for unique or extraordinary accomplishments in K-12 science education.

Robinson obtained his Ph.D. from Cornell University in 1986 and joined the faculty of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1989. Before serving as IGB Director, Robinson led the Gene Networks in Neural and Developmental Plasticity research theme at the IGB. He will be honored at an award dinner October 7^th at the Chicago Four Seasons Hotel.