- Pikaia Award, Geological Association of Canada, Paleontology Division, 2004
- Dean’s Scholar, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 2004
- Dean’s Scholar, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Iowa, 2006
- Collegiate Teaching Award, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Iowa, 2005
- Romer Prize, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, 1996
- Stoye Award in General Herpetology, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, 1996
- DISCCRS (Dissertations Initiative for the Advancement of Climate Change Research) Award, American Geophysical Union, 2003
- UI OVPR Innovation in Safety Award, 2022
- Collegiate Teaching Award, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Iowa, 2022
- UI OVPR Excellence in Safety Award, 2021
- Office of the Provost Investment in Strategic Priorities Award, 2021
- Collegiate Teaching Award, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Iowa, 2011
- Mineralogical Society of America Distinguished Lecturer, 2006-2007
- University of Iowa Career Development Award, 2006-2007
- Distinguished Lecturer – Ocean Discovery Lecture Series, 2021. https://usoceandiscovery.org/david-peate
- Collegiate Teaching Award, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Iowa, 2014. https://clas.uiowa.edu/news/clas-announces-2013-2014-collegiate-teaching-awards#Peate
- Dean’s Scholar, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Iowa, 2009
- Obermann Center for Advanced Studies, University of Iowa – Scholar, Fall, 2007
- Faculty Scholar Award, University of Iowa, Spring 2006-Spring, 2008
- Collegiate Teaching Award, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Iowa, 2021.