Donald Frederick Steiner (July 15, 1930 – November 11, 2014)[1] was an American biochemist and a professor at the University of Chicago.

[3] Steiner was promoted to full professor in 1968, and became chair of the department of biochemistry in 1973.

[3] From 1985 to 2006, Steiner was a senior investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

[1] Donald F. Steiner is known for his work in diabetes research, protein processing, and hormone biology.

[3] In 1967, he published his discovery of proinsulin, precursor to the active hormone insulin.