The Department is delighted to recognize one of the 2024 awardees of the The Thomas Byers Scholarship

Laurel Fleszar is a fourth year undergraduate Molecular Genetics major researching the role of ELMOD proteins in creating the characteristic patterns on the outer layer of Arabidopsis pollen. She is specifically focusing on finding interactor proteins with the MACARON (ELMOD_B) protein previously found to specify the number of holes on the pollen surface, and she is helping to find important protein domains within the ELMOD proteins. 

Laurel is originally from Hershey, Pennsylvania, and decided to come to OSU because of the wonderful Molecular Genetics program and the breadth of opportunities OSU provides. She always knew she wanted to work with genetics, but after joining Dr. Anna Dobritsa’s lab, she realized she loves lab research. After multiple volunteering opportunities teaching children about genetics and science, Laurel realized she has a passion for teaching in addition to her love of research. Thus, she is now prepping her applications for Molecular and Cellular Biology graduate schools with hopes of being a genetics professor one day. 
 

This award was funded by the Thomas J. Byers Memorial Fund

Dr. Thomas Jones Byers, came to OSU in 1964, as the University's first "molecular biologist." He was an original member and founder of the Molecular Genetics Department and the first director of the Graduate Program in Developmental Biology. Tom Byers' research concerned the cell growth, differentiation, and developmental biology of protozoa. Among other achievements, Byers was able to use DNA analysis to link the disease to contamination of contact lenses with the amoeba Acanthamoeba griffini from domestic tap water to the blinding disease Acanthamoeba keratitis. His research resulted in more than 40 articles and he was one of three editors of the book, Genetics and Biogenesis of Mitochondria and Chloroplasts (1975).

The Resolution of Memoriam by the OSU Board of Trustees, noted that Tom was a faculty member who had the remarkable ability to balance his skillful classroom teaching with his innovative research program and people-related service activities, while supporting junior faculty development, and mentoring new faculty and graduate students--especially those from minoritized groups.

The Thomas J. Byers fund was established June 1, 2007 with gifts from family, friends, and colleagues in memory of Dr. Thomas Jones Byers. Consider contributing to the fund.