December 2, 2024

2024 Thomas J Byers Award

The Department is delighted to recognize the second 2024 awardee of the The Jim Hopper Memorial Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Amanda McCrary is a Molecular Genetics major in the Craig Burd lab, which studies molecular mechanisms which govern receptor activity and delineating how these processes are deregulated in cancer. She earned this award for her research focusing on how the estrogen receptor may cooperate with a melanocyte master regulator (MITF) to build a mechanistic understanding of melanoma and the discrepancy between men’s and women’s outcomes.

Amanda presented her research at the 2024 Molecular Genetics open house and shared her answers to a few questions:

Why did you pick Molecular Genetics at OSU?

From the time that I was in high school, I knew that I wanted a career in research. From the day that I first toured, I loved Ohio State and was even more impressed when I learned about research opportunities that are available for undergraduate students. I really love the curriculum of the major and the small class sizes, which is why I picked Molecular Genetics at OSU!

What excites you most about being involved in research?

I love that research is constantly evolving! It allows me to constantly ask new questions and travel down pathways that I did not think I originally would. Experiments can have unexpected results which can completely change your next steps. Everything is fluid and I love moving forward and learning more and more about my research.

What else would you highlight about your experiences at OSU?
OSU has tons of opportunities on campus for everyone! I am able to be involved in different organizations around campus which had led me to make so many more connections than I thought I ever would!

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.