Alyssa Pennell awarded 2025 Thomas J. Byers Award
The Department is delighted to recognize the second 2025 awardee of the The Thomas J Byers Award
Alyssa Pennell is a Molecular Genetics major in Sharon Amacher's lab, where she studies Duchenne muscular dystrophy in zebrafish. Specifically, she has been studying adamts17 to see how it impacts the muscle wasting disease. In late 2025, she presented her work at the Midwest Society for Developmental Biology meeting.
We asked Alyssa a few questions about her time at OSU
Why did you pick Molecular Genetics at OSU?
I picked molecular genetics at OSU because of the passion I have always had for genetics and learning about genetic diseases.
What excites you most about being involved in research?
What excites me the most about research and going through the process of discovering and finding new results. I have a passion for learning and getting involved in my research project has motivated me to work harder to help people with genetic diseases.
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.