MCDB Student Spotlight Award for Service and Engagement

Awardee: Zianne Olverson

Zianne Olverson demonstrates an extraordinary passion for community outreach in her leadership roles. She is the Community Outreach Chair for the MCDB GSO, the Diversity/Advocacy Chair and the Outreach Chair for Graduate Women in Science, and the Graduate Professional Growth Program Coordinator for the Ohio Union Activities Board (OUAB). In these roles, she has organized and participated in multiple K–12 science outreach activities including the GSO’s outreach to a middle school in the Hilltop and the Cells4 Kids program at multiple Columbus area schools. Through these efforts, Zianne has exposed students to science and careers in STEM and inspired a new generation of scientists. She is also engaged both regionally and nationally in the Society of Toxicology, where she has recently won an award for her research work. In three short years she has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to service and engagement.

Honorable Mentions: Annika Chura for her leadership in establishing the OSU chapter of Graduate Women in Science and Delia Calderon for her involvement and leadership in the MCDB GSO, Zebrafish Research Student Organization, K-12 outreach, and NCH Research Institute Trainee Association.

MCDB Distinguished Student Research Award

Awardee: Yi Wang

Yi Wang is graduating this semester with an exceptional research record, having authored nine peer‑reviewed papers, including first-author papers in Nature and the Journal of Hematology and Oncology. Her advisor describes Yi as the intellectual and technical driver of her projects, showcasing her independence, productivity, and outstanding scientific impact.

Honorable Mentions: Hsiang-Ling Huang for her outstanding productivity resulting in six peer-reviewed papers including first-author papers in Nature Communications and European Journal of Cell Biology, and Tong Xiao for his outstanding productivity resulting in eleven peer-reviewed papers including first-author papers in Nature Reviews Cancer and Nature Immunology.

MCDB Distinguished Faculty Mentor Award

Awardees: Drs. Maria Mihaylova and Kristin Stanford

Drs. Kristin Stanford and Maria Mihaylova showcase outstanding mentorship of MCDB graduate students. Both mentors combine scientific guidance with personal investment, providing their students support in areas such as research strategy, grant writing, and career development. Their mentorship has resulted in strong outcomes for their MCDB trainees, including influential publications, fellowships, awards, and strong academic and professional achievements that transfer to excellent job placements in academia, scientific publishing and biotech. In addition to their student mentorship, Drs. Stanford and Mihaylova have demonstrated dedication to the MCDB community through service on the MCDB Graduate Studies Committee and participating in MCDB events.