The MCDB Undergraduate Program is excited to announce the following MCDB Class of 2021 Prize Winners! They are (in no particular order):
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
EDGAR J. BOELL PRIZE (1975). Colleagues, students and friends of Professor Boell. Awarded annually to a senior(s) for excellence in biology.
Edgar J. Boell Prize – for Excellence in Senior Research jointly to:
| Name | Mentor | Research Title |
| Drew Galls | Anna Marie Pyle | Cell-Penetrating Peptides to Facilitate the Cellular Uptake of the RIG-I Agonist SLR14. |
| Kevin Li | Farren Isaacs | Development of a Platform for Tunable Spider Silk Properties via Characterization of Chimeric Spidroins and Nonstandard Amino Ac |
| Adrian Bebenek | Craig Crews | Development of a Small-Molecule Degrader of the Transcription Factor Brachyury |
| Emily Xu | Characterization of the Endocytic Mechanism and Intracellular Trafficking of Polymeric Nanoparticles | |
| Hannah Melchinger | Mitochondrial Biogenesis in the Anucleate Platelet | |
| Grace Chen | Characterization of Antibody Responses to the Human Hookworm Parasites Necator Americanus and Ancylostoma Ceylanicum | |
| Eric Wang | Aaron Ring | Discovreing Clinically Relevant Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Disease using Rapid Exoproteome Antigen Profiling |
| Karen Tai | Valentina Greco | Metabolic Responses to Oncogenic Mutations in the Mouse Epidermis |
| Anna Sun | Ronald Breaker | Riboswitch Discovery & Validation |
| Johanna Shen | Sidi Chen | Optimization of Molecular Tools for the Characterization and Treatment of the Immune System |
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Geology and Geophysics, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
WILLIAM R. BELKNAP (1872). William R. Belknap, Ph.D. 1869. Two awards in the natural history studies of senior year: one for excellence in biological studies, one for excellence in geological studies.
William R. Belknap Prize – for Academic Excellence in Biology jointly to:
| Name | College | MCDB Degree |
| Erica Lin | Timothy Dwight | MCDB BS INT |
| Lukas Corey | Pauli Murray | MCDB BS/MS |
Exceptional Distinction in the Major
The Yale College Faculty has approved this special award on the grounds that there would “occasionally be students whose work in the major is extraordinary, even when compared to the work of other students who receive Distinction.” It was assumed that “many departments, even the larger ones, might go for years without making such a nomination.” A candidate nominated by a department or program for the award of Exceptional Distinction in the Major must show a genuine breadth of scholarship in the field and have made significant original contributions to it.
Exceptional Distinction in the MCDB Major for 2021 is awarded to Eric Wang.
| Name | Research Mentor | Research Title |
| Eric Wang | Aaron Ring | Discovering Clinically Relevant Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Disease using Rapid Exoproteome Antigen Profiling |
The John Addison Porter Prize has been awarded to Grace Chen! This prize is given for a written work of scholarship in any field in which it is possible, through original effort, to gather and relate facts, principles, or both, and to make the product of general human interest. The award was established in 1872 by the Kingsley Trust Association (The Scroll and Key Society) in honor of the late Professor Porter, who received a bachelor’s degree from Yale in 1842.
Congratulations to all our MCDB Prize Winners!