2025 Biological Sciences Student Award Winners

Rachel Foster
Outstanding Graduate Student

Rachel is completing her M.S. in Biology with Dr. Joe Marquardt. She received research and travel grant funding from the WKU Graduate School and was awarded the Ogden College Research Fellowship for 2024-2025. Her research project was very ambitious, and she has made numerous discoveries, including an interaction between two proteins that will change the way cell shape checkpoints are understood in yeast. She has represented the Department of Biological Sciences well at both KAS and the KY-INBRE Annual Research Conference. Rachel will be pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Kentucky beginning this fall.

Jenson Harner
Dillard/Hoyt Award for Outstanding First-Year Graduate Student

Jenson is a former WKU undergraduate in his first year as a Biology M.S. student with Dr. Joe Marquardt. He is supported by a Biotechnology Center Research Assistantship and his performance in the lab and classroom has been exemplary. He completed his research proposal ahead of schedule while taking rigorous courses and recently presented his first semester’s worth of data at the 2025 KY-INBRE annual research conference. He has been the primary mentor for an undergraduate in the Marquardt Lab and has offered to help with teaching lab preps/instruction. His service to the lab has been immeasurable.

Julia Brzezicki
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant

Julia has been an exceptional part of the M.S. in Biology program, conducting research with Dr. Bruce Schulte and teaching with Dr. Natalie Mountjoy. She has excelled in her research and coursework and has been an outstanding teaching assistant. She has taught BIOL 123 for the past four semesters, and her students appreciate the enthusiasm she brings to every lab. She is a leader among TAs, offering advice and assistance as needed. Julia is also a very capable and creative researcher. Julia will be continuing her work with elephant behavior as a Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University in the fall.

Andrew Jackson
Outstanding Undergraduate Student
Outstanding Biotechnology Student

Andrew is completing his B.S. in Molecular Biotechnology and has performed independent research in the Biotechnology Center and with Dr. Jarrett Johnson. Andrew accepted the lead role on development of genomic DNA libraries for next-generation sequencing and presented his work at the 2024 KAS meeting. Andrew has amassed a diverse record of research experiences at WKU that sets him up for great professional success. Andrew aspires to remain in academia, earn a Ph.D., and mentor his own research students. To this end, Andrew has been accepted into the WKU Biology master’s program and will join Dr. Jason Stewart’s Lab.

Brooke Meyer
Outstanding Biodiversity Student

Brooke is pursuing a B.S. in Biology with an anticipated Spring 2026 graduation. She has worked as an intern at the Green River Preserve and has served as President of the Ecology and Conservation Club. In both capacities, Brooke has exemplified a strong work ethic, ability to work independently, lead a group, and problem solve. She is passionate about the restoration and preservation of forest and riparian habitats and plans to pursue a master’s degree in the field of ecological restoration. On top of her service and leadership activities, Brooke is a fantastic student and Cherry Presidential Scholar.

Caraline New
Gleason Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research

Caraline is completing her B.S. in Biology. She has worked with Drs. Doug McElroy and Natalie Mountjoy in a Clinical Research course, where she demonstrated high research acumen and presented her research as a poster at the Research Foundation Symposium. She has also worked with Dr. Hilary Katz on a research project looking at larval lamprey scar tissue using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Caraline demonstrated great skill with EM techniques and presented a poster on her work at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. She may pursue a Ph.D. in the field of molecular physiology in the future.