Thermo Fisher Scientific Antibody Scholarship Award Winners

Matthew Fields

Major: Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
 

Matthew Fields is a rising freshman at Yale University. For the past two years, Matthew has been a member of the Benson and Huntley labs at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which study the Parkinson’s Disease-associated LRRK2-G2019S mutation. The labs utilize a mouse model to understand the nonmotor symptoms of the disease, which can arise decades before the onset of motor symptoms. His most recently completed project examined how the mutation changes the direct circuit of the basal ganglia in mice and could provide a deeper understanding of the subtle changes that occur in the brains of patients who will eventually develop Parkinson’s Disease. At Yale and throughout his career, he will continue exploring the fields of neuroscience and molecular biology in pursuit of the fundamental biological understandings that improve human lives. When not in the lab, Matthew enjoys spending time with his friends and family, reading, biking, and fencing.

Grace Sun

Major: Biochemistry and Economics
 

Grace Sun is a rising junior at Wellesley College majoring in biochemistry and economics. With a deep interest in cancer biology, Grace has done cancer immunology research at institutions like University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center and MIT Koch Institute of Integrative Cancer Research. Grace’s current research involves high-throughput precision genome editing to pinpoint novel mechanisms of immune evasion driven by somatic mutations within tumors and immune cells. Her previous work investigated immune microenvironment crosstalk in triple-negative breast cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy.

Grace aspires to be a physician-scientist who applies multidisciplinary approaches to chronic disease treatment. She aspires to merge translational research with clinical medicine while advancing health equity, developing and utilizing innovative treatments that improve patient outcomes across all socioeconomic backgrounds. Grace founded and currently leads Melodies for Remedies, an international 501(c)(3) that gives free music therapy and enrichment programs to underserved seniors with dementia. She is also involved in student organizations on campus, serving as a senator for College Government, and leading outreach initiatives for pre-medical students. Outside of science, Grace enjoys playing for Wellesley’s Women’s Golf team, trying new cafes in Boston, playing piano, and traveling. 

Christopher McGinley

Major: MD/PhD Candidate: Biomedical Sciences (concentration of Anatomy)

Christopher McGinley is an MD/PhD candidate at Howard University College of Medicine. He graduated with summa cum laude honors from West Chester University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Cell and Molecular Biology. His research focuses on delineating the spatial and temporal mechanisms of brain repair mediated by the endogenously expressed molecule Neuregulin-1 in mouse models of stroke. Christopher is a devoted husband to his wife, Mackenzie, and a proud father to their 9-month-old son, Roman. Christopher has balanced numerous leadership and volunteer roles, including serving as Research Chair for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Chapter at Howard University College of Medicine, a member of the Career Development Committee for the American Physician Scientists Association (APSA), an annotator for 3D brain MRI reconstructions for a neurosurgical journal, and a mentor for both undergraduate and incoming medical students. Outside of medicine, in addition to spending time with family, Christopher is a passionate fan of football and baseball and enjoys swimming and weightlifting in his free time.

Caterra Leavens

Major: Cellular and Molecular Biology PhD Student

Caterra is a rising third-year PhD student in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she is using stem cell and gene-editing technologies to develop innovative therapeutics for Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and uncover the mechanisms that drive its onset. Her research centers on identifying and manipulating immunomodulatory genes that can help stem cell-derived islets evade immune detection—an approach that holds promise for a functional cure for T1D. But for Caterra, this work is deeply personal. Diagnosed with T1D at the age of ten, she spent much of her early life trying to hide her condition. It wasn’t until she found her online community through the DiabetesLink NextGen Fellowship that she began to embrace her identity as a person with diabetes. That experience transformed her—fueling her passion not only for scientific discovery but for advocacy and connection. Now, alongside her research, Caterra is a dedicated science communicator. She believes that building stronger bridges between scientists and the public can accelerate progress toward cures. Through her social media platform @phdwitht1d, she shares engaging content about life in the lab, the PhD journey, and the science behind diabetes in ways that are informative, relatable, and fun. She also serves as a science communication intern for The Sugar Science, where she creates accessible content that breaks down complex scientific concepts for broader audiences. Caterra’s long-term goal is to help make T1D a thing of the past—and to keep inspiring others through creative, educational storytelling. Outside the lab, you can find her playing volleyball, running, spending time with friends and family, or drinking just a little too much coffee.