2018 CMB Exceptional Thesis Award Winner: Diya Binoy Joseph

We are excited to announce that Diya Binoy Joseph is the recipient of the 2018 CMB Exceptional Thesis Award. This annual award honors a CMB student who has written and defended an exceptional thesis. Diya will receive $250 as well as a plaque, and her name will be added to a plaque that hangs in the Bock Penthouse.

Diya Binoy Joseph

Diya carried out her thesis research with Dr. Chad Vezina in the Department of Comparative Biosciences in the School of Veterinary Medicine. Her thesis is titled “The role of DNA methylation in lower urinary tract development and prostate homeostasis.” During the course of her studies on prostate development and regeneration, she discovered that mesodermal Wolffian duct cells were able to regenerate bladder epithelium. This was a surprising source of stem cells with important implications for regenerative medicine. She also wrote review articles for the field of prostate development and published several more research papers on the impact of folate on prostate homeostasis and the role of DNA methylation in the determination of prostate cell fate. Her mentors and committee members described her as an accomplished, passionate, productive, and resilient young scientist, exceptional in all the areas of work and character that are required for graduate studies. In addition, her advisor credited her for “being the architect of her own success story.” We wish her well in her studies at the University of Texas-Southwestern.

Congratulations Diya on receiving the 2018 CMB Exceptional Thesis Award!

Click here for past CMB Exceptional Thesis Award winners.