A researcher from Florida State University has been acknowledged by the Tallahassee Scientific Society for his dedication to science education and outreach alongside his contributions to the scientific community.
Professor Jonathan Dennis of Biological Science was awarded the 2024 Gold Medal, a distinction presented annually since 2004 to a scientist within the Tallahassee area and the larger Big Bend region for exceptional career achievements and an extraordinary commitment to science education and outreach.
“When the reality of winning the Gold Medal Award sank in, I felt incredibly grateful to be recognized in this way alongside previous recipients who inspire me,” Dennis remarked. “This motivates me to keep challenging myself to enhance my contributions to research and scientific education in impactful ways.”
Of the 21 individuals who have received this award, nearly all have been affiliated with FSU as faculty, staff, or alumni, including the late Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor and Professor Emeritus Michael Kasha, along with the late Sir Harold Kroto, a Nobel Laureate and a key figure behind FSU’s Global Educational Outreach for Science, Engineering and Technology initiative.
Dennis was honored on Thursday, Jan. 23, at the Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee. Following the awards ceremony, he launched TSS’s annual Horizon Speaker Series with a lecture on the potential of epigenetics and precision medicine.
“Jonathan is an international authority on the internal mechanisms of the cell’s nucleus and how DNA is unraveled to enable the expression of the genetic code — both in healthy states and during illness,” stated Thomas Houpt, chair of the Department of Biological Science. “The Gold Medal Award highlights the impact of FSU research within the local community — Jonathan’s establishment of a COVID-19 testing facility in 2020 was crucial for navigating the pandemic in both FSU and Tallahassee, undoubtedly saving numerous lives.”
Within each cell of the human body exists a strand of DNA measuring over two meters long, densely packed within the cell’s nucleus, which has a diameter of roughly five one-thousandths of a millimeter, or 1/15th the thickness of a single human hair. By investigating how the body organizes DNA inside its cells, Dennis’ cell and molecular biology research lab explores the connection between DNA organization in the nucleus and the functionality of various cell types, including neurons in the brain and leukocytes in the immune system. This research enhances the understanding of how DNA organization relates to the emergence and mechanisms of disease.
As the scientific leader of the TMH-FSU Rapid Response Laboratory, which operated from 2020 to 2022, Dennis played a vital role in crafting a system capable of testing large numbers of students and patients in the Big Bend area for COVID-19 within a single day. During this period, testing materials were scarce, and Dennis found innovative solutions by utilizing different resources than those provided in standard kits.
“I believe that difficult times spark something within me that more straightforward times do not,” Dennis remarked. “The academic years of 2020-2022 were among my most prolific, yielding two of my most notable publications. The work on COVID-19 detection was the most fulfilling of my career, and the opportunity to implement significant changes that save lives is extraordinary.”
Since 2016, Dennis has also served as a professor in FSU’s Young Scholars Program, a six-week summer program that hosts 40 of Florida’s top-performing high school students with great potential for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Collaborating with the Mayo Clinic, Dennis is also engaged in groundbreaking research in cancer diagnostics, focusing specifically on the intersection of epigenetics — the modifications in one’s DNA influenced by lifestyle choices such as diet and stress — cancer subtypes, and social justice, which was also the theme of his Gold Medal Award presentation.
“High-quality, engaging, and unbiased science education and outreach are vital for fostering an informed citizenry,” Dennis shared. “Science holds little value if scientists only share their findings among themselves at professional gatherings. The education and outreach efforts encourage me to maintain a broad outlook and aid me in recalibrating my scientific focus.”
To discover more about Dennis’ endeavors and the Department of Biological Science at FSU, visit bio.fsu.edu.
The article FSU molecular biologist celebrated by the Tallahassee Scientific Society for lifelong contributions to science, education, and public engagement first appeared on Florida State University News.