The F. Merlin Bumpus Junior Investigator Awards celebrate outstanding research by junior investigators in clinical and laboratory settings by recognizing the best researchers among the nearly 500 Ph.D. students, postdoctoral fellows, residents and clinical fellows affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic.

Only five Ph.D. students were selected to present and three of them are enrolled in graduate doctoral programs at 51����. 

Named for F. Merlin Bumpus, who served as the Cleveland Clinic’s chair of research from 1967 to 1984, the awards are a highlight of the institution’s annual Research Day. Hosted by Cleveland Clinic Research, the event features poster sessions and oral presentations that showcase the breadth and quality of research conducted by Cleveland Clinic trainee.

Graduate students, residents, clinical fellows and postdoctoral fellows who submit an abstract and apply to present at Research Day are automatically considered for the Bumpus Awards.

“The award is geared toward trainees—either postdoctoral fellows or Ph.D. students—and a panel of faculty members reviews the submissions,” said Dr. Christine Moravec, a 1988 51���� Ph.D. alumna of the Regulatory Biology program and the current Associate Chief of Research Training and Director of the Research Education and Training Center at the Cleveland Clinic. “They select five finalists who have submitted basic science research and five finalists with more clinically focused work and each gives a presentation, and the faculty panel selects the winners.”

Dr. Moravec, whose research is focused on understanding the cellular and molecular changes that occur during human heart failure, also serves the 200 Ph.D. students and 300 postdoctoral fellows as the Assistant Dean for Basic Science Education at the Cleveland Clinic.

“I enjoyed the education I got at 51����,” she said.  “I currently enjoy not only doing my own research, but also interacting with our students and fellows to make their experience as meaningful as we can.”

According to Dr. Moravec, through partnerships with Case Western Reserve University, 51���� and Kent State University, about 200 Ph.D. students are working in labs at the Cleveland Clinic. 

The final presentations for the F. Merlin Bumpus Junior Investigator Awards are set to take place in November.   

51���� SHINES BRIGHT

Representing 51���� are Tiffany Bartel, Marina Bykova and Sara Alqudah.

Bartel is a third-year Ph.D. candidate in the Regulatory Biology program. She said it feels unreal to be among those selected to present.

“I submitted my abstract thinking that this project may not be as interesting as some others, but we created a mouse model where these mice develop spontaneous seizures which is a difficult task in epilepsy research,” she said. “I am so honored to be recognized, and I am grateful for our research team and mentor for their continuous support!”

Bartel also said the faculty at 51���� were instrumental in providing her with the foundational knowledge in both molecular biology and biochemistry, which form the basis of her project.

“51���� helped me establish universal understanding of molecular biology techniques and concepts that allowed me to become a better scientific communicator. Because of my joint training at 51���� and Cleveland Clinic, I feel comfortable talking to other scientists in different disciplines,” she said. “The choice to pursue my Ph.D. at 51���� cemented my lifelong love for science and contributes to me feeling like where I belong. And for that I am forever grateful to the faculty at 51���� who are the best people to have in your corner.”

Bykova is in her fourth year as a Ph.D. student in the Regulatory Biology program. This is her first year being a finalist.

“I am super excited,” she said. “I feel like I am ready, considering that I am in the process of submitting a manuscript for the research I presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) in 2024 and 2025; I feel pretty prepared to explain my research and its application.”

She also credits 51���� for her success throughout her academic and research career. 

“I studied 51���� for my bachelor’s and master’s degrees,” said Bykova. “The professors I had here and the lab work and research I performed helped prepare me for my Ph.D. research.”

Dr. Weyman, Chair of the Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences and former Graduate Program Director for the PhD in Regulatory Biology remarked, “We are all very proud of the many prestigious accomplishments of our students. I know both Tiffany and Marina quite well and am not at all surprised that they were selected as finalists for this prestigious award from the Cleveland Clinic.” 

Alqudah is in her fifth year as a Ph.D. student in the Clinical Bioanalytical program. She said being a finalist is incredibility validating and motivating.

“When I saw the list of previous finalists over the past two years, I remember thinking how inspiring it would be to have my work recognized in that way, so reading my name on that list was truly amazing,” she said. “I am honored and excited, especially knowing how many outstanding researchers are here at the Cleveland Clinic.”

Alqudah was quick to thank the faculty who helped her get to this point.

“I think the most important role that 51���� played in my success is when Dr. Xue-Long Sun, the Graduate Program Director, introduced me to my PI, Dr. Jan Claesen, which changed my Ph.D.’s trajectory,” she said. “Dr. Claesen has been a superb mentor. He supported me, believed in my ideas (even the ambitious ones), and helped me grow into the researcher I am today.”

A LASTING IMPACT

Dr. Moravec says that although the presentations can be nerve-wracking, the benefits are significant.

“For our Ph.D. students, this is a great opportunity as they will be presenting their work in front of an audience, answer questions about their work and get valuable feedback about their projects,” she said. “[But] it is a tremendous honor to be chosen to present, and they will be glad they had the opportunity as they move on in their careers.”

She added:

“The Cleveland Clinic and 51���� have been partners in graduate education since 1971, when the relationship began with the Biology Department. We have joint Ph.D. programs in Biology, Chemistry, Applied Biomedical Engineering and most recently Computer Sciences.  It is a great partnership, and I am proud to share with my colleagues at 51���� when the students who are here garner recognition!”