Rowan-Virtua TBES graduate student earns international poster award

In a recent achievement, a second-year student in Rowan-Virtua’s Translational Biomedical Engineering & Sciences program, pursuing a Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology, earned international recognition for his lab’s research at a recent Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) conference.

Derrick Michell received a poster award at the “Phase Transitions in Cellular Signaling and Disease” conference, an international event that brought together leading scientists to discuss and share research on the role of biomolecular condensates in cell function and disease.

Michell was one of approximately 10 poster award recipients selected from about 90 participants, a competitive group that included postdoctoral fellows and advanced graduate students from around the world.

His research, conducted in the Cooper-Strich labs, focuses on Med13, a conserved transcriptional regulator traditionally known for its role in the cell nucleus. Michell’s work identifies a previously uncharacterized, stress-dependent role for Med13 in the cytoplasm, where it helps regulate the formation of biomolecular condensates — structures critical to cellular organization and response. In simple terms, these structures act like temporary compartments that help cells quickly organize and manage important functions, especially in response to different types of cellular stress.

Using the yeast model system, their findings show that Med13 can shift locations within the cell in response to stress, acting as a molecular switch that helps form distinct condensates involved in processes such as stress response and protein degradation. The research offers new insight into how cells adapt to environmental changes and may have broader implications for understanding diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, where these processes are disrupted.

For Michell, the experience marked a major milestone early in his academic career.

“This was the first-ever research conference I’ve ever attended, and being the only attendee from Rowan, it was initially quite intimidating,” he said. “Winning this award and being recognized by international attendees as a serious and passionate researcher felt validating in ways I cannot fully describe.”

He added that the experience strengthened his commitment to scientific discovery.

“I feel inspired and look forward to continuing to develop as a scientist, and I hope to continue strongly representing our research and our University as I continue my career here,” Michell said.

Michell credited the Cooper-Strich labs and Rowan University for supporting his development and providing the opportunity to present his work on an international stage.