Danny Brower Scholarship Winners 2025

The Danny Brower Scholarship was established by the department of Molecular and Cellular Biology to honor the professional accomplishments of Danny Brower, Professor and Scientist, for over 25 years at the University of Arizona.   

The winners of this esteemed scholarship for 2025 are Aparna Chandrasekar and Caleb Konecek. 

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Aparna Chandrasekar is not only an MCB major, but she is also graduating with Physiology and Medical Sciences major, and minors in Health and Human Values & Addiction and Substance Use. 

What was your reaction when you learned you were the award winner?  

Upon learning that I was the winner of the Danny Brower Memorial Scholarship, I was incredibly honored to learn that I had been selected from such a competitive applicant pool to receive this award. I was very proud to learn that my hard work had paid off and been acknowledged, and I am excited to use these funds to push me further along in my undergraduate journey. 

Can you share a memorable experience or highlight from your time at MCB that you believe influenced your journey to receiving this award? 

Being a preceptor for Dr. Capaldi's MCB 181 Honors class over the Fall 2024 semester gave me a greater appreciation for the subject. By assisting students and helping them broaden their understanding of the cellular components behind basic biology, I was able to further my own love for the class. Having the power to teach and help others has made me more passionate about the MCB department and what all it has to offer, and I believe my love for the department heavily influenced my journey to receiving this award. 

Who has been the biggest source of inspiration for you?

My parents have been my biggest supporters throughout my university journey. From providing me with unconditional love to helping me alleviate stress by taking my mind off of academics when I need it, as well as being there to send me food packages whenever I miss home-cooked meals - they truly have been the biggest help in my journey, and are the reason why I have succeeded in this endeavor.

How do you plan to utilize what you've learned at university and in MCB in your future endeavors? 

As a future physician, I plan to use my knowledge from university and the MCB department in order to give me a more thorough understanding of the content I will learn in medical school. The MCB department has given me a strong foundation as to how certain diseases affect our cells and molecular components of the body in order to cause their symptoms, and I believe this knowledge will give me a much-needed boost in my post-graduate education. 

What are your plans after graduation?  

I hope to attend medical school and become a physician after graduation. 

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Caleb Konecek is our other Danny Brower Scholarship winner!

Caleb's majors include MCB, Biochemistry, and Spanish, with minors in Classics and Professional & Technical Writing. 

What was your reaction when you learned you were the award winner? 

I was ecstatic to hear that I was selected as a recipient for the Danny Brower Memorial scholarship. I am incredibly grateful to receive this scholarship, and I look forward to honoring Danny Brower's legacy throughout my academics and future career. 

Can you share a memorable experience or highlight from your time at MCB that you believe influenced your journey to receiving this award? 

The highlight of my MCB experience so far has been my participation in the MCB FirstCats club. Although this club is still relatively new, the support and encouragement offered my Kara, my fellow club members, and other first gen MCB faculty has been incredibly instrumental to my success. 

Who or what has been the biggest source of inspiration or support for you during your university journey? Tell me a bit about why!  

My PI, Dr. Pascale Charest, has been the biggest inspiration throughout my undergraduate journey. She has supported me academically and personally since I joined her lab in the fall of 2023, and she is always pushing me to learn and succeed in the sciences while frequently reminding me to reflect on my accomplishments and celebrate my victories. She has been an amazing support and I'm very proud to be a member of her lab. 

What are your plans after graduation?  

Following graduation, I plan to pursue an MSc in biotechnology at the University of Galway in Ireland. This degree will support me as I pursue employment in the biotech industry before eventually returning to academia to pursue a PhD in biochemistry, which I hope to utilize when I develop my own research lab. 

How do you plan to utilize what you've learned at university and in MCB in your future endeavors? 

My degree in MCB will be instrumental in supporting my pursuit of a degree in biotechnology. All that I have learned from my courses and research experiences have prepared me for success both in industry work and academia, and I hope to continue building on the skills I have developed as an undergraduate as I continue pursuing education. 

Anything else? 

As a low income, first generation student, I am very proud to represent other disadvantaged students as I accept this award. I have faced many unique obstacles throughout my undergraduate career, but I have found support in programs such as the Dorrance Scholarship, Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC), and the MCB FirstCats Club that have helped me to become the successful scientist that I am today. By investing in the education of disadvantaged students such as myself, scholarship donors are helping to create a future where diversity, collaboration, and interdisciplinary thinking are celebrated in the sciences.