Excellence in Research Award: Harvey Ortiz
The 2024 Excellence in Undergraduate Research was awarded to Harvey Ortiz! This award is presented to an MCB senior who has demonstrated excellence in their undergraduate research. "I’ve always enjoyed researching topics in-depth but putting that interest in the lens of biology has given me a future.” Harvey plans on pursuing a PhD in Molecular Medicine and learning more about synthetic biology and the mathematical applications to molecules. He is also interested in fundamentally understanding how the world works from the smallest perspectives.
During his four years at the University of Arizona, Harvey Ortiz became a valued lab member of Dr. Nagi’s lab, where he explores the morphological basis of evolution in a specialized field called Evolutionary-developmental biology, or “evo-devo”. He is working to understand predicted binding motifs in enhancers, which regulate when and where genes are active in segmentation and are expressed. 
A common belief for a long time is that there was something called "Junk DNA." Afterall, 99% of the genome does not code for a protein, but that does not mean the DNA does not have a job. What is more important is that by this “non-coding DNA- enhancers- changing and mutating over time,” we can understand significant drivers of evolution. Over the last 3 and a half years, Harvey spent a lot of time looking at genetic sequences to try and take a crack at questions like: How do genetic regulatory systems evolve over time? What specifically changed? How can we change regulatory information to produce a desired phenotype?
At a national conference for Evolutionary-Developmental Biology, I was awarded one of the textbooks we use for MCB305: Cell & Developmental Biology. That textbook is signed by the authors to "Keep on Developing!" The following year, he read the textbook front to back. “I love evo-devo more than anything, and I want to explore this more in the future.” In the immediate future though, Harvey will focus on learning how to write equations and manuscripts.
Upon learning of the honor, Harvey expressed shock, admitting, "I thought that because of my GPA, I would be overlooked!"
Harvey credits a pivotal experience during his time at the University of Arizona as a catalyst for his journey to receiving this prestigious award. A trip to New Mexico in 2021 for a symposium at New Mexico State University with MCB classmates left an impression. Inspired by one of his classmate’s receipt of the MCB Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award in May 2022, Harvey made it his mission to obtain this award too. “Ever since then, I've tried to learn as much as I can about the scope of my work and present my work as many times as possible. I've done a total of 13 poster presentations, so I have really tried to milk my undergraduate research experience/ career as much as possible!”
Throughout his university journey, Harvey found unwavering support and inspiration from friends and family. Reflecting on moments of doubt, Harvey acknowledges the importance of connections, both with loved ones and with nature, in sustaining motivation and creativity. “I am grateful for support from graduate programs, faculty members, and graduate students. Over the years my undergraduate research has been supported by the Western Alliance to Expand Student Opportunities (WAESO) Louis Stokes Alliance Minority Program (LSAMP), the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Consortium (UROC), and I have most recently enjoyed conferences with the Undergraduate Biology Research Program and the MCBC Club. I love getting to know other researchers, students, and faculty, and I genuinely believe these kids can change the world for the better.”
When asked about his plans to utilize his university experience in future endeavors, Harvey emphasizes the value of self-directed learning and the importance of asking questions. Harvey's time in MCB has instilled in him a profound appreciation for research and learning, shaping his personal and academic landscape in profound ways. “Working at the university has also taught me to ask many questions! There are no stupid questions.”
Congratulations Harvey and we cannot wait to hear about the next chapter in your science journey!
For more information about the Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award and other achievements by students in the MCB program, visit our website here.