Xinyuan Chen receives 2021-2022 John W. Philips Legacy Award

The Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG) is pleased to announce the 2021-22 John W. Phillips Legacy Award recipient, Xinyuan Chen.

Xinyuan Chen is fourth-year doctoral student in Molecular Biology working with Dr. Douglas Black in MIMG. Her research focuses on dissecting the mis-regulation of alternative splicing in Myc-driven prostate cancers. Her work contributes important new understandings of genetic misregulation in cancer. Xinyuan has worked closely with cancer biology experts, Dr. Owen Witte, and also Dr. John W. Phillips, whose memory is honored by this award. According to Xinyuan, “Dr. Phillips has greatly impacted my project and his mentorship motivated me as a graduate student to continue my cancer biology research.” Following in the footsteps of her mentor, Xinyuan is dedicated to teaching and mentoring underrepresented students, and promoting diversity and inclusion in science.

Please join us in sharing our gratitude with the Phillips family for the award and congratulating Xinyuan Chen and the other stellar nominees!

The John W. Phillips Legacy Award honors the life, work, and principles of Dr. John W. Phillips. The award provides funds to graduate students and continues Dr. Phillips’ support of mentorship of individuals in the field. It recognizes outstanding graduate students in all disciplines included in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, including cancer research.

Dr. John W. Phillips was a teacher and mentor in UCLA’s Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics who was committed to promoting diversity and equity in the field. Dr. Phillips devoted his considerable brilliance and hard work to cancer research, principally working in the lab of Dr. Owen Witte.

Dr. Phillips dedicated his formidable writing talent and passion for teaching to graduate students. He taught graduate students in the lab and he was a mentor to many, with a special emphasis on organizing their science and helping with their writing of paper and grants.

To honor his legacy and dedication to advancing diversity and equity, the John W. Phillips Award was established to support outstanding graduate students working in a laboratory within the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics.