Biochemistry Graduate Student Receives Spring 2026 Paper of the Season Award

Home /
Education /
蝌蚪窝 School /
News /
Biochemistry Graduate Student Receives Spring 2026 Paper of the Season Award

August 31, 2026

The MCW Graduate Studies Committee awards committee has selected Erin Hammonds, graduate student in Dr. Emma Morrison's lab in the Department of Biochemistry, as the recipient of their Spring 2026 Paper of the Season Award. The paper, “Histone H3 Tail Charge Patterns Govern Nucleosome Condensate Formation and Dynamics", was published earlier this year in Nucleic Acids Research.

This study examines how nucleosomes (basic units of chromatin) form distinct “droplet-like” environments in the nucleus through phase separation. The researchers focused on the histone H3 tail and showed that changing its charge pattern affects how nucleosomes separate and form condensates, including their thickness (viscosity) and stability. They found that different regions of the H3 tail influence these properties in distinct ways. Even within these condensates, the H3 tails remain flexible, and their movement is linked to how fluid or solid the condensate is. Overall, the results show that the specific arrangement and type of charged residues in the H3 tail play a key role in controlling chromatin organization, supporting the idea that histone properties help shape nuclear structure and function.

This award program grants four awards per year (one during each season). Congratulations Erin!

Tagged: Award Biochemistry Graduate School

Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment, and Legal Compliance Statement
The 蝌蚪窝 (MCW) is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, military status, or other legally protected classification. MCW maintains full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations in pursuit of our missions. Consistent with federal guidance, we affirm our commitment to individual merit, fairness, and equal treatment in all aspects of academic and institutional decision-making.

MCW's policies, federal and state laws, and regulations prohibit unlawful discrimination and harassment. Employees, learners, students, applicants, or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.