The Center for Life Sciences Education proudly recognizes biology alum Elizabeth “Lizzie” Chung as a recipient of the highly competitive 2026 Hertz Fellowship, one of the nation’s most prestigious awards for doctoral students in science and engineering. Selected from a rigorous national pool, Chung is among just 19 fellows chosen for her exceptional creativity, leadership, and potential to address critical scientific challenges. 

Chung is currently an MD-PhD student at the University of California, San Francisco. Inspired by her late father's diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, her research focuses on developing novel therapeutics for neuroimmune diseases.  Her work has been widely recognized, including presentations at national and international conferences, a TEDx talk, and a first-author publication in Nature exploring the role of psychedelics in modulating the immune system.

Chung began taking classes at Ohio State at age 14 and graduated magna cum laude in biology, completing both her high school and undergraduate education simultaneously. During her time at Ohio State, she contributed to research on phage therapy and regenerative medicine, with additional training at MIT and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She remains committed to science outreach, mentoring students and promoting public understanding through initiatives like her DocTalkwithLiz podcast.

Congratulations Lizzie!