Top Scholars must have at least a 3.6 GPA and be on track to graduate in the spring. CoSM scholars were nominated by their department chairs and submitted to the dean. From these distinguished nominations, the dean selected a college top scholar.
We are proud to feature Justin Myers as the Top Scholar for the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences.
As a sophomore, Justin learned from a friend that a lab was looking to hire someone to clean their lab dishes. He applied and was hired to work as the dishwasher in the biogeochemistry lab of Silvia Newell, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences. Through his own initiative and leadership he earned the trust of Dr. Newell and began working on sensitive lab equipment. Soon he was able to diagnose and repair equipment, run analytical samples, orders supplies, and prepare lab reagents- a substance or compound added to a system to cause or to test if a chemical reaction occurs. In the Newell laboratory, reagents are used to run various chemical methods to determine nutrient concentrations. The lab focuses on rates of nitrogen transformations and the relationsip between these rates and the diversity and abundance of functional genes, which control key steps of each process.
Justin has come a long way from his early years of working retail. After the birth of his daughter, securing a better future for his family became a priority. He determined higher education would help him accomplish this and applied to Wright State University. Justin and his wife always enjoyed being outdoors, hiking, and experiencing nature. The Earth & Environmental Sciences program appealed to his love of the outdoors. The program provides opportunities for students to have a variety of experiences in field work, collecting samples, along with running the analysis of the samples. Justin stated in a recent student profile "I have always had a passion for nature and the environment and recent problems with water quality and algal blooms in lakes, rivers, and streams got me interested in pursuing environmental research to help solve these problems and protect our water resources." He found taking chemistry courses was helpful in his lab work.
Currently Justin works as the Newell lab manager and has become the person graduate students go to for training, lab protocols and nutrient data. He gives credit to the support of good mentors and program faculty who helped him on his educational journey. As a undergraduate student he has had the opportunity to work as a member of a research team which is a valuable experience to add to a college resume. "The lab work gives you the ability to apply what you learned in class - it gives purpose to be part of a team and advancing their projects."
Justin graduated spring 2017 and will continue his work as manager in the Newell lab. Next year he will begin graduate school. After completing his graduate program he hopes to work with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources or a related state agency.
This article was featured as one of a 5-part series of articles featuring 2017 Top Scholars from The College of Science and Mathematics.
