The 2025 recipient is Julia Peloggia, Ph.D., a former predoctoral researcher in the lab of Stowers Investigator Tatjana Piotrowski, Ph.D. Peloggia was honored for her 2024 publication in Development, which revealed that environmental factors, alongside genetics, play a crucial role in guiding the development of sensory organs. The findings underscore that development displays high flexibility—an insight that may be critical for understanding how aquatic animals can adapt in a changing climate.

Matt Gibson, Ph.D., President of the Graduate School and Stowers Investigator, and Eric Olson, Ph.D., SAB member, presented the award to Peloggia. Piotrowski expressed gratitude to the SAB for recognizing Peloggia’s achievement and invited the Stowers community to join her in offering congratulations.