February 4, 2026
Hampden-Sydney McGavacks Professor of Biology and Director of Undergraduate Research Michael Wolyniak has been named a fellow of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). Wolyniak is one of 16 society members who have been selected for this year’s fellowship distinction, announced on the organization’s website on January 19.
According to ASBMB, fellows are members “who have a history of exceptional and sustained service to the society, as well as a distinguished record of professional accomplishments that advance the molecular life sciences.”
“It’s gratifying to be recognized for the work that I’ve done both within the society and in the biochemistry and molecular biology community in general,” says Wolyniak. “We constantly strive to improve how we educate in that field and help train the next generation of people who will be on the frontline of curing diseases.”
ASBMB is the world’s preeminent organization for scholars and scientists in the biochemistry and molecular biology fields. Founded in 1906, it is a non-profit society of over 11,000 members that includes scientist educators and researchers committed to “building and empowering a broad community of molecular life scientists to advance discovery,” according to its mission.
Wolyniak values collaboration as an integral part of his research agenda, being involved in several projects that provide valuable opportunities for growth within his students and himself.
“I am involved with some research networks that allow our students to contribute to much larger initiatives, working along with other students from around the country,” he says. “Through these initiatives, their research gets magnified, and they learn to collaborate, communicate, and present their work at gatherings such as the ASBMB annual meeting.”
One such project was working with the MDH CUREs Community (MCC), which provides undergraduate students with experiences researching protein mutations. “Through this network, I took part in original research on how proteins function and mutate in a way that allowed me to learn while also giving me the tools to disseminate the knowledge to my students,” he says. “That was an awesome experience for me as well as my students.”
This sort of research is critical for the development of advancements in industries from biomedicine to agriculture.
The new ASBMB fellow says that research is important but being able to help guide the next generation of biochemical and molecular biological scientists is what led him to Hampden-Sydney. “For me, using research as a tool to educate is what’s most important, instead of research for the sake of research,” he says.
Wolyniak sees the fellowship as a means of opening up new avenues to share his love for the field, saying, “This recognition offers new opportunities for collaborations and to have an even bigger impact going forward.”