Chapter leader finds his niche
From his days poring over “1,000 Facts on Science and Technology,” one of a series of children’s books an uncle sent him, to recently starting a Ph.D. program, Jacob Crosser always has let his interests guide him.
As an undergraduate, Crosser was active in the Purdue University American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Student Chapter, first as a member and then as outreach chair and eventually as president.

“Two years ago, I had done an estimate of how many active participants came by our booth, and it was something on the order of 700 people over two days,” he said.

He noticed that several children came back to the ASBMB booth year after year, looking forward to making slime out of borax and glue or whatever the science demonstration was for that year. Outreach kept Crosser involved, he said. The chapter helped him figure out what he wanted to do in his life, so he wanted to help others figure out their potential career paths by exposing them to science while they were young.
“To help someone else figure that out,” he said, “that’s a good feeling.”
The figuring out wasn’t straightforward for Crosser, who started college hoping to study engineering before he realized he wanted to solve the more complex problems that appear in biological systems. After this realization, he discovered biochemistry. That wasn’t quite the answer either, however; Crosser found he really missed doing the math problems he’d enjoyed in school when he was younger. He returned to physics and math and took an extra year to complete minors in both subjects.
Crosser now has found a niche for himself pursuing a Ph.D. in applied mathematics with a focus in computational biology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
“I intend to center my career around the study of the complex biological systems I’ve come to love,” he said, “through the lens of mathematics that I’ve found very natural.”
Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?
Become a member to receive the print edition monthly and the digital edition weekly.
Learn moreGet the latest from ASBMB Today
Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.
Latest in People
People highlights or most popular articles

That’s a legacy
We remember Elvira Doman, a trailblazer, a dedicated mentor and a longtime biochemist at the National Science Foundation.

JLR session spotlights junior associate editors
Michael Airola, Luke Engelking and Renate Schreiber will share their research in a session titled “Into the Lipidome: Spotlight on the Journal of Lipid Research Junior Associate Editors.”

Engelking seeks to balance research and medicine
Luke Engelking, a Journal of Lipid Research junior associate editor, will discuss his work during the JLR Spotlight Session at Discover BMB 2023.

Schreiber chanced upon a safe harbor in science
Renate Schreiber, a Journal of Lipid Research junior associate editor, will discuss her work during the JLR Spotlight Session at Discover BMB 2023.

Airola seeks the secrets of lipid-modifying enzymes
Michael Airola, a Journal of Lipid Research junior associate editor, will discuss his work during the JLR Spotlight Session at Discover BMB.

Quinlan receives teaching award; Aggie women honor Shippen; Del Mármol receives regional award
Awards, promotions, milestones and more. Find out what's going on in the lives of ASBMB members.