Congratulations to Autumn Kim, winner of the 2025 Quatrano Prize!
Autumn Kim, a senior majoring in Biology with specialization in Ecology and Evolution, and minoring in East Asian Languages and Cultures, in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, has been awarded the 2025 Ralph S. Quatrano Prize by the Department of Biology.
Established through a generous donation by Katherine Day Reinleitner, the Quatrano Prize is awarded to the thesis showing greatest evidence of creativity in design, research methodology or broader scientific implications. The award is given in honor of Ralph Quatrano, the Spencer T. Olin Professor Emeritus and former chair of biology.
Kim completed research in the Guilak Lab, culminating in her thesis A Model for Osteoarthritis: Investigating Pericellular Matrix Stiffness and Chondrocyte Volume Changes as Early Indicators. She was nominated by her Bio 500 independent research mentor, Farshid Guilak, Mildred B. Simon Professor of Orthopedic Surgery.
In his nomination letter, Guilak said, “During her time in our lab, I have personally witnessed Autumn's exceptional dedication, enthusiasm, and intellectual growth. Over the years, Autumn allowed herself to be fully immersed in all facets of the medical field, from shadowing orthopedic surgeons and gaining firsthand experience on how patient care is provided, to volunteering in various hospital and healthcare settings and personally interacting with the patients. In addition to everything, Autumn dedicated a significant amount of her time in our laboratory engaging herself in biomedical research.”
Kim says, “I am incredibly grateful and honored to be selected as the winner of the Quatrano Prize. Dean Quatrano approaches science with a vision that always considers its broader impact, and I am inspired to carry that mindset forward through my career. There is still so much to learn about osteoarthritis, and being part of the Guilak Lab — where multiple approaches are used to understand the disease — has shown me how essential it is to think creatively and collaborate across disciplines. From my experience in the lab, I have learned how to approach unknowns creatively and thoughtfully. I would like to especially thank Dr. Farshid Guilak for his unwavering support and guidance, and Dr. Yu seon Kim for being an incredible mentor who helped me develop a passion for research that will last a lifetime. Their mentorship has made me not only a better researcher, but student and person during my time at WashU.”
Kim will receive the award and prize during a biology awards ceremony in May.
