Cancer Biology PhD Student Jodie Wong Honored With Golden Bull Award
Congratulations to Jodie Wong on receiving the University of South Florida (USF) Golden Bull Award! Jodie is a Cancer Biology PhD student under the mentorship of Dr. Liang Wang, Department of Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis and Cancer Epidemiology Program.
Each spring, USF honors up to 30 outstanding graduating undergraduate and graduate students with the prestigious Golden Bull Award. This accolade is presented by USF Student Success in celebration of students who embody the spirit and values of USF through exceptional leadership, academic excellence and dedicated service to the community.
This April, Jodie was named one of the 27 winners of the Golden Bull Award. As a doctoral candidate in the Cancer Biology PhD program, Jodie advances precision oncology through research on plasma cell-free DNA methylation biomarkers in metastatic prostate cancer. Her work has resulted in first-author publications in npj Precision Oncology and Biomedical Journal, and national recognition through an ASHG Reviewers’ Choice Abstract Award, placing in the top 10% of poster abstracts.
Beyond research, Jodie serves as President of the Cancer Biology Student Organization at USF, where she launched an annual alumni career speaker series, initiated structured town halls between trainees and leadership, and expanded support resources for doctoral students. She has also engaged in advocacy at the state level, representing Moffitt in Tallahassee for Moffitt Day, and will be advocating for cancer funding at AACR Early-Career Hill Day in Washington, D.C. She consistently advances research, champions trainee advocacy and actively contributes to the broader scientific community.
Speaking about her acceptance of the award, Jodie stated that it was a tremendous honor. She reflected on her experience navigating academic spaces as a first-generation student and that path forward felt unclear. She stated that her experience "has shaped my commitment to giving back and supporting others so they don’t have to navigate those challenges alone. This award reinforces the importance of community-centered leadership and reminds me how powerful it can be when we lift one another up as we move forward.”
When asked what her advice is to graduate students who want to balance research excellence with service and leadership, Jodie said that there really isn’t a single formula, but that three principles have guided her: passion, efficiency, and open communication.
When asked what is next for her and how she hopes to continue making an impact in cancer research and advocacy, Jodie said, “I’m currently working on a project that integrates multi-omic DNA data with imaging data to better understand how we can stratify prostate cancer patients. In line with this research, I hope to continue working in the translational space, bridging molecular discovery with clinical implementation to develop noninvasive diagnostic and monitoring tools that are scientifically rigorous, clinically actionable and scalable across healthcare systems.
Beyond research, I aspire to serve as a science advocate and public-facing scientist. I hope to remain involved in science policy initiatives that support biomedical advancement to ensure that emerging technologies reach the communities that need them most.”
In addition, Jodie said her career vision is mentorship and community engagement. “Staying connected to the communities that ultimately benefit from research is important to me, and I want my work to reflect that responsibility," she said. By integrating scholarship, advocacy and mentorship, I hope to contribute to a scientific community that advances discovery with purpose and lasting public impact.”