Braxten Hornsby Awarded 2026 Wolf Prize
The Wolf Prize is the highest award the University of Utah, College of Pharmacy can bestow upon a Doctor of Philosophy student. The Wolf Prize recognizes excellence in teaching by doctor of philosophy candidates from any department in the University of Utah College of Pharmacy. It is awarded to those students who have demonstrated an aptitude for and inclination toward an academic career. The prize consists of a $5,000 award and a plaque noting the recipient’s teaching proficiency. The name of the recipient is also included on a permanent plaque displayed in the College of Pharmacy.
The University of Utah, College of Pharmacy presented the Wolf Prize to Braxten Hornsby, PhD, in recognition of his exemplary teaching record and his commitment to the teaching profession.
Braxten Hornsby graduated from Idaho State University in 2017 where he began his research career studying chemistry and physics as a National Science Foundation Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program Scholar. During his undergraduate training, Braxten conducted research ranging from the nature and behavior of halophilic proteins to the synthesis and characterization of novel semi-conductor materials. This was also when he discovered his passion for teaching and mentorship, working as a teaching assistant for general and organic chemistry laboratories for nine credits over two years. After graduation, Braxten went on to work in nutraceuticals as a quality program manager for two years before transitioning into a scientist role with Teva Pharmaceuticals for an additional two years. This exposure to health and pharmaceutical science, coupled with the loss of a close friend to a brave and long fought battle with cancer, ultimately compelled him to pursue cancer research and a PhD in Molecular Pharmaceutics at the University of Utah.
After applying to the Molecular Pharmaceutics program as a direct admission in 2020, Braxten was accepted into the laboratory of Dr. Carol Lim in Fall of 2021 where he began his graduate training. Here, he pursued two different projects—one evaluating the mechanism of action of a novel p53 fusion gene therapy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, and the other studying and synthesizing novel protein inhibitors for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. Having published one first author paper for each project, in addition to a first-author review detailing the status and developments of peptide and protein drug delivery, Braxten published a total of three first-author papers which comprise his thesis titled “Designed Gene and Protein Therapies for the Treatment of Cancer.” Braxten’s research efforts have been recognized through the Skaggs Graduate Research Fellowship.
Throughout his academic career, Braxten has mentored 7 students, including PhD, PharmD, undergraduate, and summer research program students. Additionally, he has served as the primary instructor for graduate level molecular biology (PHCEU 7010) for the past three years. To further grow as an educator and expand his teaching toolkit, Braxten completed a Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education through the Center for Teaching Excellence, in tandem with his PhD, while also providing multiple guest lectures within the University of Utah PharmD program and to prospective graduate students at Weber State University.
