Walter Moss, assistant professor in biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, is the recipient of the 2022 Early Achievement in Research Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. Moss was hired as part of the Carver Initiative and is becoming a leader in the field of RNA structure and function determination. With the cause and most efficiently preventative agent of COVID-19 being RNA, there has been a great deal of interest in his work. He is widely published and has a high level of citations for a junior faculty member in the field of biochemistry. In addition to his scientific output, Moss has secured more than $2.8 million in funding for his research at Iowa State in the past five years. He has successfully forged a relationship with a drug company who has partnered with the Moss lab and Iowa State to advance drug discovery efforts involving RNA - something of great timeliness.
A colleague states, “There is no question Walter has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in research unusually early in his professional career. He already has a reputation as an international leader in the field of RNA structure, as evidenced by the citation and attention paid to his work, the talks he has given at national and international venues and his success at obtaining NIH funding.”