Nightingale named NSU Spring 2025 Outstanding Graduate Student

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Nicol Nightingale has been named Northeastern State University’s Spring 2025 Outstanding Graduate Student, recognized for her academic excellence, research achievements and resilience in balancing school, parenthood and creative pursuits.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and now living in Tulsa, Nightingale graduated in May with a Master of Science in Natural Science. She previously earned an associate degree in biotechnology from Tulsa Community College in 2015 and a bachelor’s degree in organismic biology with a minor in chemistry from NSU in 2018.

“This award is deeply meaningful to me,” Nightingale said. “It validates years of perseverance—balancing parenting and coursework, and always striving to give my best in every role I take on.”

A single mother of two and a published science fiction author, Nightingale brings a wide-ranging curiosity and drive to her work in and out of the lab. Her thesis, titled “Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of a Novel Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor for the Treatment of Cancer,” focused on developing a potential cancer treatment.

“Her project—spanning the synthesis of novel cancer drugs, computational analysis, enzyme inhibition studies, and challenging cell studies—was ambitious and demanding,” Dr. Sung Kun Kim, professor of biochemistry and chair of the M.S. Natural Science program, said. “Despite setbacks, she showed incredible determination and generated invaluable data. Her commitment to scientific inquiry truly set her apart.”

Nightingale said her passion for science is driven by a desire to understand how life works on a cellular level and to use that knowledge to help others. She hopes continued research on her project will lead to future drug development and treatment options for cancer patients.

“As I continued my journey in scientific studies, my enthusiasm for discovering how everything works grew even stronger,” she said. “Seeing how science can positively impact lives—in medicine, technology, or education—gives me a sense of direction and fulfillment I haven’t found anywhere else.”

Beyond her research, Nightingale said some of her most rewarding moments have come from mentoring other students, especially those who might not initially see themselves belonging in STEM fields.

“Watching someone’s confidence grow after I help them through a tough experiment or explain a challenging concept—that’s why I love this field,” she said. “I didn’t take the traditional path, but that’s only made my journey more meaningful.”

Nightingale’s debut sci-fi book series, Havi Virus, currently includes two titles: Black Tears and its follow-up, Black Hearts.

NSU graduate faculty nominate Outstanding Graduate Student honorees based on a 3.5 GPA or higher, excellence in scholarship, leadership, service and positive impact on the campus community.

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