Since his days as a Loganville Christian Academy Lion, Jonathan Moye (LCA Class of 2018) has been extremely busy. Everything he has accomplished thus far has led him to his current pursuit of a PhD. Jonathan was recently accepted into the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) PhD program, where he is studying cancer biology research. He shared a personal anecdote about what drives him to obtain such a degree.
Jonathan’s grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, and Jonathan and his family walked that journey alongside him. During that experience, he saw firsthand the impact research had on his grandfather’s diagnosis. Even in high school, Jonathan read scientific papers and explored different treatment options. Somewhere along the way, he felt led to go deeper. He said, “I felt the Lord saying, ‘This is something that you're not only interested in learning more about and doing research on, but I'm calling you to make this your life's work…is to explore how to help people, and how to improve people's life and well-being.’”
Confirmation came through a cancer biology class Jonathan took while attending Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. He earned a bachelor of science degree in biological sciences before transitioning to UAB. Jonathan then worked as a lab technician in a research lab at UAB before enrolling in the PhD program. Even though he does not work directly with patients, his mission is to serve people to the best of his ability. Jonathan’s central mission is serving people in all of his endeavors. He said, “Thinking about the people who are actually going through cancer keeps me grounded. I try not to see my research as just a way to get ahead in life and my career, but as work that directly impacts people made in the image of God."
Jonathan graduated from LCA in 2018, after spending five years on campus. In our mission statement, we aim to “prepare students academically, spiritually, socially for God’s call on their lives.” Jonathan believes our school lives up to that standard when he reflects on his experience as a Lion. He cited the Advanced Placement and dual enrollment courses as a boost to his academic development. Smaller class sizes and knowing each person in his class helped build a strong social community. Teachers who were willing to have conversations with students about “difficult topics” were a key spiritual influence for Jonathan as well.
Now, Jonathan finds himself mentoring fellow research students — just as Mr. James Schaffer mentored him at LCA — while he completes UAB’s program. Teaching up-and-coming researchers has become a newfound passion for him. He shared, “My 5-10-year plans are to become a professor who also does research, so I can have the best of both worlds. I can still continue to do this research that I really love but at the same time also show students why I became passionate about it in the first place. Research is not necessarily fun all the time, but it's so worth it when you keep the big picture in mind, and I would love to be able to communicate that message to students."
Contrary to what people close to Jonathan might believe, he is not just a “science guy.” He has many hobbies outside the research lab. Jonathan loves to read, write, draw, play music, spend time outdoors, attend local trivia nights with lab friends in Birmingham, and more. His biggest piece of advice to current LCA students stems from his personal experiences — “Don’t be scared to try new things.” Jonathan stated, “It takes a lot of courage to do new things, but once you put yourself out there, you might actually find something that you really, really enjoy and that you feel passion and a calling for.”
Along Jonathan’s life pathway, there have been many twists and turns. From Loganville, Georgia, to Cleveland, Tennessee, and now to Birmingham, Alabama, he has gained a wealth of experiences. Nevertheless, every step has led him closer to discovering his greater purpose in life and in his career. He stressed, "Part of my calling is really helping people remember why we do this work. When you see how even small advances in treatment can directly affect lives, it keeps the passion alive."