Jason Lawrence Choy was born on January 13, 1976 and died on July 16, 2005 at the age of 29. The life he led was full of love, humor, compassion and hard, hard work. There were many facets to Jason’s life. He was at once a son, a brother, an uncle, a best friend, a student, a mentor, a scientist and a conversationalist. In short, he was a number of things to a number of people, but important to all that knew him.

Jason grew up in Bowie, Maryland and attended Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Class of 1994), where he studied in a science and technology magnet program for gifted students and graduated near the top of his class. Jason also competed on the high school’s top-ranked varsity tennis team and held the top-seeded singles ranking from his sophomore year through graduation. Along with receiving the team's Most Valuable Player award in his senior year, Jason was ranked highly at the county and state levels as well.

Following high school, Jason matriculated at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he launched his scientific career by majoring in chemistry. In addition to his studies, Jason led an active social life at the college. In his freshman year, he joined the school’s chapter of Psi Upsilon and later served as the fraternity’s treasurer. True to form, after being accepted in UC Berkeley’s chemistry graduate program, one of the most competitive and prestigious in the nation, Jason graduated from William and Mary in 1998 cum laude.

Jason spent the final seven years of his life in graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley, where he worked in the laboratory of Carlos Bustamante, professor of molecular and cell biology, physics and chemistry. The first two years of his research career were dedicated to building an atomic force microscope, an instrument used to apply forces to biomolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. In later years, Jason’s research turned to single-molecule studies and he began building an “optical tweezer,” an instrument used to measure the mechanical forces generated during energy-dependent proteolysis. Tragically, on the day of his death, Jason learned that his 5-year optical tweezer project was beginning to bear fruit and that he’d soon be able to begin writing his dissertation. The PhD he’d worked so long and hard for was now in its final stages.

According to Professor Bustamante, Jason was both a gifted researcher and a willing mentor to those he worked with, known in the lab for his integrity and his dedication to science. In the weeks following Jason’s death, Dr. Bustamante remarked, “it is impossible to think of another member of our lab whose death [affects] us more."

Jason was awarded his PhD posthumously by the University and his research is being continued (and published) by those he worked with and mentored. In July 2008, the Jason L. Choy Laboratory of Single Molecule Biophysics was opened in new facilities at UC Berkeley and there are plans to establish a lecture series in Jason's name as well. These accolades are a truly unprecedented honor for a graduate student, and demonstrate how highly Jason was regarded in his field.

Though Jason’s scientific achievement is to be commended, his research was just the beginning of who he was. Despite the long days he spent in the lab, Jason made remarkable use of what little free time he did have. He made a great number of friends at UC Berkeley, who will remember him for the way he always won a debate, for his way of making you laugh and for his way of making you realize what is important in life.

Jason was passionate about a number of things outside of science, particularly those related to the environment, human rights and world affairs. He loved music and enjoyed going to concerts with friends and collecting albums. He was also an avid cyclist – even building his own road bike – and participated in the 585-mile AIDS/Lifecycle bicycle ride in 2002. In doing so, he raised over $2,500 to assist people living with HIV/AIDS. In Jason’s own words, that bicycle ride was one of the most enjoyable and meaningful experiences of his life, which sums him up pretty well. It’s that kind of dedication, selflessness and generosity that his friends, family and colleagues will most remember him for.