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Jeffrey McKnight (1984 – 4 October 2020) was an American molecular biologist. From 2002 to 2006, McKnight attended Bucknell University, majoring in biochemistry. After completing his work as an undergraduate, McKnight continued into Johns Hopkins University from 2006 to 2012, receiving his Ph.D. His research as an undergraduate and graduate centered around an analysis of molecular structures and the applications of chromatin. Afterward, McKnight began his postdoctoral research at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center located in Seattle, Washington. At the Fred Hutch, McKnight developed projects related to microbiology. Expanding on his prior research, McKnight accepted a faculty job at the University of Oregon where he created the McKnight Lab. McKnight continued his long-term research with chromatin and managed the lab alongside his wife Laura McKnight. In March of 2020, McKnight contracted lymphoma. After complications with the disease, McKnight died on October 4th, 2020.

Life and career
In 1984 Jeffrey McKnight was born in New Jersey. McKnight was described as having a natural curiosity that encouraged his dedication to scientific research. From 2002 to 2006, McKnight attended Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, obtaining a Bachelor's of Science in biochemistry. McKnight himself described his undergraduate work as a fundamental mechanism of his career. Soon after, McKnight enrolled at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland from 2006 to 2012. As a graduate student, McKnight conducted various projects relating to molecular biology, eventually earning his Doctor of Philosophy. Throughout his time in university, McKnight produced a multitude of publications and received various honors and awards. In addition, he would meet a fellow researcher and future spouse, Laura McKnight. He began his postdoctoral research from August 2012 to June 2016 at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center located in Seattle, Washington. In 2016, the University of Oregon hired McKnight as an Assistant Professor of Biology as part of their Clusters for Excellence Program. With over 250 applicants applying, McKnight not only obtained the position but received unanimous support from the hiring committee. University biologist Eric Selker noted:              “With Jeff there was no arguing necessary, there was no twisting of arms; It was, ‘Yes, get this guy,’”

McKnight worked as the Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of Oregon and the Principle Investigator at his lab, McKnight Lab. In both positions, McKnight continued his work with chromatin and focused on human-based applications, developing further publications. In early March of 2020, McKnight was stricken high fevers, chills, and an intense loss of blood. He originally believed had symptoms of COVID-19, however, McKnight was diagnosed with lymphoma. McKnight archived his experience through Twitter, documenting the various attempts at treating his cancer. However, the drug treatments and chemotherapy failed to aid McKnight's health. On October 1st, McKnight revealed via Twitter that his condition was terminal and subsequently succumbed to the illness three days later.

Confirmed. Doc said maybe a week or so left. In ER for comfort care. Thank you all for battling with me. October 1, 2020

Personal
McKnight was married to Laura McKnight, a fellow researcher, and Ph.D. The couple began dating as juniors after meeting at Johns Hopkins University. Laura McKnight worked alongside her husband in the McKnight lab and continues to manage the lab after his death. In 2012, McKnight's daughter Katherine McKnight was born on October 8th.

GoFundMe
With the confirmation of his terminal diagnosis, Jeffrey McKnight developed a GoFundMe. The purpose of the fundraiser was to provide financial support to McKnight's wife and daughter. McKnight explained that he lacked the insurance or savings to adequately provide for his family after his death. The fundraiser was highly successful, receiving over $400,000 against a $200,000 goal. In an update, Laura McKnight expressed her gratitude:  "'I can't begin to express how grateful I have been for all of your support - this fundraiser has allowed me to take things slowly and make plans for the future without having to worry about immediately selling our house and finding a new job. I know this was Jeff's intention and it means so much to me that you all helped make that a reality. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.'"

== Publications ==


 * Sequence-targeted nucleosome sliding in vivo by a hybrid Chd1 chromatin remodeler (18 March 2016)
 * Lewis Acid-Induced N-Methyleneamines as Initiators in the Synthesis of Secondary Amine-Terminated Polymers (25 September 2006)
 * The Chromodomains of the Chd1 Chromatin Remodeler Regulate DNA Access to the ATPase Motor (10 September 2010)
 * Rapid DNA-protein Cross-linking and Strand Scission by an Abasic Site in a Nucleosome Core Particle (28 December 2010)
 * Identification of Residues in Chromodomain Helicase DNA-Binding Protein 1 (Chd1) Required for Coupling ATP Hydrolysis to Nucleosome Sliding (23 December 2011)
 * Extranucleosomal DNA Binding Directs Nucleosome Sliding by Chd1 (31 December 2011)
 * Enzymatic Excision of Uracil Residues in Nucleosomes Depends on the Local DNA Structure and Dynamics (31 July 2012)
 * Decoupling Nucleosome Recognition from DNA Binding Dramatically Alters the Properties of the Chd1 Chromatin Remodeler (1 February 2013)
 * Genome-Wide Analysis of Nucleosome Positions, Occupancy, and Accessibility in Yeast: Nucleosome Mapping, High-Resolution Histone ChIP, and NCAM (1 October 2014)
 * Dynamic regulation of transcription factors by nucleosome remodeling (5 June 2015)
 * Global Promoter Targeting of a Conserved Lysine Deacetylase for Transcriptional Shutoff during Quiescence Entry (20 August 2015)
 * The conserved HDAC Rpd3 drives transcriptional quiescence in S. cerevisiae (9 October 2015)
 * A molecular off switch for transcriptional quiescence (29 October 2015)
 * Sequence‐specific targeting of chromatin remodelers organizes precisely positioned nucleosomes throughout the genome (16 November 2016)
 * Condensin-Dependent Chromatin Compaction Represses Transcription Globally during Quiescence (February 2019)
 * Engineered Chromatin Remodeling Proteins for Precise Nucleosome Positioning (19 November 2019)

Awards and honors

 * Presidential Award for Academic Excellence
 * Professor George Morris Philips Prize Finalist (2003)
 * CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Award (May 2003)
 * Jean Dreyfus Boissevain Undergraduate Scholarship for Excellence in Chemistry (June 2005)
 * President's Award for Distinguished Academic Achievement (May 2006)
 * Bucknell University Prize for Men in Sciences (May 2006)
 * Bucknell University Prize for Men in All Disciplines (May 2006)
 * Prize for Outstanding Poster, 11th annual CMDB retreat (2009)
 * Johns Hopkins Biology Department Adam T Bruce Fellowship (2009)
 * Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Career Development Program Fellowship (June 2013)