The Presidential Membership Initiative was launched in 2020 as a way for the Genetics Society of America to invite talented and creative individuals from diverse backgrounds into our community. We are pleased to introduce the inaugural cohort of Presidential Members. Throughout 2021, they will network with one another and with other Society and Board members, participate in GSA Conferences, and be valued additions to our community. Welcome, Presidential Members!
We will be introducing Presidential Members all week, so be sure to check back and meet your new colleagues.
Onyekachi Ewa Ibe
Graduate Student, Chukwurah Lab, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki
I am interested in blood, blood cancers, and related genetic diseases.
Prateek Jain
Postdoc, Copenhaver Lab, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
I am trying to understand stress-induced gene recombination in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Liann Hoang Jimmons
Graduate Student, MS Genetic Counseling, Boise State University
My research has centered around the unique experiences and needs of BIPOC seeking genetics services. In addition, I am investigating how the lack of diversity within the profession negatively impacts BIPOC access to genetics services.
Xin Jin
Junior Fellow, Society of Fellows, Harvard University
I develop and apply scalable genetic and genomic tools to study neurodevelopment and related disorders. Recently, we used in vivo Perturb-seq to study a panel of Autism spectrum disorder risk genes and identify their effects across diverse cell types and molecular networks, pointing to key cellular phenotypes shared by several risk genes.
Monica Lannom
Graduate Student, Ceman Lab, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
I am interested in understanding the role of RNA binding proteins in the genetic underpinnings of learning and memory.
Patricia C. Lopes
Assistant Professor, Chapman University
I am interested in understanding the causes and consequences of social behavior, with a special focus on clarifying how disease disrupts social behaviors and how different social environments affect the extent to which animals feel sick.
Sierra Love
Graduate Student, Hoskins Lab, University of Wisconsin–Madison
I study the molecular mechanisms behind inhibition of pre-mRNA splicing.
Nina Luong
Postbacc
I work on characterizing somatosensory development in mice with a missense mutation in the gene Lunatic Fringe.
Aide Macias-Muñoz
Postdoc, Oakley Lab, University of California, Santa Barbara
My research aims to understand the molecular underpinnings of complex trait evolution using vision as a model. In particular, I want to determine the role of gene function conservation or convergence in eye evolution.
Erica Macke
Postdoc, Klee Lab, Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
My work utilizes multi-omics approaches and translational research to identify novel genetic causes of rare disease. I am also interested in developing new methods to use RNA-sequencing in tandem with whole exome and genome sequencing to increase diagnostic yield in rare disease cases.
Alvin Makohon-Moore
Postdoc, Iacobuzio-Donahue Lab, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
I use genome sequencing and evolutionary analysis to study how cancer cells migrate and evolve within the body.
Gonen Memisoglu
Postdoc, Ruthenburg Lab, The University of Chicago
I’m currently working on elucidating the cross-talk between transcriptional regulation and DNA damage signaling.
Read more in
-
Early Career Leadership Spotlight: Julio Molina Pineda
We’re taking time to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us to learn more about our early career scientist advocates. Julio Molina Pineda Policy and Advocacy University of Arkansas Research Interest My research interests focus on using model organisms to genetically dissect complex traits related to human disease. My…
-
Early Career Leadership Spotlight: Peiwei Chen
We’re taking time to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us to learn more about our early career scientist advocates. Peiwei Chen Accessibility Subcommittee California Institute of Technology Research Interest Far from a harmonious place, the genome is a battleground, where every bit of DNA fights for inheritance and…
-
#Dros23 GSA Poster Award winners
We are pleased to announce the GSA Poster Award winners from the 64th Annual Drosophila Research Conference! Undergraduate and graduate student members of the GSA were eligible for the awards, and a hard-working team of postdocs volunteered their time as judges. Congratulations to all! Undergraduate Students 1st Place: Sofia Karter Lopez, University of Toronto “Rab11 mediates E-cadherin recycling during…
-
Congratulations to the Fall 2022 DeLill Nasser Awardees!
GSA is pleased to announce the recipients of the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics for Fall 2022! Given twice a year to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, DeLill Nasser Awards support attendance at meetings and laboratory courses. The award is named in honor of DeLill Nasser, a long-time GSA supporter and National Science Foundation…
-
New editors join GENETICS, G3 editorial boards
Several new editors are joining the GSA Journals. We’re excited to welcome Ricardo Zayas to the GENETICS editorial board under the Molecular Genetics of Development section, and on the G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics board, we welcome Polly Campbell, Kevin Vogel, Joe Parker, and Ricardo Mallarino. Ricardo Zayas Associate Editor Ricardo Zayas is a Professor of Biology at…
-
Worms and Flies Provide Key Clues to Medical Mystery
This article is part of a series of posts outlining the history and impact of research in experimental organisms. The series is developed in collaboration with the GSA Public Communications and Engagement Committee. By the time Bertrand Might was six months old, it was clear something was amiss. His muscles weren’t developing normally; he was…
-
Congratulations to the 2023 Early Career Leadership Program Cohort!
The Genetics Society of America (GSA) is excited to announce the latest cohort of student, postdoc, and early-career research leaders joining the Early Career Leadership Program. Participants receive training and mentoring while serving on committees charged with understanding the needs, interests, concerns, and challenges of early career scientist members of the GSA. As part of…
-
GSA LOCI: Local Outreach Community Initiatives @ GSA Conferences
Highlights: Local Outreach Community Initiatives (LOCI): The Genetics Society of America is committed to supporting the communities of the host cities of our conferences. This new year, we are excited to reconnect with our GSA community in meaningful ways within and beyond our existing programming. The GSA membership has created a caring and supportive environment…
-
New members of the GSA Board of Directors: 2023–2025
We are pleased to announce the election of five new leaders to the GSA Board of Directors: 2023 Vice President/2024 President Mariana Wolfner Distinguished Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics and Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow My research has focused on the genes and pathways that mediate sexual development and reproduction, primarily in Drosophila. From…
-
Lance David Miller: Lighting Your Own Fire by Finding the Right Resources
By Daniel J. Gironda In the Paths to Science Policy series, we talk to individuals who have a passion for science policy and are active in advocacy through their various roles and careers. The series aims to inform and guide early career scientists interested in science policy. This series is brought to you by the…
-
Graça Almeida-Porada: The Importance of Communication in a Technologically Advancing World
By Daniel J. Gironda In the Paths to Science Policy series, we talk to individuals who have a passion for science policy and are active in advocacy through their various roles and careers. The series aims to inform and guide early career scientists interested in science policy. This series is brought to you by the…