Congratulations to all!

Felicia Ebot Ojong, The University of Georgia

My research is focused on understanding the mechanisms that regulate facultative heterochromatin in the model fungus Neurospora crassa.

Erika Kroll, Rothamsted Research

I use dual co-expression network analysis to model and subsequently validate genetic processes underlying the infection caused by the pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum in its host, wheat.

Anna Mackey, Duke University 

I study stress-induced transposon mobilization and genome evolution in Cryptococcus neoformans.

Halie Martin, University of Colorado Colorado Springs

My research focuses on diversity analyses to understand the impact that per- and polyfluorinated compounds have on microbe communities.

Shantala Mounichetty, INRAE

My research focuses on understanding the role of a Sclerotinia sclerotiorum gene regulator linking metabolism and virulence.

Sébastien Ortiz, The University of Manchester

I work on characterizing host-pathogen interactions between fungal spores and airway epithelial cells

Thomas Sauters, Vanderbilt University

I study non-pathogenic fungal genotypic and phenotypic variation revealing novel information about fungal virulence.

Alan Wanke, The Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU)

I study Mucoromycotina ‘Fine Root Endophytes’—a new window into the evolution of mycorrhizal symbioses.

Samantha González-Téllez, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California

My work is focused on elucidating the mechanisms of vesicular transport of chitosomes in Neurospora crassa.

We are pleased to announce the GSA Poster Award winners from the 24th International C. elegans Conference! Undergraduate and graduate student members of the GSA were eligible for the awards, and a hard-working team of judges made the determinations.

Congratulations to all!

Zachary Bush, University of Oregon

“Mapping meiotic crossover sites in individual C. elegans spermatocyte and oocyte genomes by whole-genome sequencing”

Elizabeth DiLoreto, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

“Shaping Brain Function with Microbes”

Kinsey Fisher, Duke University,

“Investigating the role of chromatin structure in starvation resistance via novel histone variant hil-1/H1-0”

Majdulin Istiban, KU Leuven

“Ancient glycoprotein hormone system regulates growth an intestinal function“

Dalton Meadows, Arizona State University

“miRNA Expression and Strand Selection in C. elegans”

Sabrina Montresor, University of Bremen

“The chaperone HSP-110 modulates Aβ1-42 aggregation in C. elegans”

Federico Pini, University of British Columbia

“Inter-class axon-axon interaction defines tiled synaptic innervation of DA-class motor neurons in C. elegans”

Sigma Pradhan, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Switzerland

“Parental dietary restriction delays offspring growth due to suboptimal ribosome provisioning”

Congratulations to all the winners of poster awards at the Yeast Genetics Meeting 2022!

Undergraduate 

Austin Lytle, Morehead State University

Poster Title: Genetically engineering a strain of S. cerevisiae with a single circular chromosome

“Using our experimental approach, I successfully circularized Ch. II in S. ceraviseae and current analysis shows no phenotypic differences between the circular and wild type strain.”

Naomi Moresi, University of Washington

Poster Title: yEvo Lab: A University-High School Collaboration to Evolve Caffeine Tolerance in Yeast

“Working in collaboration with high school classrooms to evolve caffeine tolerance in yeast through experimental evolutions.”

Vanessa Pereira, Concordia University

Poster Title: Genetic Network Rewiring Between Distantly Related Yeast Species

“I investigate the conservation of the genetic interaction network between two distantly related yeast species, Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.”

Graduate 

Julie Chuong, New York University

Poster Title: The effect of genome architecture on copy number variant dynamics during adaptive evolution

“I study the effects of natural and genome variation on copy number variant formation and dynamics during adaptive evolution.”

Kate Morse, UC Berkeley

Poster Title: Investigating Transcriptional Interference Induced by Long Undecoded Transcript Isoform (LUTI) Expression

“I study the mechanism underlying transcriptional repression that occurs by reathrough transcription from long noncoding mRNAs called LUTIs.”

Dayag Sheykhkarimli, University of Toronto

Poster Title: Environmental protein interaction dynamics at proteome scale

“We multiplexed millions of Yeast Two-Hybrid experiments across dozens of perturbations via Barcode Fusion Genetics technology, yielding the first atlas of proteome-wide dynamic interactome maps for yeast.”

Karla Zuniga Gonzalez, The University of Manchester 

Poster Title: Regulation and consequences of SNF1/AMPK complex control across different stress conditions. 

“Understanding how the stress-specific coordination of SNF1 kinase complex aligns the adaptive response to glucose depletion and oxidative stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.”

We are pleased to announce the GSA Poster Award winners from the 31st Fungal Genetics Conference!

Congratulations to all!

Jorge Lightfoot, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center  

Fungal hypoxia adaptation is critical for the establishment of keratitis

vayu maini rekdal, UC Berkeley

CRISPR-Cas9 engineering of A. oryzae for meat-like flavor and appearance

Amber Matha, University of Georgia

Sre1, a transcription factor controlling ergosterol biosynthesis, stimulates response to nickel, an important micronutrient for fungi

Carla Gonçalves, Vanderbilt University

A diversified metabolic toolkit in budding yeasts linked to ecological adaptation

Elizabeth Gaylord, Washington University in St. Louis

The phosphatase Sac1 mediates capsule secretion in Cryptococcus neoformans

Asiya Gusa, Duke University

Transposon mobilization elevated by heat stress causes genome-wide mutations in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus deneoformans

Mona Pokharel, Rutgers University

Characterization of the bHLH family transcription factor for their function in inositol metabolism regulation in Cryptococcus neoformans

David Goich, University at Buffalo

Gcn2 compensates for the absence of Hog1 in Cryptococcus neoformans

Nicola Case, University of Toronto

Global Analysis of Circuitry Governing Candida albicans Morphogenesis within Host Immune Cells

Antonio Serrano, Université Côte d’Azur

Hyphal branch formation in the opportunistic human pathogen Candida albicans

Diana Gomez De La Cruz, The Sainsbury Laboratory

Convergent recognition of the Magnaporthe oryzae host specificity determinant PWL2 in divergent grass species

Ben Auxier, Wageningen University & Research 

Association of nonself recognition and an NLR like locus in Coprinopsis cinerea

We are pleased to announce the GSA Poster Award winners from the 23rd International C. elegans Conference! Undergraduate and graduate student members of the GSA were eligible for the awards, and a hard-working team of judges made the determinations.

Congratulations to all!

Madeline Beer, University of Toronto

“Investigating the Role of sRNA and Argonautes in Intercellular Communication”

Mohannad Dardiry, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology

“Dissecting the genetic architecture underlying mouth dimorphism in Pristionchus pacificus identifies cis -regulatory variation in a supergene locus.”

Mohamed Elaswad, Central Michigan University,

“The Role of ERK/MPK-1 in Modulating Condensation of RNA Binding Proteins in The Germ Line”

Bhaswati Ghosh, Louisiana State University

“A fat-promoting botanical extract from Artemisia scoparia acts as longevity modifier in C. elegans“

Grace McIntyre, Marian University

“The role of ceramide metabolism enzymes, ceramide synthase and acid sphingomyelinase, on lipid metabolism”

Evelyn Popiel, University of Toronto

“The role of the kinase MRCK-1 in excretory canal development”

Hagar Setty, Weizmann Institute of Science

“Sexually dimorphic neuronal circuitry drives distinct mechanosensory responses”

We are pleased to announce the GSA Poster Award winners from the 62nd 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: Umayr R. Shaikh

Institution: Butler University

Poster Title: “Exploring size scaling relationships in the developing Drosophila egg chamber”

2nd Place: Sarah Sims

Institution: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Poster Title: “Consequences of the Loss of Multiple HP1 Proteins in Drosophila melanogaster“

3rd Place: Abigail Wukitch

Institution: Bucknell University

Poster Title: “The limits of chronic infection induced protection during secondary infection in Drosophila melanogaster“

Graduate Students

1st Place: Mehrnaz Afkhami مهرناز افخمی

Institution: University of Oklahoma

Poster Title: “The genetic and neuronal bases of a coevolved reproductive trait in female Drosophila“

2nd Place: Alexander J. Barron

Institution: Johns Hopkins University

Poster Title: “Drosophila gut bacteria regulate the growth of invasive microbes both in culture and in the host gut environment”

3rd Place: Jullien Flynn

Institution: Cornell University

Poster Title: “Multiple sex chromosome-autosome fusions associated with high satellite DNA content in Drosophila virilis“

We are pleased to announce the GSA Poster Award winners from the 60th 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: Tanner Call

Institution: Brigham Young University – Provo

Poster Title: The gut microbiome as a driver of host dietary preference in Drosophila melanogaster

2nd Place: Jasmina Abdalla

Institution: George Washington University

Poster Title: Epigenetic Inheritance of Alcohol Sensitivity in Drosophila melanogaster

3rd Place: Sylvia Durkin

Institution: The Rockefeller University

Poster Title: Chemosensory and Behavioral Evolution in Drosophila suzukii: Implications for Adaptive Pest Activity

Graduate Students

1st Place: Hongru Hu

Institution: Florida State University

Poster Title: Genomic and neurogenetic approaches reveal a role of dpr- and DIP-expressing neurons in courtship behaviors

2nd Place: Kayla Gjelsvik

Institution: MDI Biological Laboratory and University of Maine

Poster Title: Polyploid cell growth restores tissue mechanics post injury

3rd Place: Natalie Vaisman

Institution: Boston University

Poster Title: A gut filling: the kinetics of the Wolbachia colonization in Drosophila guts

Congratulations to all the winners of poster awards at the 2019 Fungal Genetics Conference!

Fabrizio Alberti
Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellow, University of Warwick

“The aim of my research is to understand how antibiotic and anticancer terpenoid molecules are made by basidiomycete fungi.”

María Angélica Bravo Núñez
Graduate student, Stowers Institute for Medical Research

“I study how parasitic DNA elements sabotage the process of making gametes (e.g. sperm) to learn about the origins of infertility.”

Sara Calhoun
Postdoc, DOE Joint Genome Institute

“We developed an automated metabolic modeling tool and applied it to compare the metabolism of diverse fungal species.”

Ci Fu
Postdoc, Duke University

“In this study, we showed that a global human fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus deneoformans, utilizes a unique sexual cycle to upregulate the pheromone response pathway and enhance competitiveness in the courtship phase of mating.”

Raphael Gabriel
PhD Candidate, Lawrence Berkeley Lab

“I study determining the factors that enable high cellulase production with the fungus Thermoascus aurantiacus.”

Claudio Greco
Postdoc, University of Wisconsin-Madison

“I study biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in fungi.”

Murat Can Kalem
PhD Student, University at Buffalo, SUNY

“I am working on protein arginine methylation and how this post-translational modification regulates long non-coding RNAs in Cryptococcus neoformans.”

Daniela Nordzieke
Postdoc, Georg August University Goettingen

“I study how two distinct propagules of a fungal maize pathogen explore specific infection strategies and lifestyles.”

Sébastien Ortiz
PhD Candidate, University of Wisconsin, Madison

“I study characterizing triggers of spore germination of human fungal pathogens.”

Klaas Schotanus
Postdoc Associate, Duke University

“I studied the deletion of a centromere results in unstable neocentromeres, at elevated temperature chromosome fusion occurs and this leads to 13 instead of 14 chromosomes.”

Rebecca Spanner
PhD Student, North Dakota State University

“I study identifying key mutations for fungicide resistance in an important fungal pathogen of sugar beet, Cercospora beticola.”

Javier Tabima
Postdoc Scholar, Oregon State University

“I study fungal evolutionary genomics and population genetics”.

Andrew Urquhart
Postdoc, University of Melbourne

“I study identification and characterization of the gene cluster for the synthesis of viriditoxin in Paecilomyces variotii.”

Ian Will
PhD Student, University of Central Florida

“I study a behavior-manipulating fungal parasite of ants, and is seeking to characterize the molecular mechanisms and underlying fungal genes driving this parasitic manipulation.”

Congratulations to all the winners of poster awards at the 2018 Population, Evolutionary, and Quantitative Genetics Conference!

Graduate Students

Matthew Osmond
University of British Columbia
Poster title: Genetic paths to evolutionary rescue
 

Paloma Medina
University of California, Santa Cruz
Poster title: Estimating the Prevalence of Wolbachia Across Arthropod and Nematode Taxa
 

Ankeeta Shah
University of Chicago
Poster title: The impact of genetic variation on mRNA splicing in human tissues

Postdocs

Priscilla Erickson
University of Virginia
Poster title: Hybrid swarm-based association mapping and evolution of ovarian diapause in Drosophila melanogaster
 

Nathaniel Sharp
University of British Columbia
Poster title: The Genome-Wide Rate and Spectrum of Spontaneous Mutations Differ Between Haploid and Diploid Yeast
 

Alison Wardlaw
University of Minnesota
Poster title: Sexual conflict can constrain the evolution of reproductive isolation

Special Recognition — Undergraduate Research

Poster title: The hidden contributions of women to theoretical population genetics

Samantha K. Dung¹, Andrea Lopez¹, Ezequiel Lopez Barragan¹, Rochelle-Jan Reyes¹, Ricky Thu¹, Edgar Castellanos¹, Francisca Catalan¹, Emilia Huerta Sanchez², Rori Rohlfs^1
1San Francisco State University
²University of California, Merced

We are pleased to announce the GSA Poster Award winners from the 59th 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: Elizabeth Hemenway

Institution: University of Missouri-Kansas City

Poster Title: The Surprising composition of a synaptonemal polycomplex

Authors: Elizabeth Hemenway, Stacie Hughes, R. Scott Hawley

2nd Place: Emily Rivard

Institution: College of the Holy Cross

Poster Title: De novo evolved genes have essential roles in male Drosophila reproduction

Authors: Emily Rivard, E. Scott, J. Schmitz, K. Kelleher, E. Bornberg-Bauer, Geoffrey Findlay

3rd Place: Leah Anderson

Institution: The Ohio State University

Poster Title: Determining binding specificities of cell adhesion molecules from Drosophila and other related Dipterans

Authors: Leah Anderson and Mark Seeger

Graduate Students

1st Place: Erez Cohen

Institution: Duke University Medical School

Poster Title: A switch from compensatory proliferation to compensatory hypertrophy in the injured Drosophila hindgut

Authors: Erez Cohen, S. Allen, Don Fox

2nd Place: Ankita Sarkar

Institution: University of Dayton

Poster Title: Wingless, a mediator of crosstalk between Amyloid-beta 42 expressing and wild-type neurons in Alzheimer’s disease

Authors: Ankita Sarkar, J. Kofler, M. Kango-Singh, Amit Singh

3rd Place: Jackie Bubnell

Institution: Cornell University

Poster Title: Expanding functional horizons or evolutionary combat? Evaluating drivers of the rapid evolution of bag of marbles in Drosophila.

Authors: Jackie Bubnell and Chip Aquadro