Scientific program and abstract submissions 

With a scientific program like no other, the organizers are excited to see this year’s abstract submissions. Todd Nystul shared that for him, must-see sessions are always Stem Cells, Regeneration, and Tissue Injury and Reproduction and Gametogenesis, but this year, he’s really looking forward to Physiology, Metabolism, and Aging as well as Cell Division and Cell Growth. His lab is working on projects in these areas so he’s thrilled to get the chance to delve into the current state of science that he may not study in his day to day. “That is one of the great things about this meeting,” he stressed, “You can learn about the latest developments in your own field but there are also tons of opportunities to check out other areas you might not have thought much about before.” Meanwhile, Amanda Crocker approached her can’t-miss sessions list from a different but also important perspective, “As a faculty member at a small liberal arts institute, I am always interested in the education component and thinking about how to bring cutting-edge science to the classroom,” she said. Amanda explained that flies are a great model system for undergraduate students, and to keep them engaged, she looks forward to learning about new techniques, cool assays, or new flies for them to study. Michelle Bland is looking forward to Physiology, Metabolism, and Aging due to the increased sophistication of the use of Drosophila to study metabolism year after year and excited for Models of Human Disease as well as Techniques and Technology. Leila Rieder, a chromatin biologist, is a self-described “evolution fan,” so she’s looking forward to those talks—“Drosophila is so well suited for evolutionary studies for exactly the same reasons it’s well suited for all other fields,” she emphasized. See what we mean? This is definitely your go-to meeting for all things Drosophila! 

To make this scientific program as enriching as possible, the organizers are urging scientists of all career stages to submit abstracts in the many topic areas available. Todd sees it as a useful growing experience at any career stage. “There’s nothing like an upcoming presentation deadline to motivate you to organize your thoughts and data into the best story possible,” he remarked. He has some special advice for early career scientists though, “Getting exposure at a meeting like this is one of the most important things you can do as an early career scientist!” Amanda echoed the sentiment, “It’s a great time to network with more senior faculty—for grad students or postdocs, it’s a great way to highlight skills you might bring to the next step of your career.” And Todd shared several reasons why this is the case—first, you can get really insightful and constructive feedback on your work. He explained, “Drosophila scientists are generally very supportive of each other and get excited about good science. There’s a huge range of perspectives and levels of experience among attendees so, whether you’re looking for advice on the details of your next experiment or ways to frame the broader significance of your project, there’s a good chance you’ll get a lot of excellent feedback.” He added that getting the word out about your research results helps build excitement in the community and gives reviewers of your next grant or paper more context for your work, plus presenting your work is a great way to make new connections with scientists and broaden your professional network.

Todd mentioned it’s not uncommon for a presentation at the fly meeting to open doors for other professional opportunities, including invitations to meetings or to give a seminar, job offers, and others. Amanda explained the impact the meeting has had on her students, “There are activities and events where my students were able to network. They also felt very respected by the community when presenting.” She added that those experiences have helped her prioritize the conference when considering her own attendance as well as bringing her undergraduate students. Leila and Michelle commented on the benefits of early feedback for your research and urged scientists not to stress about having a publication-ready story. Leila mentioned many people are shy about presenting research before they have enough data, “when do we ever?” she quipped, “… or before they know the punchline. Sure, it’s so fun to be able to tell the whole story, but the GSA meetings more than any I’ve ever been to are opportunities to get expert help planning your experiments,” she explained, adding that “Everyone loves a good mystery, especially Drosophilists!” so you may get a rather unexpected “out-of-the-box” idea that takes your research to new heights. 

Collaboration and making connections 

Now, yes, learning about cutting-edge science across a range of fields and getting the word out about your work is very important for a researcher as are opportunities to advance the next stage of your career and improve your next paper or grant submission, but there are other benefits to attending a fly meeting—making lifelong connections. Todd highlighted opportunities to meet up with old friends and make new ones, and find your next mentor or trainee, sharing a story that exemplifies the importance of the human aspect of this conference. “About 15 years ago, I was at the meeting talking with several other young PIs I met there and we decided to go out to dinner together,” he recounted. The meeting was in Chicago so they followed a local who was also attending to an Italian restaurant she recommended. Some people in the group knew each other well but most had only just met or knew each other in passing. “But the dinner was magical,” Todd said. The group stayed at the restaurant chatting for hours about their science and the challenges of starting up a new lab and life in general, and most importantly, they stayed in touch after that. Now, the group continues the tradition of going out to dinner at the fly meeting every year and as the years pass, the group gets bigger and changes, “…but it has still retained the same spirit,” he stressed. “It is one of the highlights for me every year,” Todd shared, adding that this and similar experiences have created in him a strong loyalty toward the fly meeting, which led to his interest in becoming an organizer. “I want to carry on the tradition of showcasing excellent science and building community that has been such an integral part of this meeting for many years,” he stated. Leila’s fondest memory draws a parallel between her experience and her trainees’ – she shared that last year, she connected an acquaintance of an acquaintance with one of her lab trainees, both first gen and applying to graduate school. They ended up chatting for some time, creating a connection that made them feel less alone during the conference but also in the field. “I find this connection happens to me—and likely others—at almost every GSA conference I attend. The Drosophila field are my people,” she explained, adding that she sees deep consideration for mentoring and student wellbeing, which enriches the community and strengthens research.

It’s no surprise then that when asked what he’s most looking forward to this year, Todd responded “Do I have to pick just one?” explaining he loves this meeting for both the excellent science and the wonderful community. “I think this is the single best meeting for hearing about the latest developments in my field so I make sure not to miss any important talks. Additionally, I have made so many good friends there over the years, and I love that we have a chance to catch up with each other every year. Those annual reunions really help me stay grounded,” he explained. Michelle added, “This meeting has been my favorite science meeting since I started attending about two decades ago. The people, the science, and the ingenuity are unmatched.” And Leila shared, “I can’t wait to laugh with my colleagues and complain about grant reviewers—they’re the same people!” 

So, what are you waiting for? 

There’s still a chance to apply for travel funding through the Undergraduate Travel Awards, and to nominate someone for the Larry Sandler Award and the new Hugo Bellen and Catherine Tasnier Drosophila Neurogenetics Lecture (self-nominations welcome for the latter!). Make sure you register by the advance registration deadline of January 21 for discounted pricing. 

GSA and the Dros organizers can’t wait to see you in March in San Diego! 

Hector Mendoza
Communication and Outreach Subcommittee
University of Michigan

Research Interest

My research goals converge around the evolution of sexual reproduction. During my doctoral program, I investigated mitochondrial inheritance, a mechanism that ensures that mitochondria are only inherited from one parent. In the case of humans, children inherit mitochondria from their mothers, as the race to the egg during fertilization takes an important toll on sperm cells that damages their mitochondria. When this maternal inheritance mechanism is perturbed, rare mitochondrial diseases ensue, ranging from ophthalmic manifestations to muscular dysfunction. I decided to investigate the mechanism of biased mitochondrial inheritance from a fungal perspective. These organisms can reproduce sexually but do not differentiate into separate biological sexes. Instead, fertilization happens between two morphologically identical cells. Why would mitochondria need to be segregated appropriately? This fundamental question drives my fascination with the process of sexual reproduction and, accordingly, led to a fresh perspective as I continued my scientific training.

For my postdoctoral training, I decided to explore sex from a completely different lens, this time focusing on the mechanisms that allow for clear differences between biological sexes. Specifically, my current line of investigation focuses on the emergence and maintenance of sex chromosome systems. I am currently using the nematode C. elegans to model how sex chromosomes shape sexual dimorphism at both the genetic and developmental levels. This organism adds an additional layer of complexity to this work, as it comprises a hermaphroditic system in which males are naturally rare. Understanding and further characterizing the regulatory mechanisms behind sex chromosome can shed light on the evolutionary history of sex, in addition to potentially impacting the reproductive sciences.

As a PhD-trained scientist, you have many career options. What interests you the most?

I am interested in opportunities in academia, specifically in leading my own research laboratory and teaching both undergraduate- and graduate-level courses. As I transition into an academic position, I am still struggling with deciding what sort of institution I would like to join. While I would love to start my own research laboratory at a research-intensive institution and fully commit to training the next generation of scientists, I am very passionate about teaching and curriculum design. For this reason, I am exploring primarily undergraduate institutions, which focus on the education of undergraduates in a liberal arts context. I find this particular approach to post-secondary education quite impactful, as the undergraduate experience can be much more well-rounded and students can make the best decisions regarding their career paths. Additionally, I am quite excited to design and implement a research program that caters exclusively to undergraduate researchers, as their time in my lab will most likely be limited. The constant turnover in my lab, however, will mean that multiple students can contribute to a bigger project that can lead to a collaborative publication.

As an undergraduate, financial and time constraints prevented me from doing research and exploring how a biology degree could be used. If I am honest, I might reconsider my own decision to attend graduate school if I could turn back time. I thought it was the only logical path since I was not interested in a medical career. Thus, I want to make sure my future students are better prepared to make life-changing decisions. I am very interested in developing a strong mentorship philosophy both in the classroom and at the research bench. This interest has also made me consider administrative roles within academia and even secondary education.

In addition to your research, how do you want to advance the scientific enterprise?

I have been a non-traditional student for as long as I can remember, juggling schoolwork and multiple jobs to afford my education. I am also an immigrant, so the logistics involved in transferring colleges internationally turned out to be much more complicated than I had thought. These obstacles only made pursuing a science degree even more intimidating. I was constantly told that I was not putting in the hours needed to graduate or to move on to graduate school. Nevertheless, I persisted and completed my degree with flying colors. I will admit that I had a rough time getting to where I am today because I did not have anyone I could relate to. For this reason, I want students to realize that their paths towards their degrees will constantly evolve and will be shaped according to their own personal circumstances. I want to be part of my students’ journeys and be a guiding light when obstacles emerge.

I am also constantly educating myself on alternative science careers so that I am better prepared to provide advice and ensure students feel supported. For instance, I have experience in the clinical field, having worked as a Laboratory Clinical Processor during my doctoral training program. Though I acquired this experience out of financial necessity, I have come to realize that I can tell my students about these career paths, emphasizing that they are much shorter and inexpensive than medical or graduate school. It is still unsettling to think that the majority of STEM students go through their undergraduate careers fixated on one or two career options, even though demand is elsewhere. I want to emphasize that pursuing a scientific career can look so different for any individual. Its impact in society, however, will be rewarding and necessary.

As a leader within the Genetics Society of America, what do you hope to accomplish?

As part of the ECLP, I am thrilled to exchange ideas about effective communication and leadership. Accordingly, I am determined in establishing strong ties with colleagues in fields different from mine. As scientists, we can recite protocols from memory and perform intricate procedures with our hands. However, explaining why we do it is a creature of a different stripe. Programs like the ECLP take us out of our comfort zones, away from the bench, and challenge us to find the right word or visual to help an audience understand complex scientific concepts. During my tenure, I am hoping to venture out and explore opportunities in writing for non-academic settings and make science empowering.

Previous leadership experience

Instructor, Michigan Math and Science Scholars, University of Michigan (Summer 2024)

Editor and Translator, MiSciWriters, University of Michigan (2023-Present)

Instructional Peer Observer, Center for Academic Innovation, Schoolcraft College (2023-Present)

Executive Board Member, Multicultural Association of Graduate Students, University of Louisville (2016-2021)

Andrew Kern
Senior Editor

Andrew Kern is an Evergreen Professor in the Department of Biology and the Institute for Ecology and Evolution at the University of Oregon. His research combines modern machine learning methods with classical probabilistic approaches and large-scale simulation to gain insight into population genetic and evolutionary biological questions. His lab focuses on methods development, creating new tools that empower the field to gain insights that weren’t attainable previously. One fundamental thread that has run through his entire research career is understanding the impact of natural selection on genetic variation in natural populations including models such as humans, mosquitoes, and fruit flies as well as non-model systems such as barnacles and octopuses.  He completed his ScB in Biology at Brown University and his PhD in Population Genetics at the University of California, Davis. Kern was an NIH Ruth Kirschstein National Research Service Award postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Santa Cruz where he studied Computational Biology under the mentorship of David Haussler. Before arriving at the University of Oregon, Kern served as an Assistant Professor of Biology at Dartmouth College, and both an Assistant and Associate Professor of Genetics at Rutgers University.

Thomas Hurd
Associate Editor, Molecular Genetics of Development

Thomas Hurd is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto. He earned his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Toronto and his PhD in mitochondrial biology at Cambridge University, where he studied under Michael Murphy. During his postdoctoral fellowship with Ruth Lehmann at NYU, he used Drosophila to uncover mechanisms of mitochondrial inheritance through the female germline. His current research continues to investigate this topic through genetic, molecular, and cytological approaches.

Why Publish in GENETICS?

Alexander Edward Lipka
Senior Editor

Alexander Edward Lipka leads a research team at the University of Illinois that applies cutting-edge statistical approaches to quantitative genetics analyses, resulting in more accurate quantification of genomic signals underlying phenotypic variation and prediction of breeding values of agronomically important traits. His lab also develops freely available software that enables the broader research community to apply these approaches to their own work. Here are some examples of publications from his lab:

Why Publish in G3?

Antonis Rokas
Senior Editor

Antonis Rokas holds the Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair in Biological Sciences and is a Professor in the Departments of Biological Sciences and Biomedical Informatics at Vanderbilt University. He also serves as the Founding Director of the Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative, an interdisciplinary center that unites scholars from diverse disciplines with broad interests and expertise in evolution-related fields. Research in the Rokas lab focuses on the study of the DNA record to gain insight into the patterns and processes of evolution. Using computational and experimental approaches, their current studies aim to understand the molecular foundations of the fungal lifestyle, the reconstruction of the tree of life, and the evolution of human pregnancy. Rokas is a Guggenheim Fellow (2018), a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology (2019), and an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow (2020).

Why Publish in G3?

Anthony (Tony) Patelunas is an Early Career Leadership Program alum who served as co-chair of the Early Career Scientist Career Development Subcommittee during his time in the program.  

The ECLP, which is currently accepting applications, teaches early career scientists leadership, writing, and networking skills, among other important tools that can be applied to careers in academia and industry. 

Tony gained many essential skills through his participation in the ECLP but one particular lesson stands out to him, “The most important skill I gained is learning to proactively manage my own career,” he shared. Through many conversations with mid- and senior-level professionals who started their careers from a similar place and pursued graduate studies in genetics, Tony was able to create a mental picture of how different careers progress, and envision what he wanted his own career journey to look like. “Spoiler: It’s often unexpected and serendipitous!” he pointed out. He started planning for the next two, five, and 10 years and was more intentional in considering and planning his own skill development and the positions he was willing to accept. 

Through the ECLP, Tony made connections that he maintains until today–his new network supports his decision-making as he consults these trusted colleagues before making big career moves. “The combination of a strong network and the opportunity to build skills and experiences beyond my research environment was irreplaceable to my success afterward,” he explained. 

As he continues to plan his career journey over the next couple of years, Tony hopes to pursue committee work and eventually a Board position with GSA and other professional societies. “The ECLP and the ECS Career Development Subcommittee highlighted the importance of building a strong network in my professional community, and the value of early leadership experience for long-term growth,” he shared. Tony sees serving on committees as another opportunity to continue building and expanding one’s network through regular interactions with individuals sharing a common mission. He also sees this as a chance to develop strategic thinking skills which are key to the growth of an organization, as well as an individual and their career. 

Like Tony, many in the ECLP chose to pursue a career in industry, while others have moved on to positions in academia. Through growing their network and skillset, participants can thrive in whatever career path they choose to take. Apply to the Early Career Leadership Program to gain the skills that will help you succeed as well. 

Applications are due October 16, 2024.

Eugenics is a stain on the founding of the field of genetics, one that modern geneticists must still reckon with. The Allied Genetics Conference 2024 featured a thought-provoking panel discussion on this subject, moderated by past GSA Presidents Denise Montell and Tracy Johnson. Panelists Katrina Claw, Nathaniel Comfort, Steven Farber, Daniel HoSang, and Jazlyn Mooney shared their expertise on the history of eugenics and the ways its ideas persist in both science and society even today. Their keen insights shed light on the interdisciplinary nature of science, highlighting that anthropology, philosophy, and the humanities are all key in the study of science. 

This event marks the start of important conversations for GSA and the larger genetics and genomics community about the field’s history. GSA understands that scientific research takes place in the context of society, and we strive to build an environment in which all researchers from all backgrounds feel welcome and can thrive. For that, we must look critically at the space in which we conduct research, including reflecting on and learning from the past. Even today, bad actors twist the findings of genetics research to support racist ideology, giving this conversation and reflection notable immediacy. 

While acknowledging that this topic can be uncomfortable, GSA will not oversimplify these discussions; our goal is to face this history directly, even as it may require re-contextualizing luminaries in the field. Only through honest reckoning can we move forward toward an anti-racist scientific enterprise.

GSA fully rejects eugenics ideology, and we commit to understanding how it has lived within and outside our institutions and society at large so we can do better as a field and a scientific community. We will continue to address this topic at GSA, creating space for our community to share their thoughts and experiences and to learn together.

Watch the recording of the panel on our YouTube channel.

The Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award, funded by the Gruber Foundation and administered by the Genetics Society of America, supports women in the first one to three years of an independent faculty position doing genetics research in human and non-human mammals and in non-mammalian organisms. This award is only granted every three years; three women receive $75,000 each, over a three-year period ($25,000 per year). 

In 2022, three recipients were recognized for their scientific creativity, originality, and leadership in making new scientific discoveries: Aude Bernheim, PhD, of Pasteur Institute; Kara McKinley, PhD, of Harvard University; and Viviane Slon, PhD, of Tel Aviv University. We chatted with them to see how the award impacted their research journeys and careers and to hear about their experiences as women in science and why these types of awards are essential. 

Aude Bernheim

Aude is a geneticist interested in how bacteria fight off their viruses and how these immune mechanisms are conserved across domains of life. She leads a lab at the Pasteur Institute where she employs a wide range of disciplines mixing bioinformatics and experimental approaches including genomics, phylogenetics, bacterial genetics, phase biology, and more to research these topics. 

Having taken an unconventional path to becoming a biologist, studying not only the life sciences but economics and public policy, as described in the blog post published in 2022, Aude is no stranger to trying new things and taking chances. Her curiosity ultimately led her to heading a lab focused on exploring the diversity of anti-phage systems at different scales, from molecular mechanisms to large-scale evolutionary trends. Receiving the Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award gave her the resources, recognition, and confidence to continue this work. She found the award a great boost for her career—the international recognition underscored the quality of her work, which allowed her to obtain additional funding to support her lab’s research and to establish herself as an expert on a national and international scale. True to her curious nature and passion for learning, Aude explained, “The funding allowed me to start risky projects that turned into major lines of research in the lab.” The lab used the funds to support activities like lab retreats and conferences that brought them closer together, which was key for improving communication and building trust, essential to conducting interdisciplinary research. 

On being a woman in the field, Aude shared, “Women were in the past, and still are, less credited for their science than men.” She explained that this and other obstacles systematically exclude women from scientific areas of research like genetics, but made a case for increasing diversity in the field saying, “Diversity of scientists is a major driver of scientific progress, as it is an incredible source of creativity and innovation. As such, we urgently need to support women to promote diversity.” 

Kara McKinley

Kara is an Assistant Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University and a Freeman Hrabowski Scholar of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Her lab studies the biology of menstruation. She is also the founder of Leading Edge, which looks to improve gender diversity in biomedical research faculty. 

During her time studying cell division processes using live-cell microscopy and genetics and biochemistry techniques at the Whitehead Institute and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Kara fell in love with microscopy. When she was able to start her own lab, she wanted to focus on that drive and was very excited, but also felt great uncertainty–Kara recalled, “During the first few years, I was constantly swinging between: ‘I get to pursue the science of my dreams!’ and ‘What if I can’t deliver?’” Like Aude, Kara wanted to take risks to do great research, and she feels this award allowed her to do so, “It gave me a boost to take risks and push forward bravely. Now we really are pursuing science beyond my wildest dreams!” 

Throughout her career, but especially since founding Leading Edge, Kara has spent time with many extraordinary scientists who are women and other marginalized genders. She said, “Scientific innovation and the scientific ecosystem are better with them in it.” while stressing the need to do all we can to build a scientific infrastructure and community that is worthy of these talented individuals who are currently rising through PhD and postdoc ranks. 

Viviane Slon

Viviane is the head of the Historical and Prehistorical Genetics Laboratory at the Dan David Center for Human Evolution and Biohistory in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, at Tel Aviv University. 

In the 2022 profile, Viviane shared that her interest in prehistoric humans actually started in early childhood. Having a similar and essential quality to Aude—deep curiosity—and being born in a family of readers, Viviane felt the need to go “beyond books” and learn through hands-on experience, opting to conduct physical anthropology research and actively participating in excavations. Being awarded the Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award allowed her to become an independent researcher and do the type of research that she is truly passionate about. “The recognition and financial support provided gave me the confidence to pursue a research path that has been a longstanding passion of mine–retracing the genetic history of the southern Levant through ancient DNA,” she explained. Viviane added that this type of research is challenging due to the difficulty of preserving ancient DNA in warm climates, which requires methodological advancements and extensive fieldwork. For this, you need teamwork, and this award allowed her to assemble a dedicated research group and establish fruitful collaborations nationally and internationally. “This support has been instrumental in advancing our research efforts and laying the groundwork for future discoveries,” she said as she expressed her gratitude. 

Further expounding on the importance of collaboration and championing women in science, like Kara, Viviane added that “supporting the development of women scientists in genetics is crucial because in addition to challenges inherent to an academic career, women often face additional societal pressures and obstacles.” Programs and awards like this one are key to building the confidence young women need to navigate the field and advance their careers. Over the past years, Viviane has felt incredibly fortunate to work with impressive and driven women scientists at all levels of their careers, as mentors, colleagues, and students. “The strength of women supporting, encouraging, and driving each other forward through challenges is a powerful force and, in my opinion, essential to nurture this network to ensure that future generations of women scientists can thrive,” she concluded. 

These three inspirational women in science used the Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award to take risks in their careers, knowing that trying new things and innovating is what often produces groundbreaking discoveries. They also used the award to build a culture of inclusivity, to stress the importance of supporting brilliant and creative women in science, and to build each other up to continue paving the way for other women scientists to do the same. 

Yaniv Brandvain
Associate Editor, Empirical Population Genetics section

Yaniv Brandvain is an Associate Professor of Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of Minnesota working in theoretical and empirical population genomics. He received a BA in Human Ecology from the College of the Atlantic and a PhD in Biology from Indiana University, working on the robe of conflict, cooperation, and co-adaptation in plant evolution and speciation. During his postdoc at the University of California, Davis, he developed evolutionary theory concerning meiotic drive, and he developed population genomic approaches to study the evolutionary origins of self-fertilizing plant species. He is interested in understanding how new plant species arise with a particular interest in how mating systems and genomic conflicts shape plant diversity. His lab combines empirical and theoretical population genomic analyses with collaborative work in empirical systems to study the evolutionary forces shaping flowering plant diversity. He was also named McKnight Land-Grant Professor from the University of Minnesota (2017-2019) for his research efforts and received the Stanley Dagley-Samuel Kirkwood Undergraduate Education Award for his efforts in undergraduate instruction in biostatistics.