Nine early career researchers awarded for research presented at fruit fly conference
The Genetics Society of America (GSA) and the Drosophila research community are pleased to announce the winners of the GSA poster awards at the 56th Annual Drosophila Research Conference, which took place in Chicago, IL, March 4-8, 2015. The awards were made to undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral scientists in recognition of the research they presented at the conference. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is one of the most versatile and widely used model organisms applied to the study of genetics, physiology, and evolution—and is an effective system for studying a range of human genetics diseases.
"These early career scientists are already making substantive contributions to our field," said Adam P. Fagen, PhD, GSA's Executive Director. "Conference attendees had the opportunity to learn about some exciting research advancements from these talented scientists."
Over 1,500 researchers attended the meeting, and the winning posters were selected by a panel of leading Drosophila researchers.
The winners of the 56th Annual Drosophila Research Conference GSA Poster Awards are:
Undergraduate winners
FIRST PLACE
Jonathan Cohen, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PAPoster title: "The microbiota induces Pvf2 to activate the antiviral ERK pathway in the Drosophila gut."Advisor: Sara Cherry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
SECOND PLACE
Ashley Kline, Butler University, Indianapolis, INPoster Title: "Characterizing a Role for the Misshapen Kinase in Growth of the Germline Ring Canals in the Developing Egg Chamber."Advisor: Lindsay Lewellyn
THIRD PLACE
Irina Pushel, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MIPoster Title: "Genome-wide effects of retinoblastoma family proteins on gene expression and chromatin state in Drosophila melanogaster development."Advisor: David Arnosti
Graduate student winners
FIRST PLACE
George Aranjuez, Cleveland Clinic Foundation & Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OHPoster title: "Myosin activity at the periphery of the border cell cluster promotes its compact shape during migration between nurse cells."Advisor: Jocelyn McDonald
SECOND PLACE
Kathleen Cunningham, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MDPoster Title: "Enhanced protein degradation protects against neurodegeneration in a Drosophila model of c9orf72-ALS."Advisor: Tom Lloyd
THIRD PLACE
Katharine Schulz, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WIPoster Title: "Zelda facilitates chromatin accessibility during the earliest stages of development."Advisor: Melissa Harrison
Postdoc winners
FIRST PLACE
Leila Rieder, PhD, Brown University, Providence, RIPoster title: "The dosage compensation protein CLAMP is involved in non sex-specific histone transcript misprocessing."Advisor: Erica Larshan
SECOND PLACE
Justin Cassidy, PhD, Northwestern University, Evanston, ILPoster Title: "A microRNA minimizes the phenotypic impact of genomic diversity."Advisor: Richard Carthew
THIRD PLACE
Sandra Zimmerman, PhD, University of Washington, Seattle, WAPoster Title: "Imaginal disc growth factors regulate dorsal-appendage tube morphogenesis."Advisor: Celeste Berg
Each poster awardee receives a cash prize, a complimentary extension to their GSA membership, and a copy of Conversations in Genetics, a series of interviews with leaders in the field of genetics. The Society typically awards such prizes several times a year at each of their conferences on genetic research focused on a variety of model organisms.
Cohen and Pushel were also recipients of a Victoria Finnerty Undergraduate Travel Award, which provided support for them to present their research at the meeting.
Provided by Genetics Society of America