Issue 84 of the Genetics Society Newsletter
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
JANUARY 2021 | ISSUE 84 GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS In this issue The Genetics Society News is edited by • Non-canonical Careers: Thinking Outside the Box of Academia and Industry Margherita Colucci and items for future • Celebrating the 35th anniversary of DNA fingerprinting issues can be sent to the editor by email • Genetics Society Summer Studentship Workshop 2020 to [email protected]. • 2020 Heredity best student-led paper prize winners The Newsletter is published twice a year, • Industrious Science: interview with Dr Paul Lavin with copy dates of July and January. Celebrating students’ achievements: 2020 Genetics Society Summer Studentship Workshop, 2020 Heredity best student-led paper prize. Page 30 A WORD FROM THE EDITOR A word from the editor Welcome to Issue 84 elcome to the latest issue of the Thinking Outside the Box of WGenetics Society Newsletter! Academia and Industry”. This little This issue is packed with great news vade mecum for careers in genetics of achievements and good science. The collects inspiring interviews led first Genetics Society virtual workshop by our very own Postgraduate for the 2020 Summer studentship saw Representative, Emily Baker. In exceptional contributions from the Emily’s words, these experiences attending students. You can read more “demonstrate how a PhD in genetics about participants’ experiences in the can be a platform for a career in just interviews with the talk’s winners in about anything. Pursuing a career the Feature section. in academia, industry, publishing or science communication could be for Many more prizes were awarded: you, but so could many others. Why Heredity journal announced the not take a career path less travelled 2020 Heredity best student-led paper by, it might make all the difference?” winners, and James Burgon’s Heredity podcast dedicated an episode to the Enjoy! first prize winner, with insights from Best wishes, Heredity Editor-in-Chief, Barbara Margherita Colucci Mable. This issue also brings you a special treat: the “Non-canonical Careers: 2 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 84 ISSUE 84 . January 2021 For more details please contact: The Genetics Society 1 Naoroji Street London WC1X 0GB CONTENTS Switchboard: +44 0203 793 7850 Email: [email protected] Web: www.genetics.org.uk The Genetics Society Journals Meeting Announcements 4 Heredity Genetics Society Scientific Meetings www.nature.com/hd External Meetings Diary Editor-in-Chief: Prof Barbara Mable Heredity Editorial Office, University of Glasgow, Sectional Interest Groups 8 Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland Genes and Development Genetics Society Business 12 www.genesdev.org Honorary Secretary’s Notices Editor: Dr Terri Grodzicker Life Membership Genes & Development, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Lecture and Medal nominations 500 Sunnyside Boulevard, Woodbury, New York, 11797, USA Local Representatives Committee members Ambassador experience 22 President Prof Laurence D. Hurst, University of Bath Features 24 Shadow President Celebrating the 35th anniversary of DNA fingerprinting: Prof Anne Ferguson-Smith, University of Cambridge From Discovery to Legacy Vice-Presidents Genetics Society Summer Studentship Workshop 2020: Interview with the talk’s winners Corporate Affairs Prof Aziz Aboobaker, University of Oxford 2020 Heredity best student-led paper prize: Student External Relations Prize Winner Interview - a closer look to the winning Prof Anne Donaldson, University of Aberdeen paper & Student Prize Winner Interview - a word from Public Understanding of Genetics the Editor-in-Chef Prof Alison Woollard, University of Oxford Wendy Bickmore is awarded CBE in 2021 NY Honorary Secretary & Website Editor honours list Dr Kay Boulton, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh Industrious Science: A day in the work-life of Clinical Honorary Treasurer Scientist (Clinical Genetics in CHI at Crumlin, Prof Martin Taylor, University of Edinburgh Ireland), Dr Paul Lavin Shadow Honorary Treasurer Special Issue: “Non-canonical Careers: Thinking Outside Dr Alexander Lorenz, University of Aberdeen the Box of Academia and Industry” Policy Officer Prof Rebecca Oakey, King’s College London Grant Reports 53 Junior Scientist Travel Reports / Conference Grant Scientific Meetings Secretary Heredity Fieldwork Grant Report Dr Marika Charalambous, King’s College London Genes and Development Summer Studentships Shadow Scientific Meetings Secretary Public Engagement with Genetics Grant Prof Stefan Hoppler, University of Aberdeen Newsletter Editor Contacting the Genetics Society 83 Margherita Colucci, University of Leicester Postgraduate Representative Ms Emily Baker, University of Oxford Ordinary Committee Members Gene Structure, function and regulation Dr Michelle Holland, King’s College London Dr Cristina Tufarelli, University of Leicester Genomics Dr Araxi Aruttia Odobachian, University of Bath Dr Colin Semple, University of Edinburgh Cell and Develomental Genetics Prof Paola Olivieri, University College London Prof Ros John, Cardiff University Applied and Quantitative Genetics Dr Lindsey Compton, University of Birmingham Prof Alastair Wilson, University of Exeter Evolutionary, ecological and population genetics Prof Jason Wolf, University of Bath Dr Maxim Kapralov, Newcastle University Corporate Genetics and Biotechnology Dr Alison Bentley, The National Institute of Agricultural Botany Dr Marcus Guest, Sygenta Design and Print Collaborate Agency www.collaborate.agency www.genetics.org.uk . 3 GENETICS SOCIETY SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS 4 Meetings Announcements More detailed information and links to event websites can be found at www.genetics.org.uk/events_categories/conferences/ Genetics Society Carer’s Award Functional Regulatory Genomics In recognition of carer’s responsibilities, an award of (up and Disease to) £60/day will be made available to enable members Date: 15-17 November, 2021 and selected speakers to attend Genetics Society scientific Location: Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, meetings and events (including virtual events). Awardees Cardiff University, Cardiff can spend this money as they think will best support their attendance. Applications can be made through the Website: genetics.org.uk/events/functional-regulatory- mysociety portal. genomics-disease Info: Complex heritable conditions such as obesity, diabetes, alcohol abuse, schizophrenia and depression BSDB/Genetics Society Annual affect a significant proportion of the UK population. Spring Meeting 2021 (Virtual It has become clear over the past five years that the Conference) genetic basis of these diseases does not primarily affect Date: 19-23 April, 2021 regions of the human genome that code for proteins but may affect the much larger part of the genome, called the Registration deadline: 12 April 2021 regulatory genome, that controls where, when and by Location: Online how much the expression of genes are turned on and off. Website: https://registrations.hg3conferences.co.uk/hg3 However, compared to protein coding sequences, which Info: It is our great pleasure to invite you to participate make up only 1.5% of the human genome, the regulatory in the virtual joint spring meeting of the British Society genome remains poorly understood. for Developmental Biology and the Genetics Society. This Thus, the focus of this conference will be to invite online conference provides a unique forum to network international leaders in the interdisciplinary study of and socialise with a wide cross-section of the Genetics and the genetics of disease, the exploration of the regulatory Developmental Biology community. genome and the in-depth biology of its activity and The 2021 Spring Conference is expected to attract function, to interact and discuss their work. approximately 400+ delegates, many of whom will be budget holding principal investigators, and we anticipate the participation of many leading suppliers as exhibitors and sponsors. Contact [email protected] with any enquiries. REGISTER FOR MORE GENETICS SOCIETY EVENTS AT: www.genetics.org.uk 4 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 84 5 EXTERNAL MEETINGS DIARY More detailed information and links to event websites can be found at www.genetics.org.uk/events_categories/external-meetings We will happily include any announcements for genetics-based meetings in this section. Please send any items to [email protected] Bioarchaeology early Career Conference (BECC) models and migration patterns, genomic surveillance and the 2021 (Virtual Conference) implications for policies to eradicate malaria. We will also Date: 25-28 March, 2021 explore resistance to malaria drugs and insecticides. Inquiries Location: Online to: [email protected] Website: www.BECC2021.com Info: The focus of the BECC is to showcase the work of Applied Bioinformatics and Public Health bioarchaeology early career researchers. We also have leading Microbiology (Virtual Conference) experts within the field delivering keynotes, panel sessions Date: 5-7 July, 2021 and workshops. Professor Albert Zink, will discuss molecular Location: Online detection of infectious diseases. Professor Lisa Matisoo-Smith, Website: https://coursesandconferences. Professor David Reich, Dr Kenneth Brophy, and Professor wellcomegenomecampus.org Michael McCormick are all participating in our panel session, Info: The 8th Applied Bioinformatics and Public Health providing perspectives on identity, ethnicity, migration and Microbiology conference provides a multidisciplinary forum aDNA. Professor Daniel Bradley will deliver a workshop