The Victoria Finnerty Travel Award supports conference-attendance costs for undergraduate GSA members who are presenting research at the Annual Drosophila Research Conference. #Dros22 will be held in San Diego, CA and online from April 6–10, 2022.
Victoria Finnerty, who died in February 2011, was a long-time member of the Genetics Society of America and served the Drosophila community and the genetics community at large in many capacities. A wonderful geneticist, Vickie’s ground-breaking work as a graduate student used high-resolution recombination analysis to dissect gene structure. This set the stage for a 35-year career in which she excelled as a gifted teacher as well as research scientist. Vickie was also a wise and compassionate mentor and teacher for whom interactions with her students was a constant joy. She constantly sought new ways to engage undergraduates in their genetics courses and in research; this travel fellowship fund continues Vickie’s stellar example.
![Saron Akalu](https://s36063.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/lauren-1007506283-1-2-150x150.jpg)
Saron Akalu, University of California, Berkeley
We characterize the timing and evolution of an apoptosis-inducing toxin gene’s horizontal transfer into an agriculturally destructive fruit fly lineage.
![Paulo Belato](https://s36063.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/PauloBelato-1-150x150.jpg)
Paulo Belato, University of Connecticut
I investigate the changes of gene expression in a Drosophila melanogaster model system that carries B chromosomes.
![Megan Butler](https://s36063.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/MeganButler_headshot-1-150x150.jpeg)
Megan Butler, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
I study how an essential protein involved in human cancers might be recruited to its target locations via epigenetic (outside the DNA) changes.
![Collin Louis](https://s36063.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/unnamed-18-150x150.jpg)
Collin Louis, Grand Valley State University
My research is investigating whether expression of the Hdc (histidine decarboxylase) gene in specific regions can be regulated though the process of transcription initiation.
![Gonzalo Nahim Morales Chaya](https://s36063.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Gonzalo-e1647797038776-150x150.jpg)
Gonzalo Nahim Morales Chaya, University of New Mexico
We explore the intrinsic mechanisms that regulate neuroblast identity through brain development.
![](https://s36063.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Untitled-design-150x150.png)
Sherif Negm, University of Rochester
I study the evolutionary dynamics of complex satellite DNA.
![Alani Perkin](https://s36063.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/IMG_09423027-scaled-e1647797023940-150x150.jpg)
Alani Perkin, Harris-Stowe State University
My research project in the Leal lab at Harris-Stowe State University is focused on understanding the mechanisms of pattern formation involved in the development of adult organs using the Drosophila imaginal eye disc as a simple model system.
![Manisha Persaud](https://s36063.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ManishaPersaud_Finnerty_Headshot-150x150.jpg)
Manisha Persaud, Rutgers University
My research investigates the features of the Drosophila oocyte-spindle that make it susceptible to segregation errors, specifically through the study of the Borealin protein in The Chromosome Passenger Complex.
![Christopher Petit](https://s36063.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/3AA9569F-E5EA-4CD6-A994-25E2BEAFB9ED-150x150.jpeg)
Christopher Petit, Loyola University Chicago
I study the role of the protein CG4511 in the development of sperm (spermatogenesis) within the Drosophila melanogaster testis.
![Heidi J. J. Pipkin](https://s36063.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Heidi2022-150x150.jpeg)
Heidi J. J. Pipkin, Bemidji State University
I study innovative high-resolution imaging method that creates standardized conditions facilitating the collection of reproducible, spatial, quantitative data from the eyes of D. melanogaster.
![Caroline Pitton](https://s36063.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/pitton-headshot-150x150.jpeg)
Caroline Pitton, Wesleyan University
My project uses RNA-Sequencing data to identify D. melanogaster genes that are significantly differentially expressed in response to the GeneSwitch GAL4 system.
![Caroline Pritchard](https://s36063.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/headshot_fall2020-150x150.png)
Caroline Pritchard, Lehigh University
I study functions of ribosomal proteins (components of the protein-making machinery found in all cells) and how the loss of specific ribosomal proteins perturbs normal developmental processes in the fruit fly.
![Shanzeh Sayied](https://s36063.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Headshot-1-150x150.png)
Shanzeh Sayied, Brown University
I am researching ALKBH8, a gene associated with intellectual disability, and how it affects learning and memory in Drosophila.
![Joanatta Shapiro](https://s36063.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Joanatta-Shapiro-Headshot-GSA-150x150.jpg)
Joanatta Shapiro, Rutgers University
I am investigating the role of the ROD-ZW10-Zwilch complex in promoting accurate chromosome segregation during female Drosophila meiosis.
![Sequioa Smith](https://s36063.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/sequioa-s-150x150.jpg)
Sequioa Smith, Sam Houston State University
I discover and characterize new genes required for the fruit fly’s retinal development.