We’re taking time to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us to learn more about our early career scientist advocates.

Alyssa Paparella

Accessibility Subcommittee

Baylor College of Medicine

Research Interest

Growing up, I did not know that being a scientist was possible as a career. But when I walked into a laboratory at Sarah Lawrence College, I found my passion, illuminated under the microscope. Despite not having experience doing experiments in the laboratory like my peers, I wanted to learn more. When working with my own blood to visualize my chromosomes as part of a laboratory course, my career choice to be a scientist was solidified. I beamed with pride when my professor announced to the class that my chromosome isolation was the best out of the entire class, despite taking longer than anyone else and every other student having more experience working in a lab. It was then that I realized I can be a scientist, despite my disability, because my passion was enough to drive me to succeed.

When deciding on which path to take as a scientist, I reflected back on when a loved one was diagnosed with cancer early in my childhood. I remember hearing the word cancer uttered with such trepidation and only behind closed doors, but I did not understand why. This memory stayed with me and led me to take an undergraduate course entitled “Biology of Cancer,” where I was introduced to Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee. The pages of Mukherjee’s book confirmed my desire to pursue cancer research. After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College, I joined NIH PREP (National Institute of Health Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program) at UC Davis, which allowed me to delve into research and develop my skills as a scientist. Despite the pandemic cutting my experience short, the UC Davis PREP prepared me to pursue my PhD at Baylor College of Medicine in the Cancer and Cell Biology program.

For my current research, I am fortunate to work in two laboratories, one focusing on biology and the other on chemistry. This interdisciplinary approach allows me to combine both of my research interests to address my primary question of how oncohistones drive disease.

As discovered recently, an oncohistone refers to a mutation within a histone that drives cancer. Histones are important proteins that help regulate the accessibility of DNA, which ultimately determines which genes are transcribed or read. Since this is a recent development in the field, I am hoping to understand the mechanism behind the mutation driving various hallmarks of cancer.

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

One of the benefits of pursuing a PhD is that it opens many career options among various avenues. With that in mind, I am keeping my options open and letting my passion steer me in various directions.

One benefit of participating in GSA’s Early Career Leadership Program (ECLP) is that I took a course on science policy through FASEB, which was not offered at my institution and introduced me to a different career path. Due to my interest in advocacy, science policy is appealing. It makes a difference at the national level by influencing, for example, the teaching of science and access to such knowledge and experience. As a disability advocate, I strive to create more representation for disabled scientists to be included in diversity initiatives. This course allowed me to network and meet like-minded individuals at similar career stages, while opening doors to a new career path.

In addition to science policy, I am also passionate about teaching science to the next generation of scientists. I would not be in STEM today if not for the mentors who encouraged me, particularly during undergraduate, which is why I strive to serve the same role for others. At Sarah Lawrence College, I served as a teaching assistant (TA) for a general biology lecture, which ignited my interest in teaching others. In graduate school, I also had the opportunity to TA for a course entitled “Strategies for Success.” These opportunities have allowed me to interact with and serve as a role model for the next generation of scientists. Additionally, working with younger scientists has given me the opportunity to hone my science communication skills.

My goal, no matter what specific avenue I chose for my career, is to continue to make the path easier for those coming after me to pursue STEM careers. I struggled to belong in a field where disability was not well-represented or even discussed. I hope that, through my experiences, I can inspire others and will continue to work towards making representation possible for all. To help me accomplish these goals, I have been sought out as a disability advocate and have been honored to speak about my experiences being a disabled scientist at various venues, including the Annual Biomedical Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) and even to The White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy.

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

My pursuit of STEM has been shaped by my experience as a first-generation and disabled scholar. When applying for graduate school, I did not see many established scientists in the field who looked like me or could relate to overcoming the obstacles of navigating academia as a disabled scholar. To rectify this, during the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, I launched the DisabledInSTEM platform, which is hosted primarily on Twitter but also encompasses Mastodon, Instagram, and its own website.

 Since the inauguration of my platform, I have reached a variety of audiences to discuss my own experiences and stress the importance of disability inclusion, along with accessibility. Each speaking opportunity is progress for the field, as it shows the audience’s interest in learning and making implementations for future scientists. I am honored to have had so many opportunities to share my experiences as only a graduate student and know that I am creating more acceptance within STEM by doing so.

Additionally, through my platform, I have launched a mentorship program. Currently, in its third year, it was launched thanks to the mentors who empowered me to pursue STEM. I recognize that not everyone is as fortunate as I was and hope that, by providing these opportunities, others will feel empowered to pursue STEM. Thus far, the mentorship program has reached over 200 people across nine different time zones with international reach!

My DisabledInSTEM platform has been more successful than I could have dreamed and has started to raise accessibility concerns to an international audience. I aim to continue to spark such discussions throughout my career and demonstrate what it looks like to be a successful disabled scientist.

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

I was honored to initially be contacted by GSA to serve on a Career Development panel entitled “Building an Inclusive and Accessible Environment in STEM” (YouTube link). As a graduate student who at the time had not even completed my qualifying exam, I could not believe that the organization was interested in my perspective as a disabled scientist. This experience highlighted GSA’s commitment to empowering disabled scientists and making STEM more inclusive for all. Due to this, I sought the opportunity to become involved with GSA.

When considering joining GSA, I was thrilled to see the Presidential Membership Initiative, which grants free membership to the society and strives to include traditionally underrepresented populations, such as the disability community. Just seeing that the initiative existed reinforced my reasoning to become a member of GSA, my first national society membership.

Another benefit of joining GSA was the ECLP, which at the time was launching its inaugural Accessibility Subcommittee. As an already established advocate for disability representation, I was excited to meet like-minded individuals who shared similar goals of increasing accessibility.

Through my participation in the program, I hope to accomplish the following goals:

  • Increase representation of disabled scientists, with a particular emphasis on how disability intersects with all identities. This is conducted through various media associated with GSA, such as hosting panels.
  • Raise awareness about addressing accessibility at the initial stages of planning an event, whether virtual or in person. Asking individuals about their needs ahead of time allows proper preparation, but striving to implement as many universal design principles as possible is an achievable goal that would make a significant difference.
  • Build a solid foundation of an Accessibility Subcommittee with guidelines for future participants to learn from. Since this is a new subcommittee, there is a learning curve that will help build this foundation for future cohorts.

Previous Leadership Experience:

  • Founder of DisabledInSTEM
  • Executive team member and mentorship director of Disabled in Higher Education
  • Got Spoons? Disability club leader at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM)
  • BCM LIFE Ambassador
  • Disability:IN Advisory Council member
  • Program coordinator for GiGi’s Playhouse and Sarah Lawrence College
  • Leader of STEMming Women and American Chemical Society at Sarah Lawrence College
, , ,

Graduate student and postdoctoral leaders from the Early Career Scientist Committees of the GSA.

View all posts by Early Career Scientist Committees »

Read more in

  • Thank you, GSA community!

    Thank you for being a member of the Genetics Society of America! As GSA’s current president, I am writing to tell you about Society projects and initiatives that we hope you will find useful in advancing your science and your career. Scientific research is a collaborative and exciting endeavor. Scientific societies like GSA exist to…

  • Collage of 2021 Rosalind Franklin Award recipients

    Where are they now? Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award recipients share updates on their research

    Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award applications are open–make sure you submit your application or nomination of a colleague by September 30, 2024.

  • University of Minnesota researchers map genome of the last living wild horse species

    The study, published in G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics, is part of larger conservation efforts to save Przewalski’s horse.

  • Congratulations to the Spring 2024 DeLill Nasser Awardees!

    GSA is pleased to announce the recipients of the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics for Spring 2024! Given twice a year to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, DeLill Nasser Awards support attendance at meetings and laboratory courses. The award is named in honor of DeLill Nasser, a long-time GSA supporter and National Science Foundation…

  • Carolyn Damilola headshot

    Carolyn Damilola: an NFS Rising Scientist on a lifelong quest to learn more

    Carolyn Damilola is an NFS Rising Scientist from Nigeria doing respiratory system research and paving the way for scientists from underrepresented communities through mentorship.

  • Text over a blue background image: Apply for up to $2,000 for your project from the Starter Culture Microgrant Program.

    What does a good microgrant proposal look like?

    Members of the Microgrant Review Committee share their tips for a successful proposal.

  • A blurred image of a human face is shown against a dark background.

    The first piece of the facial recognition puzzle

    New research in GENETICS gives a first peek at the molecular pathway involved in recognizing faces.

  • New Senior Editor Amy MacQueen joins GENETICS

    A new senior editor is joining GENETICS in the Genome Integrity and Transmission section. We’re excited to welcome Amy MacQueen to the editorial team.

  • Close up of an adult zebrafish with blue and white stripes in an aquarium with red lighting.

    Block party on the zebrafish sex chromosome

    Research in G3 identifies a gene regulatory block of the zebrafish genome responsible for overseeing the maternal-to-zygotic-transition.

  • Lemna Minor, the common duckweed

    Unraveling the mysteries of duckweed: epigenetic insights from Spirodela polyrhiza

    Research published in G3 offers insight into the impact of DNA methylation on clonal propagation in asexually reproducing plants.

  • Luciano Marraffini headshot

    A microbiologist’s quest to understand CRISPR in bacterial self-defense

    2024 Genetics Society of America Medal recipient Luciano Marraffini determined how CRISPR-Cas systems destroy genetic targets with precision, paving the way for gene editing technology development.

  • Elaine Ostrander headshot

    Unlocking mysteries of trait and disease heritability in dogs

    2024 Edward Novitski Prize recipient Elaine Ostrander, a pioneer of the domestic dog model, discovered numerous genes affecting dog size, morphology, behavior, and disease susceptibility—many of which have relevance in humans.

  • NSF-funded BIO-LEAPS Grant to Support Culture Change in Genetics

    GSA and collaborators Personal Genetics Education & Dialogue and Reclaiming STEM Institute launch NSF-funded BIO-LEAPS project to support culture change in genetics 

    We are thrilled to announce that the Genetics Society of America (GSA) is collaborating with the Personal Genetics Education & Dialogue (PGED) based in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, and the Reclaiming STEM Institute (RSI) on a Leading Culture Change Through Professional Societies of Biology (BIO-LEAPS) grant from the U.S. National Science…

  • Daman Saluja: Navigating Science and Policy in India

    In the Paths to Science Policy series, we talk to individuals who have a passion for science policy and are active in advocacy through their various roles and careers. The series aims to inform and guide early career scientists interested in science policy. This series is brought to you by the GSA Early Care­er Scientist…

  • Deborah Andrew headshot

    A fly geneticist’s journey into discovering rules of organ development

    2024 George W. Beadle Award recipient Deborah Andrew discovered new genes and pathways in Drosophila salivary gland organogenesis. Now, her work can help optimize cell secretion in therapeutic applications and fight malaria.

  • Małgorzata Gazda's headshot

    Małgorzata Gazda: How receiving the DeLill Nasser Award helped her land her dream job

    Have you ever experienced an event that changes the course of your life, or in this case, your career? Małgorzata (Gosia) Gazda is Assistant Professor at the University of Montreal and in 2022, she received the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics, which she used to attend and present at the 2022 Population,…

  • Hongyu Zhao joins GENETICS as new Senior Editor

    A new senior editor is joining GENETICS in the Statistical Genetics and Genomics section. We’re excited to welcome Hongyu Zhao to the editorial team.

  • Julio Molina Pineda at TAGC 2024

    GSA Member Julio Molina Pineda Receives DeLill Nasser Award, Shines at TAGC 2024 

    “At any career stage, the GSA membership is an amazing investment for any genetics professional!” Julio Molina Pineda is a PhD Candidate in Cell and Molecular Biology and a Research Assistant at the University of Arkansas, and a Doctoral Academy Fellow at the Lewis Lab. In 2023, Julio was awarded the DeLill Nasser Award for…

  • Ed Grell at his dissecting microscope using ether to anesthetize his flies.

    In Memoriam: Ellsworth Herman Grell (1932–2023), a pioneer of Drosophila genome engineering and annotation

    Ellsworth (Ed) Grell blessed the Drosophila community through three enduring legacies: as a pioneer of chromosome mechanics, as a primary organizer and synthesizer of genetic knowledge in Drosophila, and as a graceful mentor to those fortunate to have known him personally. Ed grew up in rural Nebraska, completed his undergraduate studies at Iowa State, and…

  • Congratulations to the #Fungal24 Poster Award winners!

    We are pleased to announce the recipients of the GSA Poster Awards for posters presented at the 32nd Fungal Genetics Conference! Undergraduate and graduate student members of GSA were eligible for the awards, and a hard-working team of judges made the determinations. Congratulations to all! Felicia Ebot Ojong, The University of Georgia My research is focused…

  • Poster presentation tips for TAGC 2024

    You’ve been selected to present a poster at The Allied Genetics Conference 2024 in March—you’ve celebrated, made plans to attend, now what? This is an exciting opportunity to showcase your research and engage with fellow members of the genetics community, so you want to make sure you’re prepared. We wanted to offer you some tips…

  • Maximize your TAGC 2024 experience 

    A guide to all that National Harbor & DC have to offer Are you joining us for The Allied Genetics Conference 2024 in March? Make the most of your #TAGC24 experience in National Harbor! We know the science will keep you busy, but you deserve to unwind and have some fun, so we’ve curated a…

  • Early Career Leadership Spotlight: Sarah Petrosky

    We’re taking time to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us to learn more about our early career scientist advocates. Sarah PetroskyMultimedia SubcommitteeUniversity of Pittsburgh Research Interest I am interested in understanding adaptation that has been happening recently in populations by dissecting the ways that genes underlying an adaptation…

  • TAGC 2024 Early Career Award Winners

    GSA is pleased to announce the winners of the early career awards presented at The Allied Genetics Conference 2024. These awards are specific to particular TAGC communities and recognize early career scientists’ outstanding work on their respective research organisms. The awardees will present their talks in keynote sessions at TAGC 2024.  Don’t miss the opportunity…

  • Preeminent geneticists recognized with revamped GSA Awards

    In 2022, GSA’s Board of Directors launched an audit to review the five major awards conferred by the Society. Today, we are thrilled to announce the recipients of the reimagined GSA Awards, including the new Genetics Society of America Early Career Medal. The scientists honored this year are recognized by their peers for their outstanding…

  • Fly Board funds outreach programs to spread the word about Drosophila research

    In 2020, the Fly Board voted to use part of its reserve fund to support efforts to increase trainee participation as well as equity and diversity in the Drosophila community. An awards committee decides how the money will be spent each year, and from 2020–2022, the committee posted a very broad call for applications from…

  • New members of the GSA Board of Directors: 2024–2026

    We are pleased to announce the election of four new leaders to the GSA Board of Directors: 2024 Vice President/2025 President Brenda Andrews Professor, University of Toronto It’s an honor to continue my association with the Society by serving as Vice President of the Board of Directors. I have broad knowledge of the ongoing activities…

  • New members of the GSA Board of Directors: 2025–2027

    We are pleased to announce the election of six new leaders to the GSA Board of Directors: 2025 Vice President/2026 President Cassandra Extavour Timken Professor of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology and of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Harvard University, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator “Read this,” he said, “it will change your life.” My undergraduate…

  • Congratulations, Spring 2025 Victoria Finnerty Travel Award recipients!

    The Victoria Finnerty Undergraduate Travel Award supports conference-attendance costs for undergraduate GSA members who are presenting research at the Annual Drosophila Research Conference. #Dros25 will be held in San Diego, CA from March 19–23, 2025. 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…

  • Meet embGAN, a revolution for cell lineage studies

    New research in GENETICS reports an automated pipeline for cell lineage tracing that massively reduces manual analysis time.