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

Filomene Morrison
Diversity Subcommittee
Boston University School of Medicine and VA Boston Healthcare System

Research interest

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severely debilitating psychiatric disorder that affects approximately 7.8% of the general population, with higher rates of PTSD (up to 23%) reported among combat veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Strikingly, rates of PTSD reach up to 46% in individuals living in neighborhoods with high levels of violence and in inner-city neighborhoods. A large body of research performed over the course of the last couple of decades has shown that both PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are characterized by significant alterations in the inflammatory system; that is, individuals with these psychiatric disorders have an increased baseline level of circulating pro-inflammatory players in their blood as compared to healthy individuals.

My research aims to further understand these changes in the inflammatory profile of the periphery (blood) and the brain in individuals with PTSD and depression. To do this, I use data and biological samples from large cohorts that collect biological samples from individuals across time. I also analyze brain tissue samples from the VA National PTSD Brain Bank, which allows us the unprecedented ability to look for markers of inflammation in the brain of individuals who had PTSD and/or depression during their lifetimes.

I am really interested in how genetics interact with environmental factors (such as exposure to trauma) to influence the development of PTSD, depression, and, potentially, this heightened inflammatory state. Our lab uses sequencing techniques to look at changes in DNA, RNA, and methylation. By using multiple approaches to study psychiatric disorders and the onset/progression of PTSD and MDD across a lifetime, our field aims to identify potential interventions and/or targets for therapeutics with the goal of improving the lives of individuals living with these disorders.

What career paths interest you the most?

I am interested in a career where I positively impact the health and well-being of our communities through scientific progress—and where I can work as part of a team to creatively approach tough questions. For these reasons, I am most interested in pursuing a career as an independent investigator in academia with a research focus on better understanding psychiatric disorders. My PhD research on fear and anxiety-related disorders in mouse models and my current work studying PTSD in humans have highlighted the importance of translational research. Translational research tackles a problem in human populations by dissecting its mechanism through basic bench biology and animal models before translating these findings back to the clinic; I believe this cross-talk between disciplines holds the greatest promise for developing treatments for psychiatric disorders.

I hope to pursue a translational research career that bridges the gap between basic research in animal models and human clinical and postmortem research to study trauma, PTSD, and other fear and anxiety related disorders. I am also really interested in the public health implications of these disorders; I want to better understand the genetic and environmental factors that make some individuals more susceptible to developing psychiatric disorders than others, and I want to find ways that research in this area can be used to advocate for improved health of affected communities. Finally, I’m excited to serve as a mentor in academic research settings and to continue science educational outreach efforts in K-12 settings as a way to make scientific research more relevant and approachable to the next generation.

How else do you want to advance the scientific enterprise?

In my work as a mentor scientist and teacher with the Boston Science Club for Girls (SCFG), I helped lead after-school programming in science topics for elementary and middle school-aged girls. The goal SCFG programming is for all lesson plans to be interactive, dynamic, educational and fun; as a mentor scientist, I helped the girls in the club design, execute, and discuss the results of experiments; work as a team on their projects and experiments; and gain confidence in thinking, discussing, and getting excited about science. We also designed lesson plans where our students learned about prominent female scientists, and they had the chance to ask their mentor scientists about their career paths, challenges, and day-to-day lives as scientists.

Often, young students have visions of a scientist as a lone white-lab-coat-frocked person (usually a man) in a basement—it was really important for us to share that science is for everyone and to give them examples of scientists from all kinds of backgrounds. I plan to continue mentoring and doing outreach in K-12 settings and hope to continue improving as an educator while instilling creativity and excitement about science in the next generation. Through these efforts, my goal is to improve access to science education and research for women and underserved communities. I have benefitted from incredible mentorship throughout my career, and I look forward to giving back to my community by mentoring others.  

As a leader in the GSA, what do you hope to accomplish?

I believe that increasing community engagement and understanding of science goes hand in hand with increasing diversity in scientific research. As a member of the Diversity Subcommittee, I am looking forward to helping establish a mentoring program to support GSA members in forging connections within the GSA community. Progress in science is dependent on the exchange of ideas that comes from active discussion between individuals with diverse backgrounds and upbringings. I hope to contribute to the creation of supportive and inclusive spaces within the GSA to help support graduate students, postdocs, and early career investigators in their research and career development. I also plan to continue my work in scientific outreach and public engagement by working with other subcommittees within GSA to learn how to best enhance community participation and engagement with science.

Previous Leadership Experience

,
View all posts by Editorial Staff »

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.