Meet the 2025 Presidential Members (Part 2)

The Presidential Membership Initiative was launched in 2020 as a way for the Genetics Society of America to invite talented and creative individuals with varied life experiences into our community. We are pleased to introduce the next cohort of Presidential Members. Throughout 2025, they will network with one another and with other Society and Board members, participate in GSA Conferences, and be valued additions to our community. Welcome, Presidential Members!

Meet more members in Part 1 of this post.

Dina Navon

Early career faculty, University of the Fraser Valley

My focus lies in understanding how genomes, traits, environments, and development interact to build the vertebrate body, and how tweaks to all of these factors can facilitate evolution. More specifically, I am interested in a phenomenon called “plasticity,” which complex structures to sense and respond to information from the environment within an individual’s lifetime, without waiting around for evolutionary processes. It can further contribute to evolution by shaping the trajectory of morphological change. My research utilizes a combination of cutting-edge genomics and functional assays to determine the molecular basis of this critical ability in African cichlids, zebrafish, and threespine stickleback.

James Nunez

Early career faculty, University of California, Berkeley

My lab studies how human cells employ epigenetics to regulate gene expression. We build CRISPR technologies that enable us to write and erase epigenetic modifications at any site in the human genome. Our central focus is DNA methylation, which is essential for silencing transposable elements, the inactive X chromosome, and is highly altered in many diseases. We pioneer technologies for writing and erasing DNA methylation in the human genome and our tools have enabled us to understand the genes and pathways that interplay with DNA methylation. We blend genetics, functional genomics, and cell-based genetic reporters to probe epigenetic pathways.

Tobiloba Olajide

Graduate student, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Nigeria

My research interests are broadly in the field of neurosciences, with particular interest in neurodegenerative mechanisms related, as well as how these processes are affected by gene-environmental interaction. Currently, my MSc research investigates the influence of gut microbiota on co-occurrence of PSEN1/PSEN2 loss-of-function mutation in Alzheimer’s diseases and nickel neurotoxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Marvin Onwukwe

Graduate student, University of California Los Angeles

My research explores how C. elegans embryos adapt to nutrient availability, focusing on developmental plasticity and nutrient sensing. Preliminary findings show that caloric restriction shortens embryonic gestation and sleep, potentially impacting post-embryonic fitness. I aim to understand how embryos autonomously sense and respond to nutrient stress, particularly through AMPK, a key metabolic regulator. While AMPK’s role in energy homeostasis is well studied post-embryonically, its spatio-temporal dynamics during embryonic development remain unclear. By investigating AMPK activity under maternal caloric restriction, my research seeks to uncover mechanisms that support embryonic adaptation to nutrient scarcity.

Oluwatomisin Omotoso

Prospective Graduate Student, Federal University of Technology, Akure

My research interest lies in exploring the genetic mechanisms underlying diseases, particularly genetic diseases. I am passionate about integrating molecular biology and genetics to unravel gene-disease relationships, identify therapeutic targets, and contribute to the development of precision medicine. I am interested in leveraging model organisms like Drosophila melanogaster to study genetic interactions and disease pathways.

David Oyeniran

Graduate student, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo

My research explores the interaction between genes, gut microbes, and environmental factors in neurological disorders. Specifically, I investigate how gut microbes and environmental pollutants, such as heavy metals, influence the expression of genes linked to brain diseases like autism, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. Additionally, my work examines how dysbiosis and probiotics could serve as potential therapeutic strategies for these disorders. Using C. elegans as an experimental model, I leverage its well-characterized genetic and neuronal systems to uncover insights into these complex interactions, aiming to advance our understanding of the gut-brain axis and its role in neurological disease mechanisms.

Emily Peraza

Undergraduate student, Florida Atlantic University—Wilkes Honors College

I study the Drosophila melanogaster gut microbiome by performing surgeries to remove the crop, or the human stomach equivalent, from the fly. I then track sleeping, feeding, and survival rates through various assays to analyze how they function after the procedure.

Tanya Pelayo

Graduate student, California State University, Northridge

My research investigates the genetic basis of invasiveness in Medicago polymorpha by comparing invasive and native populations using genome-wide association studies (GWAS). I am characterizing multiple phenotypic traits including flowering time, specific leaf area, stable isotope composition, biomass allocation, and other resource-use traits. By identifying genetic variants associated with these phenotypes, we aim to understand which traits and underlying genetic mechanisms facilitate successful invasion. This work combines ecological genomics with quantitative genetics to provide insights into plant adaptation during biological invasions.

Briana E. Pinales

Postdoc, University of Texas at El Paso

My research investigates congenital anomaly syndromes caused by mutations in a gene critical to neurodevelopment. Patients present with developmental delays, dysmorphic features, and brain malformations. We explore the gene’s role during development, the resulting abnormalities, and whether early interventions improve outcomes. I use zebrafish as a model organism due to their unique advantages, allowing the study of lethal mutations that are not feasible in other systems. Ultimately, this research provides valuable insights into brain development and advancing our understanding of congenital disorders.

Katherine Querry

Postbac, University of Pittsburgh

I study the role of ribosome recycling factors in regulating mRNA translation following upstream open reading frames. I use the Drosophila visual system to understand the physiologic relevance of this regulation.

Md. Rajiur Rabbi

Graduate student, Research Assistant, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural

My research focuses on Caenorhabditis elegans as a model for high-throughput anthelmintic screening, host-pathogen interactions, and molecular profiling of parasitic nematodes. I investigate anthelmintic resistance, parasite epidemiology, and genetic diversity, particularly in Theileria species. By integrating molecular biology, immunoparasitology, and bioinformatics, I aim to elucidate host adaptations and parasite evolution. My work employs advanced genetic and computational tools to explore drug resistance mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic targets, contributing to improved parasite control strategies in veterinary and biomedical sciences.

Keyla Ramirez Soto

Graduate student, Dartmouth College

My research is focused on studying antifungal resistance in the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. I currently use biochemical genetic approaches to elucidate the mechanisms of action of novel small molecules. In order to expand the availability of antifungals.

Eric C. Randolph

Postdoc, University of Alabama at Birmingham

I am currently investigating transcriptional sex-specific aging markers across multiple species. I have taken species-specific bulk RNA-seq data from multiple female/male, young/old species and created a pipeline in order to identify ubiquitous and sex-specific transcriptional differences that accompany age across all the species.

Shweta Ramdas

Early career faculty, Centre for Brain Research

My research focuses on genetic variation in Indian populations, specifically looking at the role of mitochondrial variation and transposable elements in health and aging.

Rose Riley

Graduate student, Florida State University

I am interested in the genetic and neural mechanisms that regulate critical physiological processes such as sleep and feeding using Drosophila melanogaster. My work focuses on the molecular signaling pathways and protein interactions that contribute to functional decline associated with aging and neurodegenerative disease. This includes exploring the roles of protein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress in the progression of age-related disorders. By combining genetic and behavioral experimental approaches, I aim to uncover fundamental insights that could lead to innovative therapeutic interventions to mitigate the effects of aging and neurodegenerative conditions on sleep, feeding, and overall health.

Alejandro Rodriguez Gama

Postdoc, Northwestern University

My research aims to identify molecular stress transducers to reveal how organisms integrate stress responses that shape resilience. Currently, I am mapping proteins suffering functional self-assembly under physiological challenges utilizing the genetic model system C. elegans.

Lauren Saucedo

NIH PREP (postbac student/scholar), University of California, Berkeley

When copper is limited, algae can replace plastocyanin, a Cu-containing protein, with a heme-containing substitute, cytochrome (Cyt) c6. Auxenochlorella protothecoides, however, does not have this ability because it does not contain Cyt c6. By genetically engineering electron transport proteins in A. pro, I can reduce its dependence on Cu, thereby increasing resilience and photosynthetic activity for biofuel production. The gene CYC6 encoding Cyt c6 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii will be introduced into A. pro’s genome. The transformed strains will be tested to see whether they accumulate Cyt c6  and are more photosynthetically competent in Cu-deficient conditions relative to the wild-type.

Preston Simpson

Graduate student, Washington University in St. Louis

My research combines molecular genetics and traditional ethology to investigate the genetic architecture underlying complex behavioral traits in animals. Using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, I focus on the role of post-transcriptional regulatory elements in maintaining and regulating the transition between different behavioral states.

Holly Tang

Postdoc, Johns Hopkins University

The discovery of programmed cell death and its biological processes has facilitated identification of important therapeutic targets for the treatment of intractable diseases, such as cancer and heart failure. I discovered that programmed cell death can be reversed. My research focuses on elucidating the druggable mechanisms of this cell recovery process, and aims to develop new therapeutic strategies to treat cell death-related intractable diseases.

Felipe Teixeira

Postdoc, University of Kansas

My research is focused on using single-cell RNA sequencing to map the transcriptomic changes in a pair of Caenorhabditis elegans neuroblasts as they migrate and differentiate into neurons.

Arun Upadhyay

Early career faculty, Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai, India

I started my independent research career in January 2024 in India. Before that, I received my postdoctoral training in Alzheimer’s disease and proteomics in the labs of Prof. Robert Vassar and Dr. Jeffrey Savas at Northwestern University Chicago. My advanced training in the field of metabolic labelling and pulse-chase proteomics provides me skillset to study protein turnover dynamics with high accuracy. I started using this to study neurodegenerative diseases; but later we designed a unique experimental paradigm to understand proteome fidelity during healthy aging. I look forward to using pulse-chase proteomics to understand protein turnover dynamics in different disease conditions, especially those affected by proteostasis failure.

Julie Van De Weghe

Early career faculty, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Microscopic antennae called cilia orchestrate cellular sensing and signaling. When they malfunction, devasting ciliopathy disorders emerge collectively affecting ≥ 1 in 1000 individuals. Ciliopathies range from peri-natal lethal disorders to syndromic, multi-organ conditions to diseases with isolated single-organ dysfunction, highlighting the abundance and diversity of cilia in the human body. My laboratory uses ciliopathies as a platform to understand normal ciliary function and dysfunction in disease by studying 1) the function of newly identified disease-related proteins and their role in pathophysiology, 2) the underlying cellular dysfunction of ciliopathies, and 3) ciliary signaling and cascade missteps in disease.

Diana Wall

Graduate student, Brown University

I use C. elegans as a model organism to study a rare neurodevelopmental disease called Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (AHC). Individuals with AHC experience recurring episodes of paralysis, ataxia, intellectual disabilities, and seizures. AHC is caused by dominant, de novo, point mutations in ATP1A3, a sodium potassium ATPase subunit. My goal is to understand how mutations in ATP1A3 impair cellular function and lead to disease.

Ally Wimberly

Post-Bacc Industry Professional, InVivo Biosystems

My team is developing a drug to treat epilepsy using miRNA.

Claudia Wyer

Postdoc, Cornell University

My research explores the reproductive behaviour, physiology and genetics of the Yellow Fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. I am trying to understand how expression of male seminal fluid proteins and female-produced proteins in sperm storage organs, keep sperm alive and viable.

Not pictured:

Syed Lal Badshah

Marco Duenas

Sarah Ene

Tara Hicks

Brittney Jamieson

Qiong Jia

Luis Fernando Medina Perez

Jennifer Nwoye

Benjamin Ohiocheoya

Opeyemi Oladejo

Joseph Osifeso

P Pallavi Prabhu

Zohre Panahidizjikan