Ametepe Earns Professional Development Award From Genetics Society of America

Selom Ametepe, a global doctoral candidate within the Graduate Faculty and Worldwide Training’s Cell and Molecular Biology Program, not too long ago obtained the DeLill Nasser Journey Award for Skilled Growth in Genetics from the Genetics Society of America, a prestigious nationwide recognition supporting early profession scientists of their skilled growth.

The DeLill Nasser Journey Award is given to graduate college students and postdoctoral trainees to assist prices to attend nationwide and worldwide conferences and enroll in laboratory programs. The award is known as for long-time GSA member and Nationwide Science Basis program director in eukaryotic genetics, DeLill Nasser, who was thought-about the “patron saint” of genetics.

The award will assist Ametepe, a Togo native, in her analysis by funding laboratory programs and journey to conferences.

“I’m honored to obtain this award,” Ametepe stated. “These funds will enable me to attend the following Genetic Society of America convention and get uncovered to the cutting-edge strategies that scientists are utilizing within the discipline of genetics everywhere in the world.”

Ametepe first got here to the U of A in 2018 to earn a grasp’s diploma in cell and molecular biology by way of a Fulbright Scholarship in professor Mary Savin’s lab. Following her commencement, she had plans to return to Togo — till she was approached by Doug Rhoads, director of the Cell and Molecular Biology Program, about pursuing a doctoral diploma.

Ametepe enrolled within the doctoral program, the place she has performed analysis specializing in the nervous system in fruit flies in hopes of transferring data to the human nervous system. She is within the mechanisms that information neurons extensions, axons to kind connections with different neural or non-neural cells. She focuses particularly on the gene Roundabout3, which is crucial to the event of the nervous system. Utilizing a classy genetic engineering method known as CRISPR gene modifying, Ametepe is chopping parts of the gene to find what components are essential for the operate of the protein.

She had many individuals to thank for serving to her earn the award.

“I want to thank my dad, Christian, who’s a lab technician and introduced me to the lab on Saturdays as younger as I can recall,” she stated. “I’d additionally prefer to thank my adviser, Timothy Evans; the Organic Sciences Division; and the College for the Future Fellowship I earned as a doctoral scholar. I additionally need to thank my dissertation committee members: professors Jeffry Lewis, Adam Pare and Chris Nelson. I’m additionally grateful for the Harris and Lacey households, particularly Tina, for his or her love and assist throughout my time within the States.”

For extra details about the Genetics Society of America, go to their web site.