DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics

DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics

In recognition of the critical role DeLill Nasser played for the discipline and for her love of genetics, in 2001, The Genetics Society of America established The DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics, an award for graduate students and postdoctoral trainees, to support travel costs for young geneticists to attend national and international meetings and enroll in laboratory courses. The Award is named for long-time GSA member and National Science Foundation Program Director in Eukaryotic Genetics, DeLill Nasser.

Nasser, who died in 2000, was at NSF for more than 22 years and was considered the “patron saint” of genetics and friend of many geneticists. She was primarily interested “in the science” and because of this interest championed the funding of the genomic sequencing of Arabidopsis and research in Drosophila. Giving them time and support, Nasser enabled researchers to work on genetic problems, sometimes seemingly obscure, which resulted in significant progress in genetics research.

Nasser was especially supportive of young scientists, people who were beginning their careers and those trying to open new areas of genetic inquiry.

Members of the DeLill Nasser Selection Committee are: Thomas Kaufman, Chair, Philip Harriman and Scott Hawley. At least one award, and sometimes more, is given annually to a graduate student or postdoctoral trainee. For a list of past recipients, please click here.

Each year, GSA membership is asked to contribute to the fund. Checks should be written to The Genetics Society of America with “DeLill Nasser Fund” written in the lower left memo, and mailed to:
Elaine Strass
Executive Director
Genetics Society of America
9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20814-3998
Email: estrass@genetics-gsa.org
Tel: 301-634-7301