The Genetics Society of America, a leading international organization of nearly 6,000 genetics researchers and educators, has announced the latest recipients of its prestigious DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics, including Julio Molina Pineda, a doctoral candidate in the cell and molecular biology program.

He was awarded the prize to present his dissertation research at The Allied Genetics Conference (TAGC24). The award supports geneticists in their graduate or postdoctoral career stages by subsidizing participation in conferences and laboratory courses.

Molina Pineda, born and raised in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, graduated summa cum laude from University of the Ozarks in Clarksville with degrees in molecular biology, chemistry and a mathematics minor. He then received a Doctoral Academy Fellowship to attend the U of A. His graduate research focuses on using yeast to understand why certain individuals are particularly susceptible to toxic effects of the Parkinson's disease-related protein alpha-synuclein. His doctoral adviser is Jeffrey A. Lewis, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

Lewis said, "This is a tremendous honor for Julio. The Genetics Society of America is one of the premier scientific societies, and the DeLill Nasser Award is highly competitive. This award speaks to the high esteem the selection committee had for Julio's scientific record and project. I couldn't be more thrilled for Julio!"

The DeLill Nasser award will help Molina Pineda attend TAGC24, where he will share with the community how his research is identifying candidate genes that protect against a-syn toxicity or exacerbate it. As a member of the GSA's Policy and Advocacy Committee, Molina Pineda was also invited to attend Capitol Hill Day, a conference event where he gets to interact with policymakers to discuss his interest in regulations of modern genetic manipulation.

Molina Pineda is immensely grateful with the Genetics Society of America for providing him with the opportunities to exploit his potential and showcase the capabilities of scientists from under-represented backgrounds. During his two-year tenure as co-chair in the GSA's Early Career Leadership Program, Molina Pineda has been able to publish several thought-provoking writing pieces and interviews ranging from the genetics of migration to scientific elitism. Molina Pineda hopes his experiences with Genetics Society of America, including his current effort to draft ethical recommendations for modern genetic manipulation, serve as a clear example on the importance of immigrants in our scientific endeavors.