Maura McGrail, Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology associate professor, is one of 10 Iowa State University women the Iowa State Student Government chose as its first honorees for the Women in STEM Initiative in mid-March. The initiative is a project that recognizes women in STEM fields across campus. Award winners were nominated by students. McGrail is the chair of the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program.

As an honoree, a banner highlighting McGrail’s achievements was displayed in conjunction with this year’s International Women’s Day at the ISU Library. The following content is featured on the McGrail banner:

Achievements —

• Discovered essential role for a human cancer gene in neural stem cell proliferation and survival.
• Developed CRISPR/Cas9 precision gene editing tools and brain tumor model.

Research —

• Utilizing genome engineering and gene editing approaches in zebrafish to study stem cell nuclear mechanisms.

"It’s an honor I was awarded by the ISU Student Government Women in STEM Initiative," said McGrail.

Plans are currently under way for next year’s event, according to Kaitlyn Roling, ISU Student Government Senator — UROC. Banners from this year and banners honoring women selected in the event’s upcoming second year will be displayed at Parks Library in March 2020 in conjunction with International Women’s Day.