The pandemic may have turned the world upside down last year, but several Iowa State University (ISU) genetics, development and cell biology (GDCB) students and two students affiliated with GDCB overcame obstacles and advanced their careers with aplomb. The Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Harvard University and Mayo Clinic are a few of the places where these graduates are continuing their stellar trajectories. 

Three genetics, development and cell biology (GDCB) students received Sui-Tong Chan Fung Fund Travel awards in fall 2020.

The award recipients are Emmanuel Nsamba, Pallavi Sinha Roy and Vaishali Todi. They presented posters at the Cell Bio Virtual 2020/An online ASCB/EMBO meeting, which was held Dec. 2-16, 2020.

The poster titles are “Tubulin isotypes play specialized roles for efficient spindle positioning during yeast mitosis” (Nsamba); “Distinct tubulin mutations cause similar neurological diseases by inhibiting or hyper-activating Kinesin activity” (Sinha-Roy); and “Role of microtubule generated tension in accurate chromosome segregation” (Todi). The students are members of GDCB Associate Professor Mohan Gupta’s lab.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) recognized two genetics, development and cell biology (GDCB) faculty with awards at the virtual Fall 2020 LAS Convocation and Awards: Dr. Karin Dorman and Dr. Carly Manz.

Dorman — recipient of LAS Award for Inclusive Excellence

Professor Karin Dorman, who has a joint faculty appointment in statistics and GDCB, received the 2020 LAS Award for Inclusive Excellence. Dorman was nominated by the Department of Statistics.

The award “recognizes faculty and P&S [Professional and Scientific] staff who have advanced the college’s mission of diversity, equity, and inclusion outside of their compensated responsibilities through their teaching, scholarship, service, or campus-community outreach.”