2019 Elections: Pan-American Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology
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Below, please find the positions up for election and the candidate information for each position. Nominees are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Place your votes by clicking here!
Below, please find the positions up for election and the candidate information for each position. Nominees are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Place your votes by clicking here!
President-Elect
* Chris Amemiya
University of California, Merced, Nominated by Billie Swalla
I grew up in rural Hawaii and developed a life-long fascination with natural history and biology. This led to a career studying vertebrate evolution, which I’ve been at for nearly 30 years. I have mostly worked in vertebrate comparative immunology and EvoDevo, helped develop the BAC cloning system, and have been involved in many genome efforts, including that of the coelacanth, sea lamprey, and various other critters. For most of my professional life I have been employed in a research institute or medical school. I currently serve on the editorial boards of four peer-reviewed scientific journals, was a Program Director at NSF (IOS: Developmental Systems, including EvoDevo), and have been a standing member on an NIH Study Section (DEV1, 2012-2018). I am a supporter of PASEDB, consider myself a hardened EvoDevo-ist, and was a speaker at our inaugural meeting in Berkeley. I recently moved my lab to the University of California-Merced, the newest UC and first U.S. university built in the 21st century; I am a Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology. I was brought to UCM for my research experience, and to provide guidance and leadership on such university matters as faculty mentoring, equity and diversity, and academic free speech. I also get to teach an introductory biology course, something I had never done. The move has been a fun challenge, and it has given me a whole new perspective on STEM education. Evolution, in particular, is a core principle at NSF and in AAAS’s “Vision and Change,” and EvoDevo has some of the most exciting stories and a high kewl factor. It seems that if we want our PASEDB society and our field to grow we need to get our undergraduates and graduates excited by the work, our stories heard by the public, and establish better relationships with other scientific societies. I will work toward these goals.
* Leslie Pick
University of Maryland, Nominated by Eric Haag & Self-Nomination
I am Professor and Chair of the Entomology Department at the University of Maryland and a member of PASEDB since its inception. Trained as a Drosophila molecular geneticist, my lab has spent the past 15 years examining the functional evolution of regulatory genes in diverse insect species. As a researcher and educator, and as part of a strong Evo-Devo group at the University of Maryland, I promote the importance of Evo-Devo research and of critical thinking to colleagues, students and the general public. I have taken on several administrative roles over the years, including graduate director and department chair. In these roles, I have honed my organization skills and fostered inclusive governance and engagement at all levels. My goal as President would be to would be to advance the field of Evo-Devo, the careers of individuals in the society, and to join with other scientific societies in promoting the importance of evidence-based policy.
Read Nomination by Eric Haag
Treasurer
* Veronica Hinman
Carnegie Mellon University, Nominated by Dave Angelini
I think that scientific societies have an important role in maintaining an active, flourishing community, and especially one in which junior scientists can thrive. I’ve greatly enjoyed being part of the executive council of our society as the social media officer, and shadow treasurer for the past several years. I would like to volunteer again in the role of Treasurer. My goal in particular is to help support the bi-annual meetings. I have institutional admin support which can also provide me some assistance in this role.
* Frank Smith
University of North Florida, Nominated by Bob Goldstein
I am an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at the University of North Florida. My research compares development of tardigrades to arthropods and other animals to unravel the evolution of animal body plans. I am passionate about the field of evolutionary developmental biology and would like to facilitate the growth of this field in any way possible. One way that I can facilitate the growth of the evo-devo field is by contributing to the Pan-American Society of Evolutionary Developmental Biology. The Treasurer position in this Society would provide me with an excellent opportunity to do this.
Read Nomination by Bob Goldstein
Educational and Professional Training Officer
* Prashant Sharma
University of Wisconsin, Nominated by Stacey Smith
I am delighted to stand for election for PASEDB Educational & Professional Training Officer. An assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I investigate the macroevolution of arthropods (particularly spiders and scorpions), as seen through the lenses of phylogenomics, historical biogeography, and comparative development. I serve as associate editor of the journal Invertebrate Systematics and as the secretary of the Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology of the Society of Integrative & Comparative Biology. I am standing for election because of the important and positive role that mentorship has played in my career, both as a student of science and as a junior faculty member. My goals as a candidate for election are to support the PASEDB's vibrant, dynamic forum where ideas from disparate disciplines are welcomed, where academic debate is healthy and courteous, and where students and postdocs are made to feel as active participants in academic exchanges. To this end, I hope to coordinate the efforts of PASEDB's Educational and Professional Training Committee in planning and organizing societal workshops, as well as establishing networks for junior scientists to identify potential mentors, set up lab visits, and facilitate inter-lab "exchange programs". Through such mechanisms, I hope to contribute to our society's commitment to fostering student and postdoctoral development.
Membership and Registration Officer
* Jill Preston
University of Vermont, Nominated by Stacey Smith
As a recently tenured professor of Plant Biology at the University of Vermont (USA) I am eager to give back to the agents and agencies that have supported me on my career path, particularly those within the EvoDevo community. The mission of PASEDB to promote collaboration and education in the broad field of EvoDevo is one I take to heart, and I believe I can make substantial contributions to it as Membership and Registration Officer. Although I imagine a sizable learning curve, I feel my past organization and administrative experiences have provided me with a strong foundation to implement, track, and attract PASEDB membership as a way to sustain and grow the society. I see many similarities between this role and my experience over the last three years on my department’s Graduate Recruitment Committee. The latter requires a year round commitment to attracting, assessing, and retaining top quality graduate students in the context of a faculty with diverse needs. I have also built-up a network of contacts on the plant side of the field through my role as Associate Editor for the Plant Development and EvoDevo section of Frontiers in Plant Science. In short, I am strongly motivated to promote the activities and mission of PASEDB, and believe I have the attention to detail, organizational skills, and collaborative tendencies to be an effective MRO.
Media Officer
* Maryna Lesoway
University of Illinois, Nominated by Billie Swalla
As the Media Officer, my goal would be to encourage and grow interactions within the PASEDB community, and to expand online outreach efforts. I have been tweeting PASEDB meetings since joining the society in 2015. I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the lab of Dr. Jonathan Henry at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA. My research focuses on the environmental and molecular mechanisms controlling the timing of sexual development and sex change in the sequentially hermaphroditic slipper snails. I am also helping to establish this group of snails as a system for Evo Devo research, and building molecular tools for a lab-based model species, the black-footed slipper snail, Crepidula atrasolea. I have seen how important online interactions are in building communities and connecting researchers outside of society meetings. As the Media Officer, my aim is to increase the level of interaction and engagement on PASEDB Twitter and Facebook channels. My PhD research was based at both McGill University, Canada, and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama, and I will build on my existing ties to promote the society across the represented regions. PASEDB social media should serve as a source of news and updates for Evo Devo researchers and the broader community. As the 3rd Biennial Meeting approaches, a strong social media presence will increase the visibility of the society, and be a great way to boost engagement.
Trainee Representative
* Sofia Casasa
University of Indiana, Nominated by Rodrigo Nunes da Fonseca & Natalia Pabón-Mora
I am a postdoctoral researcher at Indiana University. I obtained my bachelor’s degree at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and my PhD at Indiana University. My work focuses on the developmental and genetic mechanisms, as well as evolutionary consequences, of phenotypic plasticity. Since its inaugural meeting, the Pan-American Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology has been an incredibly supportive and encouraging society that brings together the Evo-Devo community. I would thus like to serve as the Media Officer and strive to promote visibility of both the society and the Evo-Devo field.
* Chris Amemiya
University of California, Merced, Nominated by Billie Swalla
I grew up in rural Hawaii and developed a life-long fascination with natural history and biology. This led to a career studying vertebrate evolution, which I’ve been at for nearly 30 years. I have mostly worked in vertebrate comparative immunology and EvoDevo, helped develop the BAC cloning system, and have been involved in many genome efforts, including that of the coelacanth, sea lamprey, and various other critters. For most of my professional life I have been employed in a research institute or medical school. I currently serve on the editorial boards of four peer-reviewed scientific journals, was a Program Director at NSF (IOS: Developmental Systems, including EvoDevo), and have been a standing member on an NIH Study Section (DEV1, 2012-2018). I am a supporter of PASEDB, consider myself a hardened EvoDevo-ist, and was a speaker at our inaugural meeting in Berkeley. I recently moved my lab to the University of California-Merced, the newest UC and first U.S. university built in the 21st century; I am a Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology. I was brought to UCM for my research experience, and to provide guidance and leadership on such university matters as faculty mentoring, equity and diversity, and academic free speech. I also get to teach an introductory biology course, something I had never done. The move has been a fun challenge, and it has given me a whole new perspective on STEM education. Evolution, in particular, is a core principle at NSF and in AAAS’s “Vision and Change,” and EvoDevo has some of the most exciting stories and a high kewl factor. It seems that if we want our PASEDB society and our field to grow we need to get our undergraduates and graduates excited by the work, our stories heard by the public, and establish better relationships with other scientific societies. I will work toward these goals.
* Leslie Pick
University of Maryland, Nominated by Eric Haag & Self-Nomination
I am Professor and Chair of the Entomology Department at the University of Maryland and a member of PASEDB since its inception. Trained as a Drosophila molecular geneticist, my lab has spent the past 15 years examining the functional evolution of regulatory genes in diverse insect species. As a researcher and educator, and as part of a strong Evo-Devo group at the University of Maryland, I promote the importance of Evo-Devo research and of critical thinking to colleagues, students and the general public. I have taken on several administrative roles over the years, including graduate director and department chair. In these roles, I have honed my organization skills and fostered inclusive governance and engagement at all levels. My goal as President would be to would be to advance the field of Evo-Devo, the careers of individuals in the society, and to join with other scientific societies in promoting the importance of evidence-based policy.
Read Nomination by Eric Haag
Treasurer
* Veronica Hinman
Carnegie Mellon University, Nominated by Dave Angelini
I think that scientific societies have an important role in maintaining an active, flourishing community, and especially one in which junior scientists can thrive. I’ve greatly enjoyed being part of the executive council of our society as the social media officer, and shadow treasurer for the past several years. I would like to volunteer again in the role of Treasurer. My goal in particular is to help support the bi-annual meetings. I have institutional admin support which can also provide me some assistance in this role.
* Frank Smith
University of North Florida, Nominated by Bob Goldstein
I am an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at the University of North Florida. My research compares development of tardigrades to arthropods and other animals to unravel the evolution of animal body plans. I am passionate about the field of evolutionary developmental biology and would like to facilitate the growth of this field in any way possible. One way that I can facilitate the growth of the evo-devo field is by contributing to the Pan-American Society of Evolutionary Developmental Biology. The Treasurer position in this Society would provide me with an excellent opportunity to do this.
Read Nomination by Bob Goldstein
Educational and Professional Training Officer
* Prashant Sharma
University of Wisconsin, Nominated by Stacey Smith
I am delighted to stand for election for PASEDB Educational & Professional Training Officer. An assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I investigate the macroevolution of arthropods (particularly spiders and scorpions), as seen through the lenses of phylogenomics, historical biogeography, and comparative development. I serve as associate editor of the journal Invertebrate Systematics and as the secretary of the Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology of the Society of Integrative & Comparative Biology. I am standing for election because of the important and positive role that mentorship has played in my career, both as a student of science and as a junior faculty member. My goals as a candidate for election are to support the PASEDB's vibrant, dynamic forum where ideas from disparate disciplines are welcomed, where academic debate is healthy and courteous, and where students and postdocs are made to feel as active participants in academic exchanges. To this end, I hope to coordinate the efforts of PASEDB's Educational and Professional Training Committee in planning and organizing societal workshops, as well as establishing networks for junior scientists to identify potential mentors, set up lab visits, and facilitate inter-lab "exchange programs". Through such mechanisms, I hope to contribute to our society's commitment to fostering student and postdoctoral development.
Membership and Registration Officer
* Jill Preston
University of Vermont, Nominated by Stacey Smith
As a recently tenured professor of Plant Biology at the University of Vermont (USA) I am eager to give back to the agents and agencies that have supported me on my career path, particularly those within the EvoDevo community. The mission of PASEDB to promote collaboration and education in the broad field of EvoDevo is one I take to heart, and I believe I can make substantial contributions to it as Membership and Registration Officer. Although I imagine a sizable learning curve, I feel my past organization and administrative experiences have provided me with a strong foundation to implement, track, and attract PASEDB membership as a way to sustain and grow the society. I see many similarities between this role and my experience over the last three years on my department’s Graduate Recruitment Committee. The latter requires a year round commitment to attracting, assessing, and retaining top quality graduate students in the context of a faculty with diverse needs. I have also built-up a network of contacts on the plant side of the field through my role as Associate Editor for the Plant Development and EvoDevo section of Frontiers in Plant Science. In short, I am strongly motivated to promote the activities and mission of PASEDB, and believe I have the attention to detail, organizational skills, and collaborative tendencies to be an effective MRO.
Media Officer
* Maryna Lesoway
University of Illinois, Nominated by Billie Swalla
As the Media Officer, my goal would be to encourage and grow interactions within the PASEDB community, and to expand online outreach efforts. I have been tweeting PASEDB meetings since joining the society in 2015. I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the lab of Dr. Jonathan Henry at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA. My research focuses on the environmental and molecular mechanisms controlling the timing of sexual development and sex change in the sequentially hermaphroditic slipper snails. I am also helping to establish this group of snails as a system for Evo Devo research, and building molecular tools for a lab-based model species, the black-footed slipper snail, Crepidula atrasolea. I have seen how important online interactions are in building communities and connecting researchers outside of society meetings. As the Media Officer, my aim is to increase the level of interaction and engagement on PASEDB Twitter and Facebook channels. My PhD research was based at both McGill University, Canada, and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama, and I will build on my existing ties to promote the society across the represented regions. PASEDB social media should serve as a source of news and updates for Evo Devo researchers and the broader community. As the 3rd Biennial Meeting approaches, a strong social media presence will increase the visibility of the society, and be a great way to boost engagement.
Trainee Representative
* Sofia Casasa
University of Indiana, Nominated by Rodrigo Nunes da Fonseca & Natalia Pabón-Mora
I am a postdoctoral researcher at Indiana University. I obtained my bachelor’s degree at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and my PhD at Indiana University. My work focuses on the developmental and genetic mechanisms, as well as evolutionary consequences, of phenotypic plasticity. Since its inaugural meeting, the Pan-American Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology has been an incredibly supportive and encouraging society that brings together the Evo-Devo community. I would thus like to serve as the Media Officer and strive to promote visibility of both the society and the Evo-Devo field.