Genetics Society of AustralAsia

We are excited to announce that abstract submission and registration for GSA’s 2025 conference is now open! The conference will be held at Waipapa Taumata Rau – The University of Auckland in Aotearoa – New Zealand from 7-10 July 2025. Confirmed keynote speakers are Prof Amanda Black (Lincoln University), Prof Alexei Drummond (University of Auckland), Prof Matt Littlejohn (Livestock Improvement Corporation and Massey University), Prof Cris Print (University of Auckland), Assoc Prof Miloš Tanurdzic (University of Queensland), Dr. Erika Varkonyi-Gasic (Plant & Food Research, New Zealand), Prof Lisette Waits (University of Idaho), and Assoc Prof Phil Wilcox (University of Otago). Abstracts are due by Monday April 7th 2025, 23:59 NZST (21:59 AEST). Early bird registration will close on Sunday May 11th 2025, 23:59 NZST.
For more information, see www.gsa-2025.com.

GSA’s 2024 conference was held at Macquarie University’s Wallumattagal campus from 30th June to 3rd July. Plenary speakers were be Prof. Karen Sears (UCLA) , Prof. Carla Sgro (Monash University), and Prof. Ian Paulsen (Macquarie University).

There are many interesting patterns that you can extract from genetic variant data. This can include patterns of linkage, balancing selection, or even inbreeding signals. One of the most common approaches is to find sites on the genome that are under selection. This online workshop will introduce the basics of genetic selection analysis, and will step you through the process of identifying signals of selection in an example genomic dataset using the outlier analysis method.

The GSA is proud to present this workshop with the Australian BioCommons and the assistance of a network of facilitators from the national Bioinformatics Training Cooperative. The lead trainer is Dr Katarina Stuart, Research Fellow at the University of Auckland, and it will take place over two five-hour sessions.

Date/Time: 27-28 February 2024, 1pm – 6pm NZDT / 11am – 4pm AEDT / 10am – 3pm AEST / 10:30am – 3:30pm ACST / 8am – 1pm AWST (check in your timezone)

This workshop is for researchers associated with an Australian organisation and/or members of the Genetics Society of AustralAsia who will use genetic selection analysis as part of their projects. Apply here.

Applications close at 11:59pm AEDT, Friday 9 February 2024.

More details are available on the Australian BioCommons website.

This in-person workshop is delivered by Genomics Aotearoa and NeSI, and will be taught over two consecutive days from 10:00am-4:00pm NZT on the 9th and 10th of August 2023 in Auckland. It is for New Zealand researchers interested in signals of selection in genomes.

The focus of this workshop is on identifying signals of selection both across the genome and across sample groupings using various outlier analysis methods. We encourage you to bring your own data! For participants who do not have their own data, a group dataset is available and will be used by the instructors during the examples.

For more information, or to register, please visit the Eventbrite page.

Workshops will also be held in Australia across different locations/states. To gauge geographic interest, please feel free to register your interest here.

The 14^th annual Sydney Phylogenetics Workshop will be held at the University of Sydney on the 27^th–28^th July, 2023. This 2-day workshop will provide an introduction to phylogenetic analysis, maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference, molecular dating, and phylogenomics.

The workshop is free for registered attendees. A total of 40 places are available, including 20 places for students and postdocs, and 15 places are reserved for members of the Genetics Society of AustralAsia.

For more information, including a link to the draft workshop programme, visit the MEEP workshops website.

Register for the workshop via Eventbrite.

We are seeking expressions of interest from members who have completed their PhD within the past 7 years (career interruptions will be taken into account) and who wish to participate in our inaugural round of the GSA Early Career Mentoring Program.

Applications are open until the 18th of November, 2022. More information can be found here.

GSA/WSP provides contributions towards workshops organised by our members and aimed at sharing knowledge and/or exchanging ideas in the broadly defined field of genetics. This funding is available to both academic and public/outreach events. The deadline for applications is September 21, 2022.

More information can be found here.

Applications for GSA Student Conference Awards are invited from science students completing, or having completed within the past 3 months, their third year of undergraduate study, Honours, Masters, or equivalent, at a tertiary institution. These awards provide the opportunity for students to attend ComBio2022 incorporating the annual GSA Conference, to be held in Melbourne 27-30 September 2022.

Further details about the conference, including programme and invited speakers, can be found on the conference website.

Up to ten awards will be available to students attending the conference. Each award will include:

• The full cost of student registration (including social events)
• One ticket to the GSA social event on Thursday evening
• One year of GSA membership

Students will need to make their own arrangements for travel and accommodation.

Applicants must be currently enrolled in, or have completed within the past 3 months, an undergraduate, Honours, Masters, or equivalent degree, and should have completed at least one university-level course in genetics. Please note that PhD students are not eligible for these awards.

Students should submit their application as a single PDF with “GSA Student Travel Award” in the title to A/Prof Maja Adamska, at GSAA.Awards@gmail.com. Students should include in their application:

• A copy of their academic record/student transcript [does not need to be certified]
• An outline of their interests in the field of genetics
• Their full contact details: email, postal address and mobile phone
• The name and e-mail address of one academic referee

Closing date for applications is 7^th August  2022

Successful applicants will be notified by 15^th August 2022

GSA is proud to announce the winners of the 2022 GSA awards:

MJD White Medal – Marianne Frommer
(Awarded for excellence in genetics research)

Ross Crozier Medal – Clare Holleley
(Awarded to a mid-career researcher 5-15 years post-PhD)

Alan Wilton Award – Livia Gerber
(Awarded to an early career researcher up to 5 years post-PhD)

Education Award – Milos Tanurdzic
(Awarded to an outstanding genetics educator 5+ years post-PhD)

D.G. Catcheside Prize – Karissa Barthelson
(Awarded to the top doctoral student in the field of genetics)

Spencer Smith-White Travel Award – Harrison Eyck
(Awarded to postgraduate members of GSA)

Congratulations to all award recipients.

GSA is excited to announce that we will be part of ComBio 2022 from 27 –30 September 2022 in Melbourne.

Registration and abstract submission (closes 22nd July) are currently open. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone in a face-to-face conference once more.