University of South Florida 

Tell us a bit about your scientific and educational background.

Educated in the UK: BSc Biomedical Sciences, MSc Molecular Pathology and Toxicology, PhD Genomic Instability.
Student researcher: Metropolitan Police Forensic Sciences Lab, London.
Postdocs at University of Leicester & the Medical Research Council Centre for Mechanisms of Human Toxicity.
Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists

What do you see as the greatest value or most rewarding aspect of your scientific work?

Planning work that leads to news discoveries, along with indulging my DIY tendencies to design and develop new tools to make research easier. 

What initially drew you to the EMGS? 

Discovering that other people are interested in DNA damage and repair. (Plus it was a natural home for me when I moved to the US after being a member, and committee member, of UKEMS.) 

How has EMGS impacted your professional development? 

It has brought a sense of community, which has been very supportive. It has also brought opportunities for funding support and furthering initiatives such as the International Adductomics Consortium. 

What advice would you offer to students or early career investigators? 

Start writing manuscripts as soon in your career as possible. Read as much literature as you can and use it to hone your writing (in addition to familiarising yourself). 

What involvement opportunities with EMGS have you found to be the most rewarding? SIGs, awards, etc.

Special Interest Groups

What are the most rewarding connections you have made since joining EMGS?

Actually, quite a few of my connections I already had before joining EMGS - joining reinforced that we had common interests. 

What do you think the greatest scientific achievement in history has been?

Making fire.

If you could meet any scientist, past or present, who would it be and what would you talk about?

Colin Chapman (design engineer and inventor, founder of Lotus cars). We'd talk about cars, naturally. 

If you were not a scientist, what would you be doing?

Comedy writer.

The Pennsylvania State University 

Tell us a bit about your scientific and educational background.

B.A. Biochemistry, Ithaca College, 2005
Research Focus: Epigenetics
Research Advisor: Dr. Scott Ulrich, PhD
Research Project: Design and characterization of selective inhibitors of human HDAC8

PhD, Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, 2010
Research Focus: Human DNA Damage Repair
PhD Thesis Advisor: Dr. Patrick J. O'Brien, PhD
PhD Thesis: Characterization of the Searching Mechanism for a DNA Repair Enzyme

Postdoctoral Research Associate/Assistant Research Professor, The Pennsylvania State University, 2010 - 2017
Research Focus: Human DNA Replication Pathways
Research Mentor: Dr. Stephen J. Benkovic
Research Projects: Human Translesion DNA Synthesis (TLS), Human Lagging Strand DNA Replication 

What do you see as the greatest value or most rewarding aspect of your scientific work?

Contributing to the scientific knowledge of the general public and the development of novel and effective treatments of human disorders and diseases.

What initially drew you to the EMGS? 

The science, collegiality, and collaborative environment of the membership and associated meetings.

How has EMGS impacted your professional development? 

EMGS offers excellent mentor/mentee resources and safe and collegial environments to expand scientific networks, establish novel collaborations, and received positive and constructive feedback. 

What advice would you offer to students or early career investigators? 

Become involved in this society as early as possible in your scientific journey and always pay everything forward to the next generation of scientists. 

What involvement opportunities with EMGS have you found to be the most rewarding? SIGs, awards, etc.

Special Interest Groups and Awards Committees 

What are the most rewarding connections you have made since joining EMGS?

New collaborations with established and new independent investigators and connections with early career scientists and students. 

What do you think the greatest scientific achievement in history has been?

The structure of DNA and deciphering the genetic code. 

If you could meet any scientist, past or present, who would it be and what would you talk about?

W.W. "Mo" Cleland and Kenneth Johnson. Enzyme Kinetics 

If you were not a scientist, what would you be doing?

Professional Musician

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 

Tell us a bit about your scientific and educational background.

I received a B.S. in biochemistry from the University of Maryland, an M.S. in medicinal chemistry and pharmacognosy from Purdue University, and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Temple University. Following postdoctoral training at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School in the laboratory of William Haseltine, I served on the faculty of Emory University School of Medicine for 32 years and led an active research group in the area of DNA repair and mutagenesis. I held numerous leadership positions including Associate Director for Basic Research (2005-2017) of the Winship Cancer Institute and Founding Director of the Division of Cancer Biology in the Department of Radiation Oncology (1992-2017) where I also held the School of Medicine and Radiation Oncology Distinguished Chair of Cancer Research. I was humbled and honored that following my retirement from Emory, the Department of Radiation Oncology endowed the Paul W. Doetsch Professorship in Cancer Research which is currently held by Professor Xiaofeng Yang, a medical physicist at Emory. I joined the NIEHS in 2018 as Deputy Scientific Director and Senior Investigator and feel lucky that I can do research, science leadership and science administration at a place where the studying effects of environmental exposures on human health is a top priority. 

What do you see as the greatest value or most rewarding aspect of your scientific work?

I have always felt that the opportunity to train and mentor 25 PhD students, as well as numerous postdocs and research faculty within my laboratory as well as mentoring many junior faculty and scientists outside of my laboratory and watching them move on to successful careers in various scientific and medical disciplines has been the most rewarding part of my career. With respect my science, I believe my two most valuable contributions have been: (1) the discovery and elucidation of transcriptional mutagenesis and its implications for human disease and adaptation to stress and (2) our work on DNA repair pathway interactions which has contributed to our knowledge of the complexity of DNA damage response and repair interaction networks and its relationship to the etiology of diseases. ! 

What initially drew you to the EMGS? 

I was attracted to the Society because it was a focal point for interactions of scientists and students who had interests and were pursuing studies that perfectly fit, and were complementary to my own interests and research priorities. The fact that EMGS attracted international scientists from academia, government and industry also was important for me to see how these different professional worlds meshed and contributed to our collective knowledge base of the disciplines emphasized by the Society. 

How has EMGS impacted your professional development? 

EMGS has provided me (and also my students and postdocs) with many opportunities including presenting (via talks and posters) our research in a supportive, collegial environment as well as service on society committees, organizing meeting symposia, judging posters and talks of students and other young scientists and endless scientific discussions and interactions at meetings that have resulted in collaborations and expansion of my professional network. These opportunities are the pillars for building success in science and EMGS provides a home for developing so many important components of one's career. 

What advice would you offer to students or early career investigators? 

A number of things. Maintain a strong work ethic and discard any sense of entitlement. Find two good, experienced mentors, one at your workplace and another from outside of your workplace and communicate with them on a regular basis. Don't overextend your commitments and pick tractable, relevant problems to address. Be thorough and demand excellence and rigor in executing your studies. Don't be afraid of constructive criticism, embrace it for your own improvement. Defend your beliefs with logic, data and diplomacy. Start building your professional network of colleagues early (via meetings, email, seminars, videoconferences, etc.). Don't be afraid to ask diplomatically framed but tough, difficult questions. Stay in touch with your friends who are outside of science. And pursue a non-science hobby or fun interest and make sure you devote some time to it. 

What involvement opportunities with EMGS have you found to be the most rewarding? SIGs, awards, etc.

My involvement in configuring and running symposia for EMGS meetings and participation in the SIGs have opened new horizons and enriched my science enormously.

What are the most rewarding connections you have made since joining EMGS?

Probably the professional relationships with students and young investigators which have led to long-lasting friendships and opportunities to help others with their career development. 

What do you think the greatest scientific achievement in history has been?

As a biochemist/molecular biologist I would say the germ theory of disease which led to development of vaccines and therapeutics that have had broader implications for science and health beyond infectious diseases. If I were a physicist I would say the discovery and exploitation of electricity which has led to unparalleled advances in technology, many of which have greatly advanced biomedical research. 

If you could meet any scientist, past or present, who would it be and what would you talk about?

We need to go back in history a bit because I would like to meet Leonardo da Vinci and discuss what motivated him to pursue so many scientific, engineering and artistic projects. I would also like to know what his biggest challenges were, and which ones he thought were the most rewarding to him. 

If you were not a scientist, what would you be doing?

I really enjoyed music and played the oboe and English horn from junior high school through college. I'm not sure if I could have succeeded as a professional musician, but I have a good ear for all types of music genres and imagine I might have enjoyed composing music as well as playing it as a career. 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

Tell us a bit about your scientific and educational background.

After graduating from Yale, I went to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health where I studied toxicology in the laboratory of Leona D. Samson. While a graduate student, I was encouraged by two MIT professors to apply for a job. I was stunned that they wanted me to apply and I was a bit daunted. Nevertheless, I dreamed up ideas and wrote my job application before finishing my doctoral thesis. It worked out and so I was able to start my independent laboratory at MIT a year after getting my doctoral degree. 

What do you see as the greatest value or most rewarding aspect of your scientific work?

The most rewarding aspect of my job is helping the next generation of scientists. I love to teach. I work really hard on it and I'm proud to say that several students have shifted their focus toward research in public health after taking my class. I also love to mentor trainees in my lab. It is a wonderful thing when trainees gleefully share their latest results! 

What initially drew you to the EMGS? 

Leona Samson (long time EMGS member) was my mentor in graduate school (in fact, she still is my mentor!). She introduced me to the EMGS soon after I joined her laboratory. I loved the meeting and so I began attending regularly. I've been attending EMGS meetings regularly for 35 years! 

How has EMGS impacted your professional development? 

The EMGS has had a profound impact on my career. In addition to being inspired by elegant basic research, I also became interested in the applied side. I started attending talks and SIGs where people were focused on daunting challenges, like how to measure mutations and how to measure DNA damage. The EMGS made it possible for me to bridge basic and applied research. On the basic side, we study the relationship between DNA damage/repair, and physiological consequences. On the applied side, we developed transgenic mice to detect a certain type of mutation and we created the CometChip, which is a higher throughput comet assay that can be used to measure DNA damage and repair. 

What advice would you offer to students or early career investigators? 

My advice to younger scientists is to attend EMGS meetings regularly! You will make friends and connect with colleagues in ways that will shape your research experience. The EMGS opens doors to new ways of thinking. And the EMGS creates opportunities made possible by the relationships that you foster with peers and mentors. 

What involvement opportunities with EMGS have you found to be the most rewarding? SIGs, awards, etc.

Over the years, I've benefited in so many different ways. Certainly the SIGs have been very important. I've also enjoyed contributing by serving on committees and by serving as President. 

What are the most rewarding connections you have made since joining EMGS?

I probably know at least 100 EMGS members. Happily, I know as many people in the basic sciences as I do in the applied sciences. These connections have been vital to my career. Many have been research collaborators. Also many are friends who have provided invaluable advice on how best to serve the community through technology development. Input from my EMGS peers and mentors was instrumental in shaping my career. 

What do you think the greatest scientific achievement in history has been?

There are so many important contributions, it is hard to pick! I will say that the discovery by Leona Samson and John Cairns that cells can adapt to exposure to a DNA damaging agent by increasing expression of DNA repair genes was pivotal. 

If you were not a scientist, what would you be doing?

If I weren’t a scientist, I’d be a teacher. I love teaching—there’s something magical about helping others see things in new ways. I also believe that the relationships we build with others are what ultimately make us happy. Teaching is a wonderful way to connect with the next generation of scientists. 

University of Michigan School of Public Health

Tell us a bit about your scientific and educational background.

Dana Dolinoy holds the position of Professor in the Departments of Environmental Health Sciences and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Her educational background includes a B.A. in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Duke University and a Ph.D. in Genetics and Genomics from Duke University Medical Center.

Dolinoy is known for her work in environmental epigenetics, investigating how environmental exposures can influence gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. She has specifically focused on the impacts of nutrition and chemical exposures on the epigenome and their implications for health and disease. Her research has contributed significantly to understanding the interplay between the environment and genetic regulation.     

What do you see as the greatest value or most rewarding aspect of your scientific work?

A highly rewarding aspect of our research is the ability to uncover how environmental exposures can lead to health disparities and the possibility of mitigating those impacts through informed interventions and preventative measures.

Additionally, the potential to translate complex molecular findings into actionable insights to prevent diseases or improve health outcomes is deeply fulfilling. Educating and mentoring the next generation of scientists is another rewarding facet, as it allows me to share their passion and contribute to the advancement of science and public health through their students and collaborators.

What initially drew you to the EMGS? 

In 2006 my thesis mentor Dr Randy Jirtle encouraged me to attend the annual meeting in Vancouver because EMS (at the time) was a society that fostered networking and innovative science. After I attended that first meeting I was convinced! Soon after, EMS added Genomics to the Society's name in part to support the emerging field of epigenomics. 

How has EMGS impacted your professional development? 

EMGS provided me with professional development opportunities including an award to attend the 2008 Annual Meeting in Puerto Rico and as leader of the Epigenetics Special Interest Group. I have also been able to interact with new and established investigators in the field as well as advocates including Jill Escher, who has impacted the field for advocating for multi and trans-generational investigation of exposures via epigenetic and genetic mechanisms. 

What advice would you offer to students or early career investigators? 

Interdisciplinary Approach: Embrace interdisciplinary collaboration. Complex problems, such as those related to environmental epigenetics, often require insights from multiple fields.

Mentorship and Networking: Seek out mentors and build a strong professional network. Learning from seasoned researchers and peers provides guidance and valuable opportunities for growth.

Focus on Impact: Always consider the broader impacts of your research. Understanding how scientific findings can influence public health or environmental policy can help guide meaningful and impactful research efforts. 

What involvement opportunities with EMGS have you found to be the most rewarding? SIGs, awards, etc.

Besides the dancing? The networks formed via SIGs as well as when preparing a proposal for the annual meeting

What are the most rewarding connections you have made since joining EMGS?

As I mentioned, Jill Escher above. I have also been so excited that so many of the fellows and students that I have encouraged to attend EMGS are now EMGS leaders, including Jackie Goodrich, Chris Faulk, and Luke Montrose.

What do you think the greatest scientific achievement in history has been?

The continuum of 1) the discovery of the structure of DNA and the elucidation of the genetic code. This foundational knowledge has paved the way for a deeper understanding of genetics, heredity, and molecular biology.

2) the Human Genome Project not only mapped the entire human genome but also set the stage for subsequent research into how genes are regulated and expressed, including through epigenetic mechanisms.

and 3) the development of technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 for gene editing is having significant implications for genetic research, including epigenetics. Our work builds upon CRISPR to establish piRNA epigenetic editing technology. 

If you could meet any scientist, past or present, who would it be and what would you talk about?

I would choose to have a conversation with Barbara McClintock, the groundbreaking geneticist and the first woman to win an unshared Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. McClintock's discovery of "jumping genes" or transposable elements—segments of DNA that can move around within the genome—revolutionized our understanding of genetic/epigenetic variation and regulation.

In our discussion, I would want to delve into her insights on the complexities of genome dynamics and how they could relate to contemporary research into how environmental factors influence gene expression.

Additionally, I would be interested in discussing the challenges she faced as a woman in science during her time and how she overcame them. Her perseverance and innovative thinking serve as an inspiration to many scientists today, particularly women in fields that continue to push the boundaries of genetic research. 

If you were not a scientist, what would you be doing?

Professional outdoors person - kayaking, hiking, especially in the Great Lakes area! 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP, NC (Retired)

Tell us a bit about your scientific and educational background.

I was born in Peoria, IL, and while in high school, I placed second in comedy reading at the state forensics competition, which was held in 1966 at Illinois State University in Normal, IL, just a 40-min drive from Peoria. Because of that experience, I applied only to ISU for college, and although I thought of majoring in theater, my mother, Kathleen, who was a nurse, wisely advised me to major in biology instead.  
Consequently, I was required to take Herman Brockman's genetics course in my senior year in 1972. This was the best stroke of academic luck I could ever have had. I was smitten with the topic of genetics and with Herman as a teacher. 

Little did I know at the time that Herman had been a charter member of EMGS and was deeply connected to the Society and, of course, that he was training his students in genetic toxicology.  However, I soon found out because I did my master's degree with Herman, which engendered a passion for the field and for EMGS, whose annual meeting I first attended in 1974 in Washington, DC, with Herman’s lab.  

After completing my master’s degree, I worked for 1.5 years at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research lab in Peoria, IL, which resulted in my first two published papers in 1977 and 1978 (on dsRNA viruses in the fungus Penicillium).   During that time, I again joined Herman's lab to attend the 1976 EMGS meeting in Atlanta, even though I did not have any more work to present. One night I drunkenly fell off a bar stool, and Herman asked if I was OK and also if I would return for the PhD in his lab. In a daze, I said "yes," and the rest is history.  ISU did not at that time permit a student to receive all three degrees from the university, so Herman asked for an exception, and although some faculty voted "no," I was allowed to return.

My PhD work followed up on Bruce Ames’ recent work on the mutagenicity of cigarette smoke and a variety of other complex mixtures using assays in Neurospora, yeast, and Salmonella.  During those busy four years, and through Herman and EMGS, I got to meet Bruce, who lived to be 95 and died in October 2024.  Little did I know that I would use his assay for the next 50 years, generating, along with Tom Cebula at the US FDA, the mutation spectrum of many agents.  Along with Herman, I owe a great deal to Bruce for my scientific work; I wrote his obituary in Mutation Research, which is here: Ames Obituary.

Herman had done a postdoc at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, TN, which is where EMGS was founded by Alex Hollaender and others there.  Thus, I started a postdoc at Oak Ridge in 1980 with Abe Hsie who had recently invented the CHO/Hprt assay.  This was an exciting time to be doing mammalian cell mutagenesis, and one of my projects was the first to examine the mutagenicity of complex mixtures in mammalian cells, in this case evaluating fractions of extracts from Jimmy Carter’s synthetic fuels program to convert coal to liquid fuels. Another project involved determining the mutagenicity of ellipticines, which were new anticancer drugs developed in France and loaned to Abe for mutagenicity evaluation.  The paper on ellipticines was published in Cancer Research in 1983, and it provided a propitious opportunity for a second postdoc that impacted the rest of my career. 

In 1982, Ronald Regan cut the budget by 50% of the Department of Energy, which houses all the national laboratories, including ORNL. Reminiscent of current times, all of the students and postdocs had to leave (and Carter’s synthetic fuels program was ended).  However, Mike Shelby kindly continued my ORISE postdoc at NIEHS, where I went in November 1982.  Mike gave me the opportunity to incorporate genetic toxicology data for the first time into the NTP rodent cancer reports.  He and Ray Tennant supported my efforts to provide mechanistic explanations for the carcinogenicity of various agents, something not done in prior NTP reports.
While there, Lynn Ripley, who I had known from my Illinois days, asked to eat lunch with me out on the deck at NIEHS.  She had read my Cancer Research paper and said that she had discovered a potentially surprising mutational mechanism for the ellipticines (involving topoisomerase) and asked if I would work with her on it.  Mike Shelby generously provided the opportunity for me to do so, and Lynn taught me how to clone, sequence DNA, and understand molecular mechanisms of mutagenesis, some of which Lynn had developed.

This was a critical learning experience for me.  Lynn helped me formulate my future research program, which built on my experience with complex mixtures in Herman’s and Abe’s labs, and molecular mutagenesis in her lab.  I owe Lynn a great deal of gratitude for teaching me so much and for positioning me to apply molecular mutagenesis to my next job, as described below.  She died suddenly just a few months ago at age 78, and I wrote her obituary, which is here:  Ripley Obituary 

I received a call in November 1984 from Larry Claxton at EPA saying that he, Joellen Lewtas, and Mike Waters had a permanent position available at EPA and asked me to apply. This turned out to be my dream job and the only permanent job I ever had.  I began at EPA in March 1985, although I was there only for 1 hour that first day because I had to fly to Lyon, France, to participate in the IARC Monograph on tobacco smoking, chaired by Sir Richard Doll, where we evaluated tobacco smoking as a Group 1 human lung carcinogen.  I was only 34, and I never imagined that I would end up working with IARC for the next 40 years, serving on 10 cancer monographs and chairing two of them.  IARC kindly asked me to chair their workshop on the 10 Key Characteristics of Carcinogens, and a summary of that workshop was just published a few months ago in, perhaps, one of the final issues of Environ Health Perspectives.     

What do you see as the greatest value or most rewarding aspect of your scientific work?

Due to the kindness and generosity of hundreds of colleagues at EPA and worldwide, I was able to have a 40-year career at EPA/RTP where I was fortunate to work with unimaginably supportive and brilliant scientists, coupled with ample financial and infrastructure support.  (How many scientists have published >200 papers and never wrote a grant proposal?)  I was lucky, indeed.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my scientific career was working with people who helped me apply my unusual background in both complex mixtures and molecular mutagenesis to pressing environmental problems, which was all uniquely possible only at EPA/RTP.  The other was engaging with EMGS, which provided a network of friends and colleagues and leadership opportunities to help facilitate environmental mutagenesis worldwide. 

The laboratories at EPA established by Mike Waters, Joellen Lewtas, Larry Claxton, Steven Nesnow, Martha Moore, and others by the time I arrived there formed the most important setting in the world for studying the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of real-world complex mixtures of air, soil, and water. I worked with engineers, chemists, biologists, modelers, statisticians, policy makers, etc. for 4 decades doing this work. My colleagues and I were able to apply molecular biology tools to complex mixtures and determine the mutation spectra of air pollution, drinking water, and a wide variety of real-world combustion emissions, as well as of the gas phase of air, work that was just published in 2024. This is the work about which I am proudest and that was the most rewarding. I was a Scientist Emeritus for 5 more years to complete the writing/publication of 20 more papers after I retired in March 2020, ending my formal association with EPA in March 2025. 

Joellen Lewtas and Larry Claxton were my colleagues and bosses for more than 30 years, and together with many others, we were able to identify the mutations induced by complex mixtures, the chemical classes responsible for the mutagenesis, and show that those were the primary mutations in humans whose tumors were associated with exposure to those mixtures.  Martha Moore (Moore Obituary) graciously let me collaborate with her in her mouse lymphoma lab where we were able to show that the ellipticines and other topoisomerase poisons were the most potent clastogenic mutagens ever discovered.  Mike Waters first invited me to work on his Gene-Tox project while I was still a postdoc at Oak Ridge, and we concluded our long collaboration in 2019 when we ended our 21 years as Co-Editors-in-Chief of Mutation Research Reviews.  Larry, Mike, and I wrote the obituary for Joellen in Mutation Research, which is here:  Lewtas Obituary 

What initially drew you to the EMGS? 

My connection to EMGS started with Herman Brockman, who died just 2 months ago at the age of 90; here is a tribute I wrote about him for ISU: Brockman Tribute.  Herman was a charter member of EMGS in 1969, and he brought his students and postdocs to EMGS meetings every year. I have attended all but two EMGS meetings since 1974, spanning more than 50 years of attendance and participation. Through EMGS, we were networked like crazy. By the time I finished my PhD in 1980, I had met nearly all of the founders and leaders in the field of mutagenesis and DNA repair, something not possible in a large scientific society. 

How has EMGS impacted your professional development? 

EMGS WAS my professional development. It provided the intellectual and scientific home for me and countless others over the past half a century. The EMGS gave me an opportunity to interact with others in my field, to collaborate, and to share our work. Equally importantly, it gave me the opportunity to use other skills besides doing science: organizing (countless EMGS meetings, the ICEM with Phil Hanawalt in 2005 in San Francisco, and nearly 20 Hollaender courses), providing leadership (I am a past president), and mentorship of others. Plus, it was just plain fun! Many of my EMGS colleagues became life-long friends. 

What advice would you offer to students or early career investigators? 

Don't be shy. Most scientists are uncomfortable in social settings, but my advice is to be brave and engage with others at scientific conferences, learn what people are doing, share with them what you are doing, and help each other as the years go by. Networking is a tired phrase that young scientists hear all the time, but it is one of the most important aspects of being a scientist, and scientific societies such as EMGS facilitate this more than most. Take full advantage of the opportunity that EMGS meetings provide; it will change your life. 

What involvement opportunities with EMGS have you found to be the most rewarding? SIGs, awards, etc.

As noted above, I think the most rewarding aspect of my association with EMGS has been the opportunities to know and work with some of the most remarkable people in our field. They have enhanced my own research, and many have ended up as close friends. The leadership opportunities afforded to me by EMGS as president of the national and international EMGS, as well as organizing Hollaender Courses, enabled me to give opportunities for others to highlight their science and to enhance their networking opportunities.   

What are the most rewarding connections you have made since joining EMGS?

A large number of friends!!! Some EMGS members became scientific collaborators, as well as friends. The ability of EMGS to foster such connections is invaluable, and EMGS does this almost uniquely among scientific societies. 

What do you think the greatest scientific achievement in history has been?

The breeding and cultivation of corn that native populations in central America conducted for thousands of years to convert a simple grass, teosinte, into corn (maize) is a key scientific achievement. I lived in the midst of corn fields for the first 30 years of my life in central Illinois, and to this day, I marvel at corn and am still addicted to popcorn. Corn is a major scientific achievement that also happens to be good to eat. 

If you could meet any scientist, past or present, who would it be and what would you talk about?

I heard Barbara McClintock speak at a Stadler Genetics Symposium in the 1978 in Columbia, Missouri; Herman Brockman had taken us there to hear her speak. Nancy Kleckner from Harvard also spoke, and she had just announced her discovery of transposons in E. coli, proving McClintock's inference of transposable genetic elements or "jumping genes" in corn. McClintock gave a talk using glass lantern slides (look it up) and read from a yellowed paper a talk she had prepared in the 1940s but had never given because she didn't think anyone would believe her. Now we did. She won the Nobel Prize for her insights in 1983. I did not get to talk with her then, but I would have liked to have explored with her further how she had conceived of transposable elements, a feat something akin to Einstein's insight into space-time.  

If you were not a scientist, what would you be doing?

A lounge act--playing jazz piano in a bar; my father, Santa, owned and operated a bar for >40 years.  It would have been my ultimate dream job, unrealized due to my limited talent.

Independent Scientist 

Tell us a bit about your scientific and educational background.

Earned my B.Sc in chemistry and M.Sc & Ph.D. in radiation/chemical mutagenesis. I have been involved in research on the safety of diverse substances and authored/co-authored more than 150 peer-reviewed papers/several book chapters. I had the opportunity to train undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral fellows which helped in the evolution of my scientific interests. My research in genetic toxicology and carcinogenesis is influenced by the many world-class toxicologists and pathologists I had the good fortune of working with.

I am grateful for the opportunities to serve on various scientific groups including the US National Academy of Sciences Committee on Toxicology, USEMGS Council, Society of Toxicology Program Committee, IWGT Steering Team, Chair of HESI Emerging Issues Committee and Genetic Toxicology Technical Committee, to name a few. The Society of Toxicology recognized my contributions to chemical risk assessment with the Arnold J Lehman Award. I served as an Associate Editor of Toxicological Sciences (the official journal of the Society of Toxicology) and currently serving as the Editor-in-Chief of our journal (Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis). 

What do you see as the greatest value or most rewarding aspect of your scientific work?

My contributions to the development of societally beneficial products by applying sound science to mitigate the risk from exposure to mutagenic and carcinogenic substances. 

What initially drew you to the EMGS? 

EMGS is the "go-to organization" to interact with and learn from the leading scientists in the field of genetic toxicology not only at the annual meetings but also throughout the year because of the contacts I developed at these meetings. 

How has EMGS impacted your professional development? 

I was able to learn so much by attending the scientific sessions at the EMGS meetings, especially in the research areas that I was not directly involved in. For example, attendance at a 3-hour symposium on a DNA-repair related topic used to help me critically think about the best approaches to the application of genetic toxicology testing and risk assessment strategies. 

What advice would you offer to students or early career investigators? 

I believe that the current cadre of students and early career scientists are very talented, especially in the application of molecular biology tools to understand the mechanisms. I strongly suggest that the translational value of their research to real-life situations should always be kept in mind when developing the experimental protocols and interpreting the data. This is especially important in contextualizing the effects observed at high dose levels (i.e., hazard) to realistic human exposure scenarios (i.e., risk). 

What involvement opportunities with EMGS have you found to be the most rewarding? SIGs, awards, etc.

Helping to organize scientific sessions at the annual meetings is a great opportunity to highlight emerging and emergent scientific issues to the EMGS membership.

What are the most rewarding connections you have made since joining EMGS?

I met a majority of genetic toxicology thought leaders through my association with the EMGS. For someone like myself who worked most of my career in industry, EMGS provided a great opportunity to connect with scientists from academia and the government, in addition to peers from the industry. 

University of Michigan 

Tell us a bit about your scientific and educational background.

Growing up in Sri Lanka, I was raised to be an independent thinker who was always curious about nature. While learning molecular biology in high school, I questioned how the environment impacted health. At the age of 17, I moved to the US to pursue higher education in molecular biology and soon obtained a general education diploma (GED) to attend the Delgado Community College, in New Orleans, Louisiana. I learned about general laboratory techniques and earned my associate degree in general science as a Chancellor’s Honors graduate in 2009. Soon afterwards, I transferred to the University of New Orleans (UNO), Louisiana, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences in 2011. As an undergraduate, I gained technical expertise in identifying how gene transcription is regulated under the guidance of Drs. Mary Clancy (at UNO) and Zubaida Saifudeen (at the Tulane Health Science Center).

I then pursued a doctoral degree in Biological Sciences at LSU (received in 2016), with a focus on epigenetics to understand environmental effects on the genome. During my graduate training in Dr. Joomyeong Kim’s lab, I used my newfound expertise in epigenetics, molecular biology, and mouse genetics to characterize the genomic imprinting mechanisms of Peg3, a paternally expressed gene with important roles in fetal development and maternal caring behavior. To find ways in which my expertise in gene regulation could be applied to public health, I shifted to learning how the environment influences epigenetic regulation to impact human health in 2016. During my postdoctoral tenure in Dr. Dana Dolinoy’s lab at the University of Michigan (UM), I strengthened my skills in interdisciplinary research in environmental toxicology. I led several research projects investigating piRNA, a class of small non-coding RNA, as a biomarker for environmental exposures.

In my role as a Research Assistant Professor at UM School of Public Health (SPH) Department of Environmental Health Sciences (EHS), I engage in dynamic, interdisciplinary research that bridges molecular biology, toxicology, and epigenetics. My research-track position, initiated in May 2021, provides a platform to explore the intricate mechanisms by which toxicants like lead (Pb) alter the epigenome during critical developmental stages such as pregnancy. 

What do you see as the greatest value or most rewarding aspect of your scientific work?

Mentorship and teaching of the next generation of scientists and public health professionals provide me the greatest value and reward for my scientific work. I oversee and help a diverse cohort of undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows to achieve their own scientific goals. Student mentorship has provided me with endless opportunities for research collaborations and continuous growth as a scientist.

My enjoyment of teaching was one of the primary driving forces behind my pursuit of a career in academia. Within the EHS department, my teaching duties extend to professional development courses aimed at preparing first year Master of Public Health (MPH) students for internships and future professional endeavors. One of the most rewarding experiences for me as an instructor is when my students obtain their own dream jobs and walk across the stage during their graduation! 

What initially drew you to the EMGS? 

I was first introduced to EMGS during my training as a postdoctoral fellow in 2019, by my mentor, Dr. Dana Dolinoy. I was drawn to EMGS for many reasons, including the collaborative and welcoming environment for early-stage investigators to interact with experienced researchers, opportunities to participate in leadership opportunities and scientific engagement, and the contribution to EMGS’s mission to protecting people’s health and wellbeing as a collective. 

How has EMGS impacted your professional development? 

My very first EMGS abstract on “PIWI-interacting RNAs as novel epigenetic markers sensitive to environmental exposures,” was spotlighted at the EMGS 50th Annual Conference, earning a Student and New Investigator Travel Award and positioning me among leading researchers in the session: “Early Life Vulnerabilities to Environmental Exposures.” It was an honor to present alongside experts like Dr. Nina Holland, upon whose request I co-chaired an EMGS session on “New Discoveries on the Role of the Epigenome in the Relationship between the Environment and Human Health,” the following year. After transitioning to my role as a research faculty member, I have continued to present my work and collaborate with EMGS members. EMGS has not only broadened my scientific research scope but has also significantly improved my leadership and scientific communication skills. By making complex science digestible, I aim to empower communities, drive informed outcomes, and link my research to broader public health implications, fostering a collaborative spirit that is central to the mission of EMGS. 

What advice would you offer to students or early career investigators? 

I believe that the key to successful scientific research and early career development is being able to gracefully face new challenges and embrace failures as precious learning opportunities. Build on time management and organization skills – it is important to prioritize your own health and wellbeing, while maintaining research productivity, in your pursuit of scientific excellence and happiness! 

What involvement opportunities with EMGS have you found to be the most rewarding? SIGs, awards, etc.

EMGS provides an ideal environment and opportunities for students and early career investigators to reach their professional goals. The society provides travel awards, opportunities to present science to an engaging and positive group of colleagues, as well as lifelong collaborators, mentors, and friends!

I have personally been benefited by EMGS travel award in 2019, EMGS Young Scientist Award in 2023, service as Co-Chair of the EMGS Epigenomics SIG, as well as participation as a member within the Membership and Professional Developmental Committee, and the Outreach and Support Subcommittee. 

If you were not a scientist, what would you be doing?

I discovered my interested in molecular biology and genetics because of the character, Dana Scully, from X-Files. If I was not a scientist, I probably would have been a detective, or a secret agent! 

University of Ottawa

Tell us a bit about your scientific and educational background.

I hold an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Science with an option in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from the University of Ottawa. Currently, I am pursuing a Master’s degree in Biology with a specialization in Bioinformatics under the supervision of Carole Yauk (University of Ottawa) and Francesco Marchetti (Health Canada and Carleton University). My research focuses on using error-corrected next-generation sequencing (ecNGS) to study the mutational characteristics of aging in mouse liver and bone marrow tissues.

As part of this research, I have conducted power analyses to optimize study designs for ecNGS mutation analysis for diverse experimental questions. 

What do you see as the greatest value or most rewarding aspect of your scientific work?

I love the creative aspect of science and the thrill of discovery. Every experiment and study is a step into the unknown, and the most rewarding aspect of it is knowing that uncovering new knowledge and understanding has the potential to make a positive impact on society and lead to tangible improvements in people’s lives. 

What initially drew you to the EMGS? 

Protecting our genome is essential for safeguarding human health from harmful exposures – that’s why research in this area is so important. What really drew me to EMGS is the amazing community of scientists all working towards this shared goal. The dedication and collaboration within this community is truly inspiring, and I am excited to be a part of it. 

How has EMGS impacted your professional development? 

The 2024 EMGS Annual Meeting was a pivotal moment in my professional development as it was my first chance to officially engage with the scientific community. I had the opportunity to present my research findings and interact with numerous experts, exchanging ideas, gaining fresh perspectives, and broadening my knowledge. It helped me gain confidence in presenting and discussing my work, which will be invaluable for my thesis development and defense.

On a more personal note, seeing my mentors in action at the conference was incredibly inspiring. Watching them navigate discussions, present their work, and engage with others showed me the level of professionalism and passion required to excel in this field. It served as a great reminder of why I love this field and the people in it. 

What advice would you offer to students or early career investigators? 

Although I haven’t been a part of EMGS for long, my advice would be to take advantage of the unique chance it provides to actively network with a cross-sector community of experts in the field. As a small society, there are many opportunities to contribute, meet new collaborators, and make lasting friendships. By getting involved, you can gain valuable insights, find mentors, and stay updated on the latest research and developments in the field. 

UNC Charlotte 

Tell us a bit about your scientific and educational background.

When I began my college career, I lacked any comprehension of what it meant to be a college-level student due to my undivided attention to my baseball career. All I cared about was baseball. My initial years of college were a period where my lack of preparation for college led me to believe that I was not smart enough to succeed in higher education. However, I came to realize that it was not a lack of intelligence that kept me from succeeding but a lack of passion, which I eventually found in science. My path into science began by simply understanding how the brain worked in learning and memory.

Eventually, I could work in a developmental neurobiology lab at Winthrop University under Dr. Eric Birgbauer. Our focus was on understanding how developing neurons, specifically the growth cones of neurons, reached their synaptic target and how molecules attracted or repelled neurons from going in the wrong direction. I was fortunate to be the first person at Winthrop to employ CRISPR-Cas9, which led me to want to pursue an understanding of the human genome, particularly how damaged DNA was repaired. Over the past four years, I have had the privilege of working with Dr. Shan Yan at UNC Charlotte, where my Ph.D. work not only understand how our nuclear genome is repaired but also how our mitochondrial DNA functions after chemotherapy treatments. 

What do you see as the greatest value or most rewarding aspect of your scientific work?

One of the most valuable experiences for me is taking pride in the ability to communicate science to all audiences. Since my early science career was simply reinforcing the basics, I made it my goal always to be aware of all backgrounds in order to convey information successfully and passionately. 

What initially drew you to the EMGS? 

I heard about EMGS from Dr. Yan and had others from the lab go to EMGS to highlight their unique experiences. It is also the right place for me to discuss my research since the members are experts in DNA damage. 

How has EMGS impacted your professional development? 

EMGS has profoundly shaped my professional development by my approach to scientific inquiry. It has exposed me to cutting-edge research on genetic integrity and environmental factors and fostered a multidisciplinary network that broadened my perspective. EMGS allowed me to improve my presentation skills and provided valuable feedback from field leaders, boosting my confidence in contributing to meaningful discussions. The mentorship and collaborative opportunities within the community have accelerated my growth as a researcher, reinforcing the importance of translating scientific findings into actionable insights for public health and policy. 

What advice would you offer to students or early career investigators? 

Remember, you are at the beginning of your unique career journey. You will see and hear from others about their research that has accumulated over many years, which might make you feel like yours is less significant. It is essential to tell your story and be confident in what you have achieved thus far. 

What do you think the greatest scientific achievement in history has been?

The Human Genome Project, a cornerstone of scientific progress, has not only mapped the entire human genetic code but also opened the doors to a new era in medicine. Its role in enabling advancements in personalized medicine gives hope for more effective disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. 

If you were not a scientist, what would you be doing?

While working through my undergraduate degree, I began umpiring travel baseball. After my first year of umpiring, my friend and I were awarded "best rookie umpires of the year." If I had not found passion in science, I would have pursued being a professional umpire for baseball. 

University of Western Ontario 

Tell us a bit about your scientific and educational background.

I just began my Master's program at the University of Western Ontario, in the Cell and Molecular Biology stream. I completed my undergrad here at UWO earlier this Spring, where I studied Synthetic Biology and got the opportunity to start doing research in the genetics and genomics field with my supervisor Dr. Kathleen Hill! 

What do you see as the greatest value or most rewarding aspect of your scientific work?

I think the greatest value of my scientific work has been the ability to have interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers in computer science, statistics, cancer biology, and ecology for example. These collaborations have such great value because they bring in unique perspectives, ideas, and worldview's that help critically shapes one's research to make it more impactful, presented to a wider cast audience, and communicated in clearer ways. 

What initially drew you to the EMGS? 

EMGS was introduced to me through my supervisor, Dr. Kathleen Hill, who has been a member for many years and encouraged me to submit an abstract for the 2023 EMGS Annual Meeting in Chicago, surrounding a project we had been working on related to the use of machine learning for environmental classifications of microbial extremophile genomic signatures, a subject highly relevant to EMGS. Thankfully, this poster abstract was accepted and I was able to attend the meeting, where I had such a great time engaging with the different Symposiums, Platforms, and other student/new investigator focused events that were both personally and professionally rewarding. After attending the meeting and seeing the great variety of research areas, hearing so many interesting presentations and meeting awesome people, it was clear that EMGS is a great community to be a part of! 

How has EMGS impacted your professional development? 

EMGS has been great for my professional development, giving me the ability to present poster presentations at the 2023/2024 Annual Meetings and also to develop my oral presentation skills at the recent 2024 Annual Meeting! Being able to engage with such a welcoming community through the various professional/social events gave me the confidence to present my first oral presentation, which earned me the Best Student Oral Presentation Award which I am incredibly thankful and grateful to receive! 

What advice would you offer to students or early career investigators? 

I would advise to seek out and take every opportunity you can related to your interests, both professional and personal. Taking the chance to give a presentation and honing in on your communication skills, getting your foot in the door, developing the connections with people who interest you, is so important in finding your way through your early career and academic journey. I think while it's important to focus on one's primary professional goals, it's very worthwhile to explore all your interests and becoming as well-rounded as you can be. 

What do you think the greatest scientific achievement in history has been?

I think one of the greatest scientific achievements in history has been the development of blood tests. Their ability to diagnose so many health issues, from infectious diseases, organ damage, cancer, metabolic health, organ function, etc., from a simple vial of blood is fascinating! 

If you could meet any scientist, past or present, who would it be and what would you talk about?

I think I'd like to meet Aristotle, the Ancient Greek philosopher, and I'd like to pick his brain about what he would think about the modern field of biotechnology for example. He made so many discoveries across such a wide range of topics that we could talk for days, but in particular I'd like to talk about his foundational ideas and foresight in the face of modern biology. 

If you were not a scientist, what would you be doing?

I think I would be working in some shape or form in politics, whether that's working in policy directly or in polling and political strategy, I've always found politics fascinating! 

Stanford University (Retired 2017)

Tell us a bit about your scientific and educational background.

I grew up in Midland, Michigan, where I developed an interest in electronics. I carried out a research project on Wheatstone Bridge Circuits, which earned an Honorable Mention in the annual Westinghouse Science Talent Search in 1949. That, in turn, led to a scholarship for one year at Deep Springs College, an unusual school on a ranch in California, with a work/study program and the expectation that students would “dedicate themselves to lives of service to humanity.” I was planning for an eventual career in physics, but a faculty member encouraged me to consider the nascent field of biophysics, which was attracting physicists to mechanistic biology.

I completed my undergraduate studies at Oberlin College with a physics major; then earned my Ph.D. in biophysics at Yale University, where I carried out graduate study on the responses of bacteria to ultraviolet radiation and obtained evidence for DNA repair. I then spent several years in Denmark with an NIH postdoctoral fellowship in the Microbiology Department at the University of Copenhagen, where I discovered mechanisms for regulation of the bacterial DNA replication cycle. I received a fellowship from the American Cancer Society for a third year of postdoctoral study, in molecular biology at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. I joined the faculty at Stanford University in 1961, as a Research Biophysicist and Lecturer; then, in 1965, an appointment to tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. I was promoted to Professor in 1970, and I was accorded the Morris Herzstein Professorship in Biology in 2009. 

What do you see as the greatest value or most rewarding aspect of your scientific work?

I am indebted to a remarkable group of talented graduate students (and undergrads!) who have worked in my laboratory at Stanford. One of the most rewarding aspects of my career has been to mentor these students and to share in their research successes. My postdoctoral colleagues and research associates have also been valuable to my fulfillment in academia, with productive ideas and participation in the instruction of students, contributing to our leadership in the field of genomic maintenance.

In 1962 my first two graduate students (of 29 eventually) joined me to compare aspects of DNA replication in Esherichia coli under normal growth conditions with that following UV irradiation. Normally replicating fragments of DNA were preferentially sensitive to shearing at the growing point; while in UV-irradiated cells the nascent DNA appeared in “patches” within parental DNA and did not exhibit this sensitivity. We had discovered “repair replication” with co-discovery of the ubiquitous pathway of excision-repair. Several decades later the sub-pathway of transcription-coupled DNA repair was revealed in mammalian cells, yeast and bacteria, through collaborative studies in my group. Annual retreats (which we termed “advances”) were held for critical evaluation of all projects underway, with one or more guests from other research groups to add new insights and to “keep us honest”. Also rewarding for me were meetings that I organized or co-organized in the field of DNA repair, of which the first was the workshop on “Molecular Mechanisms for DNA Repair” at Squaw Valley in 1974, and then the 9th ICEM in San Francisco in 2005. 

What initially drew you to the EMGS? 

I was aware of the EMS and the involvement of Alex Hollaender and Matt Meselson in its founding. I thought that the Society was largely focused upon the specialized area of mutation testing (eg. Ames test) to reveal carcinogenic chemicals and environmental toxins. Then I was invited to speak in a symposium at the 1989 annual meeting in San Francisco, where I was pleased to learn that the EMS was in fact at the crossroads of studies on basic mutagenic mechanisms, genetic toxicology and governmental regulation of exposures to toxic substances. So I joined the Society and was soon appointed to Chair the Future Directions Committee 1990-’92, and then served as Program Chair/President 1993-’94, and was Chair of the Hollaender Outreach Committee 2011-’14. I also served on the Committee to consider the name change to EMGS. 

How has EMGS impacted your professional development? 

The EMS (EMGS) enriched my professional development, as I appreciated that it is the appropriate professional "home" for researchers in the field of DNA repair: it places them in the context of the broader genetic, societal, and regulatory issues raised from their studies. In return, the wisdom provided from basic research on cellular processing of damaged DNA is essential to mechanism-based decisions in the domain of genetic toxicology. Reference my Commentary in Evironmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 51: 890-896 (2010) titled “Growing up with DNA Repair and Joining the EMS”. 

What advice would you offer to students or early career investigators? 

Students and early career investigators should attend annual meetings of the EMGS and take advantage of the opportunities to meet experts in the three major domains of activity in the Society. They should also attend the Sigs in the areas of their potential interest.

They should get to know the leaders in their areas of interest to obtain valuable advice and potential mentorship as their careers develop. They should develop confidence in the value of their original ideas and opportunities to contribute to EMGS activities, by presenting posters and/or platform talks in the annual meetings. 

What involvement opportunities with EMGS have you found to be the most rewarding? SIGs, awards, etc.

Most rewarding to me have been the Sigs on DNA repair, and on epigenetics, and the Hollaender Committee. It has been fulfilling to participate in many Hollaender conferences and courses in South America. 

What are the most rewarding connections you have made since joining EMGS?

Of course I have appreciated the opportunities to interact with my DNA repair colleagues, but have also gotten to know members in the other areas represented in the EMGS … David DeMarini, George Douglas, Rosie Elespuru, Patricia Ostrowski, and many others, sadly of whom some are no longer with us. 

What do you think the greatest scientific achievement in history has been?

There have been so many great scientific achievements in so many areas that it is impossible to select the greatest.

Certainly the classic X-ray crystalography of DNA and her conclusion that the molecule is a helix was a seminal contribution from Rosalind Franklin, and the base pairing rules discovered by Erwin Chargaff were also essential to the development of the double-helical DNA model by Watson and Crick. 

If you could meet any scientist, past or present, who would it be and what would you talk about?

I would want to meet the brilliant Albert Einstein, to experience his scientific and mathematical insights, but also to appreciate his broad understanding and sensitivity to issues of humanity. I appreciate many of his quotes, including, “The only life worth living is a life in the service of others.” 

If you were not a scientist, what would you be doing?

If I were not a scientist, I would decide that I would be a scientist. Otherwise, I enjoy the musical arts, but probably could not make a living in that field. 

Retired 

Tell us a bit about your scientific and educational background.

Currently I am a Scientist Emeritus at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), where I worked since 1971. For the last 20 years of my career I was Head of the Carcinogen-DNA Interactions Section in the Center for Cancer Research. After finishing an undergraduate degree in Chemistry I was accepted by the University of Wisconsin where I received an MS in Oncology and became interested in chemical carcinogenesis, which had been recently-discovered to be driven by DNA damage.

Subsequently I was married and had three children, and in 1971 moved to Bethesda where I began working at the NCI. While still a technician, I was given the opportunity to complete (in 1977) my PhD part time at the Catholic University of America. One of the classes I took was Immunology, where I learned about radioimmunoassays, which were being used to measure ultra-low levels of human metabolites and hormones. My idea was to raise antibodies against carcinogen-DNA adducts or carcinogen-modified DNA and apply antibody-based methodologies to search for DNA adducts in humans. Over the course of the next 40 years my associates and I pioneered the evaluation of DNA adduct formation in human tissues, in studies that enabled the development of molecular cancer epidemiology. 

What do you see as the greatest value or most rewarding aspect of your scientific work?

At the time I received my PhD there were no methods to measure DNA adducts in humans. Using radiolabeled carcinogens many investigators had documented the importance of DNA adduct formation in cell transformation, mutagenesis and carcinogenesis in experimental models, but the role of DNA damage in human cancer induction was essentially unknown. The DNA-adduct immunoassays, 32P-postlabelling, and mass-spectrometry were the first non-invasive methods to measure DNA adducts, and were all applied to human tissues starting in the early 1980s. Since that time it has been possible to document human DNA adduct formation occurring as a result of many types of exposures (lifestyle, ambient, occupational, medicinal and dietary) and elucidate the contribution of DNA damage to human cancer etiology (see Poirier, M.C, Env. Mol. Mut., 57:499, 2016). Throughout my career I have been the fortunate recipient of excellent mentoring, as well as the support of many impressive co-workers, students and collaborators. Without them, these accomplishments would not have been possible. 

What initially drew you to the EMGS? 

In the early years of the EMS there was a fairly narrow focus on mutagenesis, which was not a great fit for my lab. However, as topics broadened and I got to know more EMS members I realized that the annual meeting of a smaller society was a better place to showcase the work of my students than meetings of the much larger societies like SOT and AACR. The EMS annual meeting was always a welcoming place where my students could become known for their contributions and find collaborators. I am proud of the fact that many alumni from my lab have served EMGS in leadership positions and some have maintained long-term memberships. 

How has EMGS impacted your professional development? 

What comes to my mind first are the many friendships and collaborations that have allowed me, over the years, to do better science, generate more extensive data, and publish more solid papers, than would otherwise have been possible. Among the greatest honors of my life have been opportunities to serve the EMGS as Council member, SIG Leader, Committee Chair and President. I have learned a great deal from these experiences and have thoroughly enjoyed the many friends I have made in the process. I was particularly honored in 2015 to receive the Alexander Hollaender award, as Hollaender was one of my heroes. 

What advice would you offer to students or early career investigators? 

To aspiring young scientists who wish to pursue a career in research I would say - pick an important question to study, collaborate, and publish as much as possible. Always pay close attention to what your data is telling you because it might not be what you expect. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Be aware that most novel findings are not easily accepted by scientific peers. Cutting-edge studies typically have problems with peer acceptance, grant support and publication. The battles required for validation and acceptance are not for the faint of heart. The mentoring you receive and give will constitute critical components of your scientific success. If you find yourself in a lab with a dysfunctional culture, do not hesitate to look for something that is a better fit. The loss of time will be offset by enhanced productivity in a supportive environment. 

Litron Laboratories  

Tell us a bit about your scientific and educational background.

I was fortunate to have a series of excellent and encouraging science teachers. In high school, Ernie Ladd taught an A.P. biology course that really inspired me to think about a career in the sciences. Importantly, he took the time and interest to point out a newly created biotechnology program at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

At Rochester Institute of Technology, Professors Jean Douthwright and Irene Evans used their new program to teach students the fundamentals of biological sciences and to introduce us to the exciting molecular biology techniques that were just starting to come into wide practice. They really helped me understand a career in science and the associated challenges of keeping up with advances would be a rewarding choice.

Fortunately, my education continued in important ways at my first job out of college. I was hired as a technician by Andrew Tometsko (AT) at Litron Laboratories. I have so many fond memories and learnings from this time, too many to share here. Let me provide one noteworthy, early lesson: “If it’s real, it’s reproducible” (AT, circa 1990). What more is there to say?!

I circled back for additional formal training in the University of Rochester’s toxicology program. There, I had the great privilege of being mentored by Thomas Gasiewicz, who ran a world-renowned AhR receptor/dioxin lab. Among many other things, Tom instilled in his students the value of orthogonal approaches to solve stubborn puzzles. 

What do you see as the greatest value or most rewarding aspect of your scientific work?

Together with my amazing co-workers at Litron, I’ve enjoyed working on assays that seek to more efficiently and comprehensively evaluate chemicals for genotoxic potential. This work has introduced me to fantastic colleagues and collaborators that always challenge us to do more. I love this type of environment that constantly asks us to do more, and expects continuous improvement. Kaizen! 

What initially drew you to the EMGS? 

The scientific content of the annual meetings is always compelling. There is so much important information presented, information that ends up influencing how we do things here at Litron on a daily basis. Also, to this day, EMGS meetings have provided a key mechanism for us to receive knowledgeable experts’ feedback on our ongoing lines of investigation. 

How has EMGS impacted your professional development? 

EMGS and sister societies is where I can count on networking with so many of the leaders in the field of genetic toxicology. EMGS has provided such a welcoming environment, and it really does a great job encouraging discussions about next steps, useful collaborations, etc.

The problem with a list is that it will be incomplete, but this is where I’ve met and gotten to know so many leaders in our field. For instance, this is the venue where I got to know, and began working with Jim MacGregor, John Heddle, Makoto Hayashi, Bob Heflich, Vasily Dobrovolsky, Ray Tice, David Kirkland, Maik Schuler, Kristine Witt, David Lovell, Leon Stankowski, Anthony Lynch, Paul White, Francesco Marchetti, George Douglas, Carole Yauk, Stefan Pfuhler, Andreas Zeller, George Johnson, Rosie Elespuru, Stephanie Smith-Roe, Bevin Engelward, Errol Zeiger, George Hoffman, the list goes on. My kids would say I’m flexing, knock it off. No, I’m sharing this impressive, incomplete list of people just to say this was only possible due to EMGS and the ecosystem they created and have maintained. It has enabled me to work with a truly amazing group of people, and this has enabled our very best work. 

What advice would you offer to students or early career investigators? 

I’ll provide two answers for the price of one. First: read, then read some more. I’m not just talking about your exact scientific area, I mean broadly. Our most useful advances all originated from some insight that came from some other, non-genetic toxicology discipline. Second: attend EMGS annual meetings. The networking and mentoring opportunities are there, lean in and take advantage of them. The people there want to help, they want to see you succeed. 

Silent Spring Institute 

Tell us a bit about your scientific and educational background.

After exploring a few areas of bioscience-related engineering research in undergrad, I joined the Biological Engineering department at MIT for grad school with the goal of understanding disease to support prevention. Joining Bevin Engelward's laboratory, that disease turned out to be cancer. Ever since, I have dedicated my research to learning about the origins of carcinogenesis so that we can identify ways to prevent it from occurring in the first place. As a postdoc, I helped found the MIT Superfund Research Center and led animal-based projects to track the biological progression from chemical exposure to liver cancer. I then joined Silent Spring Institute as a Research Scientist in 2020, where I study how chemicals cause breast cancer, identify chemicals that produce those effects, and translate that research to policy impacts. 

What do you see as the greatest value or most rewarding aspect of your scientific work?

Silent Spring emphasizes translation of research to public health policy, which is one of the things that drew me in. There's nothing like the rush from finding exciting results in data you've generated, but it is also incredibly satisfying to bring those findings beyond publications to decisionmakers and advocates who can help you advance public health protection. 

What initially drew you to the EMGS? 

I joined Bevin Engelward's laboratory as a grad student and adopted EMGS as my home society too. 

How has EMGS impacted your professional development? 

EMGS has a ton of opportunities to support young researchers. The student travel awards were great not just for supporting my attendance at meetings, but also for building my resume. SIGs helped me find a community of people who approach science the way I do. And now, as a Newly Independent Investigator Engagement Program awardee, I have a whole new array of opportunities to get more involved in the society and build new relationships. 

What advice would you offer to students or early career investigators? 

Try to talk to people even though it's uncomfortable. Attend optional events. Consider alternative career paths. 

What involvement opportunities with EMGS have you found to be the most rewarding? SIGs, awards, etc.

Probably SIGs, though it's difficult to engage with those early morning meetings! 

What are the most rewarding connections you have made since joining EMGS?

Les Hanakahi and Carole Yauk! 

If you could meet any scientist, past or present, who would it be and what would you talk about?

Rachel Carson! I'd want to talk about pesticides and human and ecological health effects. And also the incredible beauty and complexity of nature, and what humans need to do to live together with it, rather than trying to take control of it. 

If you were not a scientist, what would you be doing?

Advocating for more responsible waste management.

During both the annual meeting and in her work at the Environment and Climate Change Canada’s National Wildlife Research Center with Dr. Jason O’Brien and research biologist Doug Crump, Helina has had the opportunity to meet many prominent individuals within the EMGS including Carole Yauk, Paul White, Francesco Marchetti, and other associated technicians, biologists, and students, all whom Helina cited as having influenced her academic and professional career.

One major instance of the EMGS impacting Helina’s career development occurred at the 2022 International Conference on Environmental Mutagens (ICEM). Helina acted as co-chair for the symposium “From Genomes to Ecosystems: What are the Ecological Consequences of Genotoxicity?” during which she gave her presentation, “Investigating the Mutagenicity of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds from the Athabasca Oil Sands Region in River Otters and a Mammalian Cell Line.” Helina described the experience of acting as co-chair, stating,

“I’ve never done something like that before. My supervisor, Dr. Jason O’Brien, who was one of the chairs made it a very good experience. I got the opportunity to introduce the presenters and share my own research in eco-genotoxicology in an actual in-person setting with various professionals in attendance, which was an honor. Before that, my presentations were usually done virtually, because when I started my Master’s, after my first semester, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, so this was my very first real in-person presentation.”

During the 2022 ICEM, Helina was awarded the Student Best Paper Award for her research article, “Microsatellite mutation frequencies in river otters (Lontra Canadensis) from the Athabasca Oil Sands region are correlated to polycyclic aromatic compound tissue burden,” published in February 2022 in Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. Regarding her feelings towards that recognition, she said,

“I wasn’t expecting it at all! This was my first first-author paper that I have ever published as a student. To be able to be recognized is really amazing. I guess it’s also one of the perks of being an EMGS member, being able to be recognized for your work in that way. It was really just a great start to my career.”

Helina is currently working on publishing a follow-up paper to her award-winning research article as well as working as an evaluator at Environment and Climate Change Canada where she is conducting risk assessments of new substances to determine if they may be harmful to the environment. When asked how the research and activities of the EMGS impact her current work, she said,

“Although I’m not currently working in the field of mutagenesis or genomics, as a new evaluator at Environment and Climate Change Canada, I’m gaining experience in the field of risk assessment and contributing to program advances through my involvement in a New Approach Methods (NAMs) working group. So, there is work that I would love to share with the society, along with my repertoire of knowledge as I grow as an expert, wherever that research and experience may seem fit.”

As a student member herself, Helina offered a few final words of advice to her peers in the EMGS membership, saying,

“My advice is to step out of your comfort zone and seek engagement in the EMGS. If there is a SIG or a committee of interest, you can reach out to the members and learn more about the group and how you can be an active member. There are so many benefits to being a part of the EMGS. As I mentioned before, there are a lot of inspirational professionals in the society, many of whom are happy to interact and even possibly collaborate with you as a new student or a new investigator. Being a part of the EMGS provides access to a lot of emerging science and knowledge in the field, and it helps you keep up to date with current events which can inform your own study and research when you are an active part of the society.”

EMGS Young Scientist Award Winners: Where Are They Now?

In 2018, Dr. Aishwarya Prakash won the EMGS Young Scientist Award, and presented at the 2018 EMGS Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. However, her EMGS journey began a couple years before.

Prakash began an independent research career as a tenure-track Assistant Prof. at the University of South Alabama Mitchell Cancer Institute in 2016. Then, her laboratory was interested in two DNA repair pathways: the base excision repair (BER) pathway, which is involved in the repair of small, non-bulky DNA lesions and the mismatch repair (MMR) pathway, which is involved with recognizing and removing erroneous DNA base misincorporations, insertions, and deletions.

Prakash describes that at first she was skeptical about joining EMGS, but after attending her first meeting in 2017, she says, “I was hooked, and I realized how committed the society is to new investigators and its members. The opportunities are boundless.”

Today, Prakash’s research program is focused on understanding the structural basis of protein interactions during mismatch DNA repair and base excision repair.  She is in the process of expanding her research endeavors to combine the impact of environmental toxicants on these cellular repair processes.

Prakash describes that “Winning this award helped me during the tenure/promotion process as well as helped me build confidence in my presentation skills and research program.”

As far as the expansion of her network through EMGS, Prakash says that it is a truly unique environment to be a part of.

“Over the past few years, I have met so many scientists via EMGS many of whom I would have never come across if it had not been for the society’s annual meetings and committees. I am able to interface regularly with scientists from industry, academia, and several federal agencies.”

When asked what Prakash’s most significant scientific finding has been since joining EMGS, she says: “If I had to pick one, we have identified a new role for NEIL1, a DNA glycosylase that is involved with catalyzing the first steps of base excision repair. In this new role, NEIL1 appears to interact with each of its binding partners (that are involved with cellular processes such as replication and transcription) in unique ways. As an example of this, we observed that NEIL1 can disrupt the PCNA homotrimer and the mitochondrial SSB homotetramer upon interaction possibly presenting a switch between replication and repair.”

But beyond the lab and hours of investigation, Prakash likes to spend her days off with her now 8-month-old daughter either at home, or on the beach: “Both she and I love the outdoors and go for walks multiple times a day when time permits.”

EMGS is committed to helping young scientists - our future - make critical career transitions. At our Annual Meeting, we feature the EMGS Young Scientist Award, a prestigious prize for a new investigator embarking on an independent scientific career and the opportunity to give a plenary talk at our annual meeting.