https://www.gems-nc.org/postings-1 daily 0.75 2021-02-19 https://www.gems-nc.org/postings-1/tomatoes-are-now-in-season-25zef monthly 0.5 2019-07-09 https://www.gems-nc.org/postings-1/new-additions-to-the-farm-chbnz monthly 0.5 2019-07-09 https://www.gems-nc.org/postings-1/spring-favorites-kale-fj2mf monthly 0.5 2019-07-09 https://www.gems-nc.org/events daily 0.75 2025-08-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/6f862155-2731-4e7e-a71c-c4a92c306266/GEMS+summer+3032.jpg Events - Photo of GEMS Summer 2023 Social Event at The Glass Jug, RTP! https://www.gems-nc.org/events/2025-gems-spring-symposium monthly 0.5 2025-05-16 https://www.gems-nc.org/events/gems-ncsot-social-at-tobacco-wood-brewing monthly 0.5 2024-11-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/a5b1d952-be04-4a77-8e6e-c672f2b4f66e/gems_twb_social.jpg Events - GEMS & NCSOT Social at Tobacco Wood Brewing - Make it stand out https://www.tobaccowoodbrewing.com/durham/ https://www.gems-nc.org/gems-meetings daily 0.75 2024-11-25 https://www.gems-nc.org/gems-meetings/uavyuvfaznukxx9gi5q4mwrc49yuwd monthly 0.5 2024-08-01 https://www.gems-nc.org/gems-meetings/gemsfallmeeting2021 monthly 0.5 2021-11-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1634830166456-MM3AD8016APAL8R3D9WI/GEMS+Fall+2021+flier_virtual+meeting_without+click+to+register.PNG GEMS Meetings - GEMS Fall Meeting - Make it stand out Use the form below to register now. You will be emailed the zoom link and password closer to the meeting date. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1635799232140-KLQU6RUX78YH04KJM1JY/GEMS+Fall+2021_Agenda_Virtual+Meeting_with+sponsor+logo.png GEMS Meetings - GEMS Fall Meeting - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.gems-nc.org/gems-meetings/gems-spring-meeting-2021 monthly 0.5 2021-05-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1620161810197-H753BBIMO71IU6KRM5IQ/GEMS+Spring+Meeting+Flier_2021_more+detailed.png GEMS Meetings - GEMS Virtual Spring Meeting on Monday May 24, 2021 - Register now for this free event using the form below https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1621285858795-XG5UNCOEGXW9D8GLSIL7/GEMS+Spring+Meeting+Agenda.png GEMS Meetings - GEMS Virtual Spring Meeting on Monday May 24, 2021 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.gems-nc.org/gems-meetings/gems-virtual-spring-meeting-2021 monthly 0.5 2021-05-03 https://www.gems-nc.org/home daily 1.0 2026-01-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/6dc057da-8498-4e1b-93be-5a8464a22bd2/LenoxK18_2142z031.jpg Home Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/0b0bfe70-1245-4a17-8497-585f9eb52900/LenoxK18_2142z035.jpg Home Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/c35fce63-a054-4caa-953a-5d156f5c2307/LenoxK18_2142z045.jpg Home Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/ea71db54-c4aa-44d1-aa9b-70d1327ffc59/LenoxK18_2142z053.jpg Home Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/8c3647b7-9d8c-4814-bdf7-d896865551e9/LenoxK18_2142z054.jpg Home Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/affee311-5a59-4b6e-a8f1-34b555ed7abc/LenoxK18_2142z058.jpg Home Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/a2226f5c-1f24-4865-8a7e-ee6d6b772a40/LenoxK18_2142z059.jpg Home Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/035d4d33-3785-4499-a834-50ecb9540892/LenoxK18_2142z061.jpg Home Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/d2d8e9b5-f6af-4f39-bf5d-c305f4c2c547/LenoxK18_2142z077.jpg Home Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1613962931223-EKRZ0JP5K6OOZ3UDK2RZ/LenoxK18_2142z053.jpg Home - Memberships and Sponsors GEMS membership provides a unique opportunity to participate in a local scientific society focused on emerging topics in genetics and genomics, within a broad context from basic research to scientific outreach to policy. Learn about benefits and sponsorships down below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1613960952264-2APMCQ0L3A88MDLEWJF1/aerial.png Home - About us. The Genetics and Environmental Mutagenesis Society is a southeast regional scientific society headquartered in the vibrant Research Triangle Park of North Carolina. GEMS was formed on December 2, 1982. Learn more about us below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614359431868-EIIYE8UFIFYWUU6R21Q4/BWFlogo.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/cd837e89-6031-4cfc-b009-3310670edfca/bmglabtech.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1635271775096-TIUIKXTS3VLIXQ8S2AOY/syngenta+logo.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/6e3b9f61-ade3-406b-828d-ed4817a0abf4/newenglandbiolabs.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.gems-nc.org/about daily 0.75 2021-04-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/7cbcb70a-4f46-4128-a769-254f03976650/LenoxK18_2142j.jpg About Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/02e7c855-7464-4394-9b63-634eb0a533ae/LenoxK18_2142z031.jpg About Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/345d62c0-86ff-4026-928d-f6202397a46c/LenoxK18_2142z035.jpg About Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/574445a2-52f4-4eb8-bb21-eebbe6e1b5e8/LenoxK18_2142z045.jpg About Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/9aec18f4-b01b-4e7f-a9c9-06c943d33a5e/LenoxK18_2142z053.jpg About Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/c281bad6-c357-4feb-a9ab-c9e7383753c7/LenoxK18_2142z054.jpg About Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/2036b2c3-1a5d-47f7-bcd7-846a4f81ee5f/LenoxK18_2142z058.jpg About Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/d4a25536-2ce3-4d5a-abcb-aefbdd99c9ce/LenoxK18_2142z059.jpg About Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/55f3ef76-4583-4945-88fe-76477b3b3d95/LenoxK18_2142z061.jpg About Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/08ea42ab-21bb-4183-bf24-4d12237ced5a/LenoxK18_2142z077.jpg About Image taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614358583627-JUGYPCS3C5KYAFLTXJV4/LenoxK18_2142z053.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614358617146-ISSBA2YDS48JY79AVH92/LenoxK18_2142z035.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1618163695110-O5CZMHJOJTWU1YIIGCMU/LenoxK18_2142j%2B%25281%2529.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614358687959-LVGF55URG0KLZBGY48Q1/LenoxK18_2142z054.jpg About https://www.gems-nc.org/pastmeetings daily 0.75 2021-03-25 https://www.gems-nc.org/contact daily 0.75 2021-02-26 https://www.gems-nc.org/join daily 0.75 2021-09-17 https://www.gems-nc.org/donate daily 0.75 2021-09-17 https://www.gems-nc.org/board daily 0.75 2026-01-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/fac45919-05da-4f6c-9766-d6a5f46f1567/AmyWang2017.jpg Board of Directors - President is a fellow in the Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRAT) Program sponsored by the National Institute of General Medicine (NIGMS). She conducts her research at the National Institutes of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) in the lab of Dr. Paul Wade. Her primary interest is in using systems biology techniques to understand how hormonal signaling drives epigenetic change in response to chemical and non-chemical exposures. Currently, she is investigating epigenetic changes in the breast associated with birth control usage and how these changes may lead to an increase breast cancer risk. Additionally, she is also working to elucidate an epigenetic mechanism underlying the observed protective effect of pregnancy on breast cancer risk. She received her Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under Dr. Rebecca Fry, where she worked to understand metabolic alterations in response to arsenic exposure, as well as sexually dimorphic prenatal exposure responses. During her doctoral studies, she was the recipient of the Karen Wetterhahn Memorial Award from the NIEHS Superfund Research Program, as recognition for her excellence in environmental health research. Following this she was a postdoctoral researcher in the UNC Curriculum in Toxicology under the direction Dr. Shaun McCullough during which time she was invited to present her research at the Fall 2017 NC GEMS. Dr. Martin hopes to serve as a councilor for NC GEMS as her participation in NC GEMS continues to be integral in the development of her research focus on understanding the interaction between the epigenome and environmental exposures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/ba7e4206-d6e1-4fe3-a507-0c5dff9d492f/Ferguson+2024+Photo_S24_2650d.jpg Board of Directors - President - Elect Stephen Ferguson, Ph.D. Dr. Stephen Ferguson is a multidisciplinary scientist within the Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT) at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) leading multiple initiatives to model and predict human responses to drug and environmental chemical exposures. His primary research works to develop and apply advanced cell systems that model human tissues (e.g., liver, kidney), mechanistically understand chemical-biological interactions, and predict human health effects from exposures to environmental chemicals (e.g., PFAS, glyphosate, PCBs, PACs) and natural products in context with human drug substances. His pioneering research with 3D liver and kidney microtissues, high throughput transcriptomics, and translational toxicology have contributed to the evolution of toxicology research to reduce, refine, and replace use of animals leverage human-based microphysiological systems to understand. Prior to joining the DTT, Ferguson led the ADME-Tox R&D Program of Life Technologies (now Thermo-Fisher). He received his BS in chemistry from North Carolina State University in 1994, completed a PhD there in 2000 (bioinorganic chemistry and biotechnology), and currently serves as adjunct faculty to the Curriculum in Toxicology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1a82bce1-003b-4348-98e1-3d1b77f0dbe8/Elizabeth+Irvin+Headshot.jpg Board of Directors - Secretary Elizabeth Irvin Elizabeth Irvin is a fourth year PhD candidate in the Toxicology Program at North Carolina State University, working under the mentorship of Dr. Hong Wang. Her research uses single-molecule imaging techniques to study protein-DNA interactions that promote DNA repair. Besides serving as a GEMS Councilor, Elizabeth is an NC State Goodnight Fellow and serves as the Student and Early Career Investigator Co-Chair for the Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society (EMGS). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1740506306123-HKHH4EHF0M1U1XZYBBEE/unsplash-image-7ttCF1NQl0k.jpg Board of Directors - Treasurer Nagu Keshava, Ph.D. Coming soon! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/dadc58a5-79fb-4c84-a1a5-49fbf9803d58/Javier_Huayta.jpg Board of Directors - Javier Huayta, Ph.D. Dr. Javier Huayta is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University under the mentorship of Dr. Joel Meyer. He is interested in the interactions between environmental toxicology and aging under the context of mitochondrial DNA dynamics. His current research focuses on discerning the neurodegenerative effects of exposure to chemicals that disrupt the mitochondrial electron transport chain, using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. He earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering under the mentorship of Dr. Adriana San Miguel in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department at NC State University. He has attended GEMS meetings since 2022, has served as president of the Latin American Student Association at NC State, and is currently serving as councilor for the Society of Toxicology Postdoctoral Assembly and as co-chair of the Genetics Society of America Equity and Inclusion Committee. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/0fb27526-0f58-4a26-ae36-d55ea13042f9/SautyS24_2884l.jpg Board of Directors - Safia Sauty, Ph.D. Amy Wang, Ph.D., is a toxicologist in the Office of Report on Carcinogens, Division of National Toxicology Program (NTP) at NIEHS. She leads systematic reviews to evaluate various substances’ potential carcinogenicity and mechanisms, including using results from new approach methodologies and computational approach to fill in knowledge gaps. She is also a member of program management team on Environmental Cancer Prevention Initiative at NTP. Before joining the NTP in 2017, Dr. Wang worked in the private sector, and brought predictive toxicology to the standard workflow of toxicity testing, and decreased the animal use by applying mixture toxicity estimation. During her postdoctoral training, Dr. Wang conducted comprehensive environmental assessment for nano-scaled titanium dioxide at the National Center for Environmental Assessment, and then coordinated nanomaterial bioactivity screening (as a part of ToxCast) and physico-chemical property characterization National Center for Computational Toxicology. As a postdoc, Dr. Wang conceptualized the development of a higher throughput inhalation toxicity testing device, and won the competitive Pathfinder Innovation Projects 2 grant from US EPA. Dr. Wang received her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. She served on the boards of various specialty sections at the local chapter of and national Society of Toxicology, and on the board of local chapter of Society of Risk Analysis. She chaired scientific as well as educational sections at the Society of Toxicology annual meetings and other conferences, and organized or co-organized workshops and panel discussions in the RTP area. After attending recent GEMS NC meetings and meeting with members, she become very fond of the science, enthusiasm, and sense of community in GEMS NC. Dr. Wang is looking forwarding to be active in this vibrant Society. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/43639ea8-bd71-4bab-93af-ae27ee74465a/js_headshot.jpg Board of Directors - Jamie Scaglione, Ph.D. Jamie Scaglione is currently the Associate Director of Investigative Toxicology at ScitoVation, where she develops in vitro assays as New Approach Methods (NAMs) to reduce animal use in toxicity testing. Before joining ScitoVation, she held various academic roles, including Senior Research Scientist at Duke University and Assistant Professor at Carroll University and Eastern Michigan University. She holds a BS in chemistry and biology from the University of Evansville and a Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from Washington University in St. Louis, where she focused on the organic synthesis of neurosteroid analogues for electrophysiological structure-activity assays. She later completed postdoctoral research at the University of Michigan, investigating bacterial natural product biosynthetic pathways. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/2e506afe-d5a9-4c30-a579-a28239b0389f/Joel+low+res.jpg Board of Directors - Joel Meyer, Ph.D. I received a B.S. from Juniata College, and then moved to Guatemala where I worked for five years in a number of fields including appropriate technology. Building cookstoves, latrines and observing water pollution led me to pursue a Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology from Duke University. My thesis research triggered an interest in toxic effects of pollutants on mitochondria and DNA, which I studied in postdoctoral research with Ben Van Houten at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. I joined the faculty of the Nicholas School of the Environment in 2007. My group has been especially interested in the response to DNA damage that is irreparable in the mitochondrial genome. More recently, we have become interested in the disparate effects of different kinds of environment-mediated mitochondrial stress. Because mitochondrial diseases are common in the population, we are also studying how the effects of mitotoxicant exposures vary in the context of genetic differences. Most of our work is with the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans or cell culture, but we also work collaboratively in invitro systems, other non-human species, and human populations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/8af487f3-bcf9-46f7-8c0d-cc33fdf02140/Weaver+7+2024-02-07+092155.png Board of Directors - Andre Weaver, Ph.D., DABT Dr. Weaver is a Biologist in the Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division of the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) in ORD at the U.S. EPA. He received his Ph.D in the Inter-disciplinary program in Physiology from Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. He pursued post-doctoral studies at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda ,MD in the Center for Cancer Prevention where he studied the molecular biology of selenoproteins using genetic approaches incorporating mouse knock-out models and at UNC’s Lineberger Cancer Center where he investigated novel strategies for targeting tumor cell using nanoparticles and chromatin remodeling. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology. After a brief stay in industry Dr. Weaver joined the CPHEA where has been actively involved in chemical health risk assessment in support of the IRIS program and as well as the Provisional Peer-Reviewed Toxicity Values (PPRTV) program and serves as a co-chair for the General toxicology, Immune and Cancer workgroup. He also has provided technical support for the Toxic Substances Control Act mandated chemical risk assessments. His current research interest include systematic review methods, genetic toxicology, cancer, and human risk assessment. He is currently a member of GEMs and a full time SOT member. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/9a21205d-5745-44e9-8dc8-84e230bbb738/JRooney_Pic2.JPG Board of Directors - John Rooney, Ph.D. (2024-2025) is a fellow in the Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRAT) Program sponsored by the National Institute of General Medicine (NIGMS). She conducts her research at the National Institutes of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) in the lab of Dr. Paul Wade. Her primary interest is in using systems biology techniques to understand how hormonal signaling drives epigenetic change in response to chemical and non-chemical exposures. Currently, she is investigating epigenetic changes in the breast associated with birth control usage and how these changes may lead to an increase breast cancer risk. Additionally, she is also working to elucidate an epigenetic mechanism underlying the observed protective effect of pregnancy on breast cancer risk. She received her Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under Dr. Rebecca Fry, where she worked to understand metabolic alterations in response to arsenic exposure, as well as sexually dimorphic prenatal exposure responses. During her doctoral studies, she was the recipient of the Karen Wetterhahn Memorial Award from the NIEHS Superfund Research Program, as recognition for her excellence in environmental health research. Following this she was a postdoctoral researcher in the UNC Curriculum in Toxicology under the direction Dr. Shaun McCullough during which time she was invited to present her research at the Fall 2017 NC GEMS. Dr. Martin hopes to serve as a councilor for NC GEMS as her participation in NC GEMS continues to be integral in the development of her research focus on understanding the interaction between the epigenome and environmental exposures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/12411425-0535-48d7-a08e-6cdec3bb5bc4/Tess+Leuthner_headshot.jpg Board of Directors - Tess Leuthner, Ph.D. Amy Wang, Ph.D., is a toxicologist in the Office of Report on Carcinogens, Division of National Toxicology Program (NTP) at NIEHS. She leads systematic reviews to evaluate various substances’ potential carcinogenicity and mechanisms, including using results from new approach methodologies and computational approach to fill in knowledge gaps. She is also a member of program management team on Environmental Cancer Prevention Initiative at NTP. Before joining the NTP in 2017, Dr. Wang worked in the private sector, and brought predictive toxicology to the standard workflow of toxicity testing, and decreased the animal use by applying mixture toxicity estimation. During her postdoctoral training, Dr. Wang conducted comprehensive environmental assessment for nano-scaled titanium dioxide at the National Center for Environmental Assessment, and then coordinated nanomaterial bioactivity screening (as a part of ToxCast) and physico-chemical property characterization National Center for Computational Toxicology. As a postdoc, Dr. Wang conceptualized the development of a higher throughput inhalation toxicity testing device, and won the competitive Pathfinder Innovation Projects 2 grant from US EPA. Dr. Wang received her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. She served on the boards of various specialty sections at the local chapter of and national Society of Toxicology, and on the board of local chapter of Society of Risk Analysis. She chaired scientific as well as educational sections at the Society of Toxicology annual meetings and other conferences, and organized or co-organized workshops and panel discussions in the RTP area. After attending recent GEMS NC meetings and meeting with members, she become very fond of the science, enthusiasm, and sense of community in GEMS NC. Dr. Wang is looking forwarding to be active in this vibrant Society. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/c9119bc7-92a2-411f-b3ad-bb0029cf789f/Arjun+Keshava.jpg Board of Directors - Arjun Keshava, MPH Arjun Keshava, MPH is a Ph.D student and researcher in Dr. Rebecca Fry’s lab at University of North Carolina, Gillings School of Global Public Health. He is also an ORISE fellow at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He has worked on regulation on nitric oxide signaling, effect of PFAS on trophoblast migration and heavy metals in Dr. Fry’s lab for the past five years. Furthermore, at EPA, Arjun is working on a study that investigates response to low level of concentrated ambient particles as well as looking into how nutritional factors relate to PFAS exposure. Previously, Arjun interned at National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Environmental Protection Agency where he conducted research on DNA methylation and gene expression. He has presented his work at Society of Toxicology, Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society, Genetics and Environmental Mutagenesis Society (GEMS) and earned travel awards/best poster award. Arjun was also selected as one of ten Public Health Scholars in the United States. His research area of interest includes epigenetics, environment health and heavy metals. Arjun is an active member of GEMS and his goal is to bring in the student perspective to GEMS and encourage other young researchers to get involved in society activities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614206605861-F2RPLOGB9XPONHNOKNQ4/Tom+Mug+Shot+2016.png Board of Directors https://www.gems-nc.org/board-1 daily 0.75 2021-02-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614206075922-DK6P317C8Z3CWGF3WAS9/Pandiri.jpg Board of Directors (Copy) - President is a fellow in the Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRAT) Program sponsored by the National Institute of General Medicine (NIGMS). She conducts her research at the National Institutes of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) in the lab of Dr. Paul Wade. Her primary interest is in using systems biology techniques to understand how hormonal signaling drives epigenetic change in response to chemical and non-chemical exposures. Currently, she is investigating epigenetic changes in the breast associated with birth control usage and how these changes may lead to an increase breast cancer risk. Additionally, she is also working to elucidate an epigenetic mechanism underlying the observed protective effect of pregnancy on breast cancer risk. She received her Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under Dr. Rebecca Fry, where she worked to understand metabolic alterations in response to arsenic exposure, as well as sexually dimorphic prenatal exposure responses. During her doctoral studies, she was the recipient of the Karen Wetterhahn Memorial Award from the NIEHS Superfund Research Program, as recognition for her excellence in environmental health research. Following this she was a postdoctoral researcher in the UNC Curriculum in Toxicology under the direction Dr. Shaun McCullough during which time she was invited to present her research at the Fall 2017 NC GEMS. Dr. Martin hopes to serve as a councilor for NC GEMS as her participation in NC GEMS continues to be integral in the development of her research focus on understanding the interaction between the epigenome and environmental exposures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614206171076-843PFW372NBH1XPCLZRX/george_woodall_photo.jpg Board of Directors (Copy) - President-Elect Amy Wang, Ph.D., is a toxicologist in the Office of Report on Carcinogens, Division of National Toxicology Program (NTP) at NIEHS. She leads systematic reviews to evaluate various substances’ potential carcinogenicity and mechanisms, including using results from new approach methodologies and computational approach to fill in knowledge gaps. She is also a member of program management team on Environmental Cancer Prevention Initiative at NTP. Before joining the NTP in 2017, Dr. Wang worked in the private sector, and brought predictive toxicology to the standard workflow of toxicity testing, and decreased the animal use by applying mixture toxicity estimation. During her postdoctoral training, Dr. Wang conducted comprehensive environmental assessment for nano-scaled titanium dioxide at the National Center for Environmental Assessment, and then coordinated nanomaterial bioactivity screening (as a part of ToxCast) and physico-chemical property characterization National Center for Computational Toxicology. As a postdoc, Dr. Wang conceptualized the development of a higher throughput inhalation toxicity testing device, and won the competitive Pathfinder Innovation Projects 2 grant from US EPA. Dr. Wang received her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. She served on the boards of various specialty sections at the local chapter of and national Society of Toxicology, and on the board of local chapter of Society of Risk Analysis. She chaired scientific as well as educational sections at the Society of Toxicology annual meetings and other conferences, and organized or co-organized workshops and panel discussions in the RTP area. After attending recent GEMS NC meetings and meeting with members, she become very fond of the science, enthusiasm, and sense of community in GEMS NC. Dr. Wang is looking forwarding to be active in this vibrant Society. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614206267666-AJ1IC65LNEZ2U70EDBKH/Nichols.JPG Board of Directors (Copy) - Secretary Jennifer Nichols, Ph.D. Jennifer Nichols, Ph.D., is a Toxicologist at EPA with broad expertise in health effects related to air pollution. In ORD’s National Center for Environmental Assessment, I have served in a number of capacities primarily focused on human health risk assessments for air pollution exposures as part of reviews of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). In particular, my work has focused on evaluating and integrating evidence examining respiratory and cardiovascular effects, susceptible populations, and implementation of new methods and approaches to improve transparency and translation of scientific conclusions to support evidence-based decision making. I have previously served in the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards where I led a multi-disciplinary team in the review of the primary NAAQS for Oxides of Nitrogen. Prior to joining EPA in 2012, I completed doctoral research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I worked under Dr. Steve Kleeberger to characterize genetic and genomic mechanisms of neonatal acute lung injury. In these roles, I have effectively engaged in multi-disciplinary collaborations and worked with diverse groups of technical and nontechnical stakeholders internal and external to EPA on topics related to scientific research, policy, and communication. In addition, I have taken an active service role in the scientific community, including serving as a councilor on the GEMS Board from 2013-2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614206360274-A7IWZ43H8ENZUXV634RJ/hartman.jpg Board of Directors (Copy) - Treasurer Jessica Hartman, Ph.D. Jessica Hartman, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral scholar in the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University, working in the lab of Dr. Joel Meyer. Her research is working to uncover the role of metabolism in driving interindividual differences in toxicity associated with environmental exposures. More specifically, she is studying how genetics, diet, and exercise, as well as differences in xenobiotic metabolism, impact toxicity in the model organism C. elegans. This research builds on her prior doctoral research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where Dr. Hartman worked with Dr. Grover Miller to study metabolism of common environmental pollutants by the human cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP2E1. Dr. Hartman has already demonstrated a strong commitment to the advocacy and support of trainees, evidenced by her role as mentor to students and as Chair of the New Investigator Committee in the International Society for the Study of Xenobiotics (ISSX). In this role, she spearheaded the organization of trainee career development events at three national ISSX conferences and led efforts to improve New Investigator member benefits in the society. Dr. Hartman plans to pursue a career in academic research, where she hopes to continue to train students and develop her research program. Dr. Hartman is eager to explore the relationship of her work to environmental mutagenesis through working with GEMS. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614202369180-6I5YUWLRW9IA7W5XAVIC/MartinE.jpg Board of Directors (Copy) - Elizabeth M. Martin, Ph.D. is a fellow in the Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRAT) Program sponsored by the National Institute of General Medicine (NIGMS). She conducts her research at the National Institutes of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) in the lab of Dr. Paul Wade. Her primary interest is in using systems biology techniques to understand how hormonal signaling drives epigenetic change in response to chemical and non-chemical exposures. Currently, she is investigating epigenetic changes in the breast associated with birth control usage and how these changes may lead to an increase breast cancer risk. Additionally, she is also working to elucidate an epigenetic mechanism underlying the observed protective effect of pregnancy on breast cancer risk. She received her Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under Dr. Rebecca Fry, where she worked to understand metabolic alterations in response to arsenic exposure, as well as sexually dimorphic prenatal exposure responses. During her doctoral studies, she was the recipient of the Karen Wetterhahn Memorial Award from the NIEHS Superfund Research Program, as recognition for her excellence in environmental health research. Following this she was a postdoctoral researcher in the UNC Curriculum in Toxicology under the direction Dr. Shaun McCullough during which time she was invited to present her research at the Fall 2017 NC GEMS. Dr. Martin hopes to serve as a councilor for NC GEMS as her participation in NC GEMS continues to be integral in the development of her research focus on understanding the interaction between the epigenome and environmental exposures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614202606824-17HU31NZOEPF01RR040H/martos_suzanne.png Board of Directors (Copy) - Suzanne Martos, Ph.D. Amy Wang, Ph.D., is a toxicologist in the Office of Report on Carcinogens, Division of National Toxicology Program (NTP) at NIEHS. She leads systematic reviews to evaluate various substances’ potential carcinogenicity and mechanisms, including using results from new approach methodologies and computational approach to fill in knowledge gaps. She is also a member of program management team on Environmental Cancer Prevention Initiative at NTP. Before joining the NTP in 2017, Dr. Wang worked in the private sector, and brought predictive toxicology to the standard workflow of toxicity testing, and decreased the animal use by applying mixture toxicity estimation. During her postdoctoral training, Dr. Wang conducted comprehensive environmental assessment for nano-scaled titanium dioxide at the National Center for Environmental Assessment, and then coordinated nanomaterial bioactivity screening (as a part of ToxCast) and physico-chemical property characterization National Center for Computational Toxicology. As a postdoc, Dr. Wang conceptualized the development of a higher throughput inhalation toxicity testing device, and won the competitive Pathfinder Innovation Projects 2 grant from US EPA. Dr. Wang received her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. She served on the boards of various specialty sections at the local chapter of and national Society of Toxicology, and on the board of local chapter of Society of Risk Analysis. She chaired scientific as well as educational sections at the Society of Toxicology annual meetings and other conferences, and organized or co-organized workshops and panel discussions in the RTP area. After attending recent GEMS NC meetings and meeting with members, she become very fond of the science, enthusiasm, and sense of community in GEMS NC. Dr. Wang is looking forwarding to be active in this vibrant Society. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614203124091-S9OD6UWXYRA1CXRB8K3G/AmyWang2017.jpg Board of Directors (Copy) - Amy Wang, Ph.D. Amy Wang, Ph.D., is a toxicologist in the Office of Report on Carcinogens, Division of National Toxicology Program (NTP) at NIEHS. She leads systematic reviews to evaluate various substances’ potential carcinogenicity and mechanisms, including using results from new approach methodologies and computational approach to fill in knowledge gaps. She is also a member of program management team on Environmental Cancer Prevention Initiative at NTP. Before joining the NTP in 2017, Dr. Wang worked in the private sector, and brought predictive toxicology to the standard workflow of toxicity testing, and decreased the animal use by applying mixture toxicity estimation. During her postdoctoral training, Dr. Wang conducted comprehensive environmental assessment for nano-scaled titanium dioxide at the National Center for Environmental Assessment, and then coordinated nanomaterial bioactivity screening (as a part of ToxCast) and physico-chemical property characterization National Center for Computational Toxicology. As a postdoc, Dr. Wang conceptualized the development of a higher throughput inhalation toxicity testing device, and won the competitive Pathfinder Innovation Projects 2 grant from US EPA. Dr. Wang received her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. She served on the boards of various specialty sections at the local chapter of and national Society of Toxicology, and on the board of local chapter of Society of Risk Analysis. She chaired scientific as well as educational sections at the Society of Toxicology annual meetings and other conferences, and organized or co-organized workshops and panel discussions in the RTP area. After attending recent GEMS NC meetings and meeting with members, she become very fond of the science, enthusiasm, and sense of community in GEMS NC. Dr. Wang is looking forwarding to be active in this vibrant Society. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614206432051-83U955URZHZ67Q3LHZ2P/Shaun+McCullough+Photo.jpg Board of Directors (Copy) - Shaun D. McCullough, Ph.D. is a fellow in the Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRAT) Program sponsored by the National Institute of General Medicine (NIGMS). She conducts her research at the National Institutes of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) in the lab of Dr. Paul Wade. Her primary interest is in using systems biology techniques to understand how hormonal signaling drives epigenetic change in response to chemical and non-chemical exposures. Currently, she is investigating epigenetic changes in the breast associated with birth control usage and how these changes may lead to an increase breast cancer risk. Additionally, she is also working to elucidate an epigenetic mechanism underlying the observed protective effect of pregnancy on breast cancer risk. She received her Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under Dr. Rebecca Fry, where she worked to understand metabolic alterations in response to arsenic exposure, as well as sexually dimorphic prenatal exposure responses. During her doctoral studies, she was the recipient of the Karen Wetterhahn Memorial Award from the NIEHS Superfund Research Program, as recognition for her excellence in environmental health research. Following this she was a postdoctoral researcher in the UNC Curriculum in Toxicology under the direction Dr. Shaun McCullough during which time she was invited to present her research at the Fall 2017 NC GEMS. Dr. Martin hopes to serve as a councilor for NC GEMS as her participation in NC GEMS continues to be integral in the development of her research focus on understanding the interaction between the epigenome and environmental exposures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614206445816-YEZXPIQDCOFZ8KVNZ8A0/Mutlu.JPG Board of Directors (Copy) - Esra Mutlu, Ph.D. Amy Wang, Ph.D., is a toxicologist in the Office of Report on Carcinogens, Division of National Toxicology Program (NTP) at NIEHS. She leads systematic reviews to evaluate various substances’ potential carcinogenicity and mechanisms, including using results from new approach methodologies and computational approach to fill in knowledge gaps. She is also a member of program management team on Environmental Cancer Prevention Initiative at NTP. Before joining the NTP in 2017, Dr. Wang worked in the private sector, and brought predictive toxicology to the standard workflow of toxicity testing, and decreased the animal use by applying mixture toxicity estimation. During her postdoctoral training, Dr. Wang conducted comprehensive environmental assessment for nano-scaled titanium dioxide at the National Center for Environmental Assessment, and then coordinated nanomaterial bioactivity screening (as a part of ToxCast) and physico-chemical property characterization National Center for Computational Toxicology. As a postdoc, Dr. Wang conceptualized the development of a higher throughput inhalation toxicity testing device, and won the competitive Pathfinder Innovation Projects 2 grant from US EPA. Dr. Wang received her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. She served on the boards of various specialty sections at the local chapter of and national Society of Toxicology, and on the board of local chapter of Society of Risk Analysis. She chaired scientific as well as educational sections at the Society of Toxicology annual meetings and other conferences, and organized or co-organized workshops and panel discussions in the RTP area. After attending recent GEMS NC meetings and meeting with members, she become very fond of the science, enthusiasm, and sense of community in GEMS NC. Dr. Wang is looking forwarding to be active in this vibrant Society. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614206464537-K4YFYY4T1Y60OQ5VRUH1/Laura+Taylor_Headshot+Photo_GEMS.JPG Board of Directors (Copy) - Laura Taylor, Ph.D. Laura Taylor, Ph.D., is a post-doc at the Environmental Protection Agency. During graduate school, she researched the influence of genetics and epigenetics on biomarker levels after workers have been exposed to diisocyanates in polyurethane paint. The goal of her doctoral work was to refine exposure assessment models, further knowledge on the toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of diisocyanate exposures, and advance methodologies to identify genetically susceptible populations in order to reduce workers’ development of adverse health effects. This research was conducted under the direction of Dr. Leena Nylander-French at the University of North Carolina as part of the Environmental Sciences and Engineering program. Previously, Laura received a Master of Science degree in Toxicology from UNC. Outside of her doctoral work, Laura mentors students for the Step Up to Physical Science and Engineering (SUPER) program for her alma mater, Randolph College. Her memberships include Phi Beta Kappa and the National Honor Society for Women in Chemistry, and she has presented her work at the International Society of Exposure Science’s annual meeting. During her career, Laura hopes to perform implementation science for public health and sustainability initiatives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614206767416-L69NZ3JC1LWCDQZU48OK/angrish.jpg Board of Directors (Copy) - Michelle Angrish, Ph.D. is a fellow in the Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRAT) Program sponsored by the National Institute of General Medicine (NIGMS). She conducts her research at the National Institutes of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) in the lab of Dr. Paul Wade. Her primary interest is in using systems biology techniques to understand how hormonal signaling drives epigenetic change in response to chemical and non-chemical exposures. Currently, she is investigating epigenetic changes in the breast associated with birth control usage and how these changes may lead to an increase breast cancer risk. Additionally, she is also working to elucidate an epigenetic mechanism underlying the observed protective effect of pregnancy on breast cancer risk. She received her Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under Dr. Rebecca Fry, where she worked to understand metabolic alterations in response to arsenic exposure, as well as sexually dimorphic prenatal exposure responses. During her doctoral studies, she was the recipient of the Karen Wetterhahn Memorial Award from the NIEHS Superfund Research Program, as recognition for her excellence in environmental health research. Following this she was a postdoctoral researcher in the UNC Curriculum in Toxicology under the direction Dr. Shaun McCullough during which time she was invited to present her research at the Fall 2017 NC GEMS. Dr. Martin hopes to serve as a councilor for NC GEMS as her participation in NC GEMS continues to be integral in the development of her research focus on understanding the interaction between the epigenome and environmental exposures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614206792439-KIIIPOWRSZJWJDTZ4XE2/Harrill_Alison_3-20-15+%284%29.jpeg Board of Directors (Copy) - Alison Harrill, Ph.D. Amy Wang, Ph.D., is a toxicologist in the Office of Report on Carcinogens, Division of National Toxicology Program (NTP) at NIEHS. She leads systematic reviews to evaluate various substances’ potential carcinogenicity and mechanisms, including using results from new approach methodologies and computational approach to fill in knowledge gaps. She is also a member of program management team on Environmental Cancer Prevention Initiative at NTP. Before joining the NTP in 2017, Dr. Wang worked in the private sector, and brought predictive toxicology to the standard workflow of toxicity testing, and decreased the animal use by applying mixture toxicity estimation. During her postdoctoral training, Dr. Wang conducted comprehensive environmental assessment for nano-scaled titanium dioxide at the National Center for Environmental Assessment, and then coordinated nanomaterial bioactivity screening (as a part of ToxCast) and physico-chemical property characterization National Center for Computational Toxicology. As a postdoc, Dr. Wang conceptualized the development of a higher throughput inhalation toxicity testing device, and won the competitive Pathfinder Innovation Projects 2 grant from US EPA. Dr. Wang received her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. She served on the boards of various specialty sections at the local chapter of and national Society of Toxicology, and on the board of local chapter of Society of Risk Analysis. She chaired scientific as well as educational sections at the Society of Toxicology annual meetings and other conferences, and organized or co-organized workshops and panel discussions in the RTP area. After attending recent GEMS NC meetings and meeting with members, she become very fond of the science, enthusiasm, and sense of community in GEMS NC. Dr. Wang is looking forwarding to be active in this vibrant Society. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614206807716-5N11WPH2XC4B762PC8K5/SainiN14_2110LR.JPG Board of Directors (Copy) - Natalie Saini, Ph.D. Natalie Saini, Ph.D., completed her Ph.D in 2014 from Georgia Institute of Technology, where she was working on understanding how intrinsic DNA damage and repair pathways contribute to genome instability in yeast. Dr. Saini is currently a postdoctoral scientist in Dr. Dmitry Gordenin’s lab at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. She is working towards establishing herself as an independent researcher in the near future. Dr. Saini’s overarching research goal is to determine the range of genome-wide mutation loads and to identify the mutation signatures in the cells of healthy individuals to decipher environmental and genetic causes of genome instability. She utilizes simple model organisms like yeast to understand how environmental agents affect DNA stability, and to apply this knowledge to answer key questions regarding the impact of environmental damage on mutagenesis in humans, resulting in important insights into how these factors affect human health. Dr. Saini recently was awarded the Young Scientist Award by EMGS and is looking forward to participating the North Carolina Genetics and Environmental Mutagenesis Society. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614206605861-F2RPLOGB9XPONHNOKNQ4/Tom+Mug+Shot+2016.png Board of Directors (Copy) https://www.gems-nc.org/resources daily 0.75 2021-02-26 https://www.gems-nc.org/gems-lifetime-achievement-awardees daily 0.75 2022-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1618162782163-P18ZN070LB3O0081WLQK/ErrolZeiger03.jpg GEMS Lifetime Achievement Awardees Biography I have an M.S. (1969) and Ph.D. (1973) in microbiology from George Washington University, and a J.D. (1991) from North Carolina Central University. I began doing mutagenicity studies at the FDA in 1969, working with Salmonella (pre-Ames test), yeast, and Drosophila, and came to NIEHS in 1976 until retiring in December 2000. Before retiring, I spent one year at the OECD in Paris, France, where I wrote and edited health effects Test Guidelines and Guidance Documents, and helped manage their in vivo endocrine disruptor assay validation program. Since January 2001, I’ve been a consultant to private and government organizations in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and Europe. My career concentrated on the design and direction of laboratory validation studies of the effectiveness of short-term genetic toxicity tests and to develop standardized test protocols, and the use of these tests to predict chronic effects; the evaluation, interpretation, and integration of toxicological test data; and the study of mechanisms of chemical mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. At NIEHS I developed and managed the NTP’s genetic toxicology testing program, and evaluated the test data. My consulting practice has primarily been the evaluation and integration of genetox and cancer test data for human risk assessment for drugs, pesticides, and other chemicals. I’m a member of a number of scientific societies, a charter member of GEMS, have more than 200 publications, served on a number of Editorial Boards, was Editor-in-Chief ofEnvironmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, and co-editor and contributor to the 1997Handbook of Carcinogenic Potency and Genotoxicity Databases. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1632339133240-OPWF9KVGBQ869CAUT5S6/WaterM04_2952+%284%29.jpg GEMS Lifetime Achievement Awardees - Biography (updated 2021) Dr. Michael Dee Waters has over 40 years of experience as a biochemist, genetic toxicologist, toxicogenomics and information scientist, with extensive experience in project management. He has over 20 years of experience in database development and has completed three databases of international significance (for each, he conceived the overall project and directed the development of the database): 1) the Environmental Protection Agency’s Gene-Tox Program and Database hosted by the National Library of Medicine; 2) the EPA-IARC Genetic Activity Profile Database used by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in the evaluation of short-tern tests for genetic and related effects; and 3) the Chemical Effects in Biological Systems (CEBS) toxicogenomics database at the NIH which now serves the National Toxicology Program and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (https://cebs.niehs.nih.gov). At NIEHS he served on the NIH Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Roadmap Working Group, the FDA Advisory Committee for Pharmaceutical Science, Pharmacology and Toxicology Subcommittee, the Toxicogenomics and Risk Assessment Committee of the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), the Advisory Board of the Microarray Gene Expression Data (MGED) Society and the Scientific Advisory Board of the Rat Genome Database (RGD). For 29 years, he directed research in cellular pathology, biochemistry, and genetic toxicology in various capacities at the US EPA in RTP, NC. serving EPA as Director, Genetic Toxicology Division, and as Assistant Laboratory Director with programmatic responsibility for international, waste, and multi-media research programs. He has 20 years of laboratory and management experience with studies with cellular, molecular approaches including design and conduct of genotoxicity assays and chemoprevention studies in in vitro models; utilization of mechanistic approaches to understand the disease process; genomics, clinical and toxicologic pathology, and risk-based expertise. Following his career in government he served in the private sector for six years as Chief Scientist/Chief Scientific Officer, Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., in RTP. He retired in 2013 as Chief Scientist, Emeritus. He is Emeritus Adjunct Professor of Toxicology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Emeritus Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Duke University. He is Editor Emeritus of Mutation Research - Reviews in Mutation Research (retiring in 2019) and currently Series Editor, Issues in Toxicology, Royal Society of Chemistry. Since 2013 he has edited books on toxicogenomics, translational toxicology, and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. See: https://www.chemistryworld.com/the-coronavirus-pandemic-and-the-future/introduction-the-coronavirus-pandemic-and-the-future/4012582.article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1632237699680-7EUZ0ZFEVA0CIFRUQYXX/David+Demarini+Headshot.jpg GEMS Lifetime Achievement Awardees Biography (written at the time of the award) Dr. DeMarini was born in Peoria, Illinois, USA on May 20, 1950. He received the B.S. (1972), M.S. (1974), and Ph.D. (1980) in Biological Sciences (genetics) at Illinois State University, Normal, IL. From 1980-1982, he did postdoctoral research at the Biology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN. He then was a Research Geneticist at the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), RTP, NC from 1983-1984. He began his current position as a Genetic Toxicologist at the US Environmental Protection Agency, RTP, NC in 1985. He is also an Adjunct Professor, Deptartment of Environmental Science & Engineering, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (1991-present). He is past-president of the Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society (EMGS) and the International EMGS. He is an Editor of Mutation Research--Reviews (1998-present; impact factor 7.3) and is on the editorial boards of Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis (1984-1989; 1993-present), Genes and Environment (2006-present), and Frontiers in Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention (2011-present). He has organized conferences, symposia, and training courses internationally, and has given invited lectures at more than 130 conferences in 55 countries. He has served on 8 WHO/IARC Monographs, chairing one of them. He has published >170 articles and has mentored 20 graduate students and postdocs. His research interests are molecular mechanisms of mutagenesis, mutation spectra, complex mixtures, and biomarkers of mutation in humans. Dr. Demarini has been recognized throughout his career for his contributions, including 2 Honorary Mention, 3 Level II, 3 Level III, and 1 Level I STAA Awards from US EPA, as well as an Alumni Achievement Award (2000) and Alumni Hall of Fame (2006) from Illinois State University, and he is also a recipient of the EMGS Service Award (2004) and EMGS Alexander Hollaender Award (2011). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614356311934-DZJ5MHYIX7QI7N4TXG1B/Tom+Mug+Shot+2016.png GEMS Lifetime Achievement Awardees Biography Mr. Hughes received his B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Iona College in New Rochelle, NY in 1970, and a M.S. in Microbiology with a minor in Marine Science from North Carolina State University in 1972 where he studied the degradation of crude oil and the metabolism of hydrocarbons by bacteria isolated from soil under Dr. Jerome Perry. Mr. Hughes was the co-founder of GEMS in 1983. He has served as the GEMS President three times and has been on the BOD as Councilor, Treasurer, Corporate Sponsor Coordinator and Vice President. He was awarded the GEMS Lifetime Achievement Award at the Annual Meeting in 2015. He has been a QA and Records Manager at the USEPA for the past 17 years and a laboratory scientist at the USEPA for five years prior to being a QA and Records Manager. Scientifically, he was involved in the World Trade Center (WTC) research, where a 20 member Team exposed mice to dusts from the WTC immediately after the 9/11/01 disaster and in the Penobscot River Study in Maine where the water, sediment and drinking water of the Penobscot River and the fish and plants were investigate for toxicity for the Penobscot Indian Nation. Previous to being at the USEPA, Mr. Hughes was a Principal Investigator in two contract labs for twenty years, were he conducted GLP testing for industrial clients, and where he conducted toxicology testing for industry, NCI, EPA and NTP. Mr. Hughes was the U.S. EPA QA Manager of the Year in 2002 and was a USEPA National Honor Award winner in 2014 for his work with the Penobscot Indians. Even though he retired from the USEPA after 22 years in 2016, he has a great desire to continue supporting the mission of GEMS. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614356710949-RFX8QO9T4TGZN17Q5NRX/Bishop+II.png GEMS Lifetime Achievement Awardees Biography (written at the time of the award) Dr. Bishop received his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University and embarked on a career in the federal government as a geneticist focused on mechanisms of germline mutagenesis. Dr. Bishop came to the Research Triangle Park in 1985 after having worked for the USDA and National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) as a Research Geneticist. At the National Toxicology Program/NIEHS, his work focused on reproductive and developmental genetic toxicology. Dr. Bishop has been a very active member of many societies, including GEMS, the Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society, Teratology Society, Society of Toxicology, and Sigma Xi. Among his many contributions, Dr. Bishop was President of GEMS in 1998 – 1999, Treasurer of EMGS (2003 – 2007) and Treasurer of the RTP Chapter of Sigma Xi (2008 – 2014). Dr. Bishop received the prestigious Alexander Hollaender Award from the EMGS in 2013 in recognition of his outstanding contributions in the application of the principles and techniques of environmental mutagenesis and genomics to the protection of human health. Dr. Bishop retired in 2012 from the National Toxicology Program/NIEHS after 40 years of federal civil service. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1618162566231-AT0O7Z6MQVB04UTZ1P74/French-Jef_800x800.jpg GEMS Lifetime Achievement Awardees Biography (written at the time of the award) John E. French, Ph.D., received his Ph.D. from North Carolina State University at Raleigh, North Carolina in Comparative Biochemistry and Molecular Toxicology. As an investigator and staff scientist at NIH, NIEHS/NTP (Research Triangle Park. NC), he studied mechanisms of chemical and radiation toxicology and carcinogenesis using inbred, outbred, and genetically altered mouse models to screen environmental toxicants for adverse reactions and to study mechanisms of action. In addition, he has used population-based genetic models to study toxicity phenotypes. For example, panels of inbred strains with and without engineered mutations (short-term in vivo tests) as well as the randomly bred Diversity Outbred mice derived from the Collaborative Cross lines. Using forward genetics approaches like haplotype association mapping of inbred of mice strains and linkage analysis in randomly bred populations genome wide associations were used to identify genetic sequences significantly associated with phenotypes of interest. This approach can be used to investigate intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting inter-individual phenotypic variation in response to toxicants using the tools of quantitative biology and reverse genetics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614357281092-VCG3TIQIA72TAGNQF376/mcgee+II.JPG GEMS Lifetime Achievement Awardees Biography (written at the time of the award) Ms. RoseAnne McGee is a scientific review officer for the Division of Extramural Research and Training (DERT) at NIEHS. As a scientific review officer, she oversees and manages functions pertaining to regulatory and procedural aspects preformed by the Scientific Review Branch, such as, recruiting potential reviewers; conducting special emphasis panels for various grant mechanisms and research and development contracts; giving instruction and guidance regarding review; and ensuring adherence to federal regulations, other regulations, authorizations, and policies. Prior to her current role, Ms. McGee was a biology technician at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and contract research technician and research associate at Environmental Health Research and Testing (EHRT) and Novel Pharmaceutical, Inc. She joined NIEHS as a biologist in the Comparative Medicine Branch. Ms. McGee holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from North Carolina State University. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1618162681583-5F3WSN0I95UOTASE3HZU/WittK06_3997c.rev.jpg GEMS Lifetime Achievement Awardees Biography (written at the time of the award) Ms. Kristine Witt is the Genetic Toxicology Group Leader, Division of the National Toxicology Program/NIEHS, in Research Triangle Park, NC. Her current duties include serving as the NTP co-chair for the Tox21 Assays and Pathways Working Group (the multi-agency high throughput screening program), as well as directing the acquisition, interpretation, and presentation of genetic toxicology data in support of the NTP mission through the NTP’s genetic toxicology testing contract. She leads a Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century (Tox21) project that is using high throughput screening (HTS) assays to measure specific types of DNA damage/repair and comparing these data against data acquired in traditional genetic toxicity tests to clarify the role for HTS data in identifying potential genotoxicants. In addition to her Tox21 and contract management duties, she provides reviews, evaluations, and interpretations of genotoxicity test data for inclusion in the NTP Technical Reports. Ms. Witt also manages NIEHS translational research studies focused on cytogenetic endpoints in human populations exposed to known or suspected genotoxicants, with an emphasis on exposure risks to children. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/c9d0599e-c595-4ec0-8606-e0929049baba/Shane_headshot.jpg GEMS Lifetime Achievement Awardees - Biography (written at time of award) Dr. Barbara Shane was born in Johannesburg South Africa in 1941. She attended the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa where she obtained a BSc. with honors in Biochemistry and a PhD. in Microbiology. For her PhD, she found that the bacterial flora in the rumen of sheep was dependent on the type of hay in their diet, an indication of the likely importance of diet on gut microbiota in humans. Due to circumstances, Dr. Shane has had to adapt to working in different biological areas. She obtained a post-doctoral position from 1966-1969 at Cornell University in Ithaca NY where she investigated the effect of methyltestosterone (MT) and dieldrin on the development of Beagle pups. Half of the female pups born to pregnant Beagles fed MT were pseudohermaphrodites. Following an eight-year return to South Africa and a break in her career, she emigrated to the United States in 1978. In 1979, she moved to Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge and took a second post-doctoral position where she developed a sensitive specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies to equine infectious anemia virus in naturally and experimentally infected horses. In 1983, she took a faculty position at the Institute of Environmental Studies at LSU where she could concentrate on toxicology. She introduced the Ames and Big Blue mouse assays in her laboratory and taught master and PhD students the two assays for their degree research. In 1990, she qualified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology. She took an 18-month sabbatical leave at NIEHS from 1993 to 1994. In 1993 she was promoted to Professor at LSU. In 1994 she was the co-editor with Dr. Cockerham of “Basic Environmental Toxicology”, one of the earliest text books on this topic. In 2000, she was elected as a Fellow of the American Association of the Advancement of Science. In 2000, she left LSU and relocated to Durham, North Carolina and took a position with Integrated Laboratory Systems for three years. Subsequently, she took a position at NIEHS as the Executive Secretary for the National Toxicology Program, Board of Scientific Counselors. From 2004 - 2005 she served as President of GEMS and from 2008-2017 she was Treasurer of the Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society. Most of her publications are related to toxicology and mutagenesis. She retired from NIEHS in 2010. https://www.gems-nc.org/fall daily 0.75 2024-11-25 https://www.gems-nc.org/hsresources daily 0.75 2022-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/602f45c597144054a9d7526d/1614361560573-6RYEV564YYRCL823NF8I/Smithies+with+students_Photo+by+Steve+McCaw.jpg High School Resources High school students were invited to participate in the GEMS 2016 Spring Meeting. 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