Overview
The Genetics Society of America Medal honors an individual member of the Society for their contributions to the field of genetics at the mid-career level (up to 15 years since starting an independent position). The Society established the GSA Medal in 1981 to recognize members who exemplify the ingenuity of the GSA membership through elegant and highly meaningful contributions to modern genetics.
Nomination Process and Instructions
Full instructions on how to nominate for a GSA Award are available here.
A nomination packet should include:
- Nominee name and contact information
- Nominator name and contact information (if different from the nominee)
- Cover Letter (250 words or fewer)
- NIH-style biosketch (5 pages of fewer)
- Lived-experience statement (250 words or fewer) Nominees should give an overview of their career path and scientific philosophy in 250 words or fewer. They are encouraged to describe their particular approaches to research, mentoring, teaching, and equity, as appropriate, and are welcome to include information about barriers they have faced and/or overcome.
- Selection questionnaire (see below)
- Demographic survey (optional)
Selection Questionnaire
- Describe three of the nominee’s most impactful contributions to science since starting their independent position. (100 words or fewer)
- Describe the nominee’s contributions to the scientific community as a whole since starting their independent position. This may include efforts to diversify the field and make it more inclusive. (100 words or fewer)
- Describe the nominee’s contributions to mentoring and education since starting their independent position. (100 words or fewer)
Eligibility
To be considered for the Genetics Society of America Medal, the nominee must be an individual GSA member who has been in an independent position for at least 7 and no more than 15 years at the nomination deadline.
Important Dates
Nominations are due October 1, 2024.
Past Recipients
| 2024 | Luciano Marraffini, Rockefeller University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute |
| 2023 | No award given |
| 2022 | Margaret Fuller, Stanford University School of Medicine |
| 2021 | Douglas Koshland, University of California, Berkeley |
| 2020 | Bonnie Bassler, Princeton University |
| 2019 | Anne Villeneuve, Stanford University |
| 2018 | Mariana Wolfner, Cornell University |
| 2017 | David Kingsley, Stanford University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute |
| 2016 | Detlef Weigel, Max Plank Institute for Developmental Biology |
| 2015 | Steven Henikoff, Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute |
| 2014 | Angelika B. Amon, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute |
| 2013 | Elaine A. Ostrander, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health |
| 2012 | Joanne Chory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies |
| 2011 | John R. Carlson, Yale University |
| 2010 | Barbara J. Meyer, University of California, Berkeley |
| 2009 | Marian Carlson, Columbia University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute |
| 2008 | Susan Lindquist, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute |
| 2007 | Shirley M. Tilghman, Princeton University |
| 2006 | Victor Ambros, Dartmouth Medical School |
| 2005 | Stephen J. Elledge, Harvard Medical School |
| 2004 | Trudy F. C. Mackay, North Carolina State University |
| 2003 | Jeffrey C. Hall, Brandeis University |
| 2002 | Andrew Z. Fire, Carnegie Institution of Washington |
| 2001 | H. Robert Horvitz, Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 2000 | Jack Szostak, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School |
| 1999 | Charles H. Langley, University of California, Davis |
| 1998 | Ronald W. Davis, Stanford University School of Medicine |
| 1997 | Christine Guthrie, University of California, San Francisco |
| 1996 | Elliot Meyerowitz, California Institute of Technology |
| 1995 | Eric Wieschaus, Princeton University |
| 1994 | Leland H. Hartwell, University of Washington |
| 1993 | Jonathan R. Beckwith, Harvard University |
| 1992 | Maynard V. Olson, University of Washington |
| 1991 | Bruce S. Baker, Stanford University |
| 1990 | Nancy Kleckner, Harvard University |
| 1989 | Allan C. Spradling, Carnegie Institution of Washington |
| 1988 | David Botstein, Stanford University |
| Ira Herskowitz, University of California, San Francisco | |
| 1987 | Sydney Brenner, University of Cambridge, UK |
| 1986 | Gerald Rubin, University of California, Berkeley |
| 1985 | Philip Leder, Harvard University |
| 1984 | David S. Hogness, Stanford University |
| 1983 | Charles Yanofsky, Stanford University |
| 1982 | Gerald R. Fink, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 1981 | Beatrice Mintz, Institute for Cancer Research, Philadelphia |