Geneticists at UGA Receive $1.8 Million NSF Career Awards

Researchers from the University of Georgia recently received grants from the National Science Foundation valued at more than $1.8 million. These grants will go towards projects that can potentially help combat birth defects and improve how new species come into existence.

The two researchers were Douglas Menke and Kelly Dyer, assistant professors of genetics in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Funding will take place over the next five years.

Menke is slated to use his $788,00 CAREER award to study the mechanisms responsible for generating differences in limb length in Anolis lizards. The project involves some of the first molecular studies on Anolis embryos.

Dyer will use her $1.04 million CAREER award to study how new species form by studying the genetic basis of mating behaviors in Drosophila flies.

The NSF CAREER award is one of the most competitive awards given by the NSF.

“CAREER grants are among the most prestigious awards given by the NSF and are unique in providing a steppingstone for the integration of teaching and research by future research leaders. Kelly Dyer and Douglas Menke reflect the best of University of Georgia faculty, with innovative ideas for combining their cutting-edge research in evolutionary and developmental genetics into unique research and educational experiences for students,” Allen J. Moore, head of the UGA genetics department stated in a press release.