Events

Distinguished Seminar Series

Our series is cosponsored with the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, the Epigenetics program, and the Institute for Regenerative Medicine. One department hosts a different speaker every Monday of the academic year, with invitees ranging from postdoctoral researchers to prominent scientists presenting a broad array of current, genetics-related research. We encourage all interested faculty, students and staff to attend.

2022-2023 Distinguished Seminar Series

Genetics Postdoctoral & Graduate Student Research in Progress Talks

This weekly Friday series features two research in progress presentations by postdoctoral and graduate students in Genetics. Each talk runs about 25 minutes long and includes: general background, research data and conclusions, followed by a brief question and open discussion period. While the talks were originally designed for lab interaction within Genetics, we encourage anyone interested from Penn’s scientific community to attend.

Genetics Friday Research Talks schedule 2022-2023

Genetics Journal Club

On the second and fourth Thursday of every month, faculty, postdocs, and graduate students present and discuss current papers in Genetics.

The Bernard Cohen Memorial Lecture in Genetics

This annual lectureship brings a distinguished geneticist to the School of Medicine each Spring. Dr. Stanley N. Cohen, a 1960 School of Medicine graduate and current Professor of Genetics at Stanford University, endowed the Lectureship in 1985 as a memorial to his father, Bernard Cohen (1905-1974), to honor his lifelong interest in science. The Lectureship is designed to further the interaction of students and faculty and to promote interest in genetics at Penn.

Previous Cohen Lecture Speakers

The Gail Gasser Lecture

The Gail Gasser Lectureship was established to bring a distinguished scientist working on the genetic aspects of Parkinson’s Disease, other neurodegenerative diseases, or neuroscience to the Perelman School of Medicine each fall. Dr. David Gasser, an Emeritus Professor of Genetics at Penn, endowed the lectureship in honor of his wife, Gail Gasser. The Lectureship is designed to further the interaction of students and faculty and to promote interest in neurogenetics at Penn.

Previous Gail Gasser Lecture Speakers

Kadesch Prize in Genetic Research

In 2011, the Department of Genetics established the “Tom Kadesch Prize in Genetics” to honor the legacy of our friend and colleague Dr. Tom Kadesch. Dr. Kadesch was a member of the Genetics department from 1984 until his death in 2011, and served as Interim Chairman for his final 4 years. He was not only an excellent scientist, but also a tremendously dedicated mentor, teacher and University citizen whose contributions inspired those around him. In his memory, with the help of many generous donors, we were able to set up an endowed fund that will support in perpetuity an annual award to “a graduate student demonstrating excellence in research achievement and citizenship”. Nominations for the Tom Kadesch Prize in Genetics are solicited each summer. This prize includes a $1000 monetary award and a public seminar to be presented to the Genetics Department. Eligible students can be members of any BGS graduate group. Students should be conducting research in the broad area of Genetics and should have received or anticipate receiving their PhD degree within a year of the application deadline.

Previous Kadesch Prize Recipients

Kaushal Family Award in Genetics

The Kaushal Family Awards in Genetics were established in 2016 to recognize pre-doctoral and post-doctoral scholars for excellence in Genetics research as evidenced by a notable publication. Nominations for the Kaushal Awards are solicited each summer. Each prize includes a $1000 monetary award and a public seminar to be presented to the Genetics Department. The awards are open to BGS students and PSOM postdocs working in any area of Genetics. Applicants may nominate one of their first-author (or co-first author) publications from the current or prior academic year.

Previous Kaushal Award Recipients

Gender Equality Events

The Department of Genetics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is committed to improving gender equity. As overt gender discrimination recedes, it becomes necessary to confront and educate both men and women on the unconscious gender biases and norms that arise from living in a society that has long favored men. To this end, the department has organized programming for the entire department as well as several small group mentoring circles open to affiliated female trainees.