News

Duncan and Nancy MacMillan Chair in Genetics Distinguished Professor Maureen Barr was named the Duncan and Nancy MacMillan Chair in Genetics. Dr. Barr, whose lab is in the Department of Genetics at the Rutgers-New Brunswick School of Arts and Sciences, is nationally recognized for her impactful...

Molecular Biology and Evolution, Volume 42, Issue 12, December 2025 Genome size varies widely, even among closely related species, yet much less is known about chromosome size variation. Here we use the fourth chromosome of Drosophila, also known as the “Muller F element” or “dot chromosome”, as a...

by Laura Kiniry, Popular Science The popular nursery rhyme This Little Piggy is an early childhood memory for many of us. It’s a poem that involves five little piggies, each corresponding to one of our fingers or toes. Kids love it, but if you pause to think, this simple rhyme raises a curious...

Rutgers Lifetime Contribution Award (Faculty): Celebrates the extraordinary achievements of a faculty member who has devoted over two decades of their professional journey to enriching the academic landscape and leaving an indelible mark on the university. This prestigious award acknowledges...

Professor’s Research Opens Up New Possibilities for Treating a Painful Gastrointestinal Disease Written by John Chadwick | School of Arts and Sciences A Rutgers scientist whose research is opening up new possibilities for treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) has received the 2025 Grossman...

2024–2025 Faculty Year-End Excellence Award Recipients The Board of Trustees Award for Excellence in Research The award honors tenured faculty members who have made distinguished research contributions to their discipline and/or society at large. Karen Schindler, Professor, Department of Genetics, School...

Fresh insights into the molecular process of sperm production may hold clues for better understanding of the condition, Rutgers researchers find A genetic mutation in mice affects cells required for sexual reproduction and holds clues about male infertility that could pave the way for new...

Written by John Chadwick | School of Arts and Sciences Saliva samples from general population could ‘crack the code’ People across the U.S. can now contribute to critical cancer research without leaving the comfort of their own home. Rutgers University professors have launched a major study into the...

Dr. Samhita Yadavalli received the "FIGS Faculty Mentor of the Year” award presented at the FIGS (First-year Interest Group Seminars) 25th Anniversary dinner.   The FIGS course that Dr. Yadavalli mentored was “Exploring Health and Medicine” which was taught by senior Genetics major, Fawaaz Masood....

Scientists from several SAS departments have created a new genetic model in mice that can be used to study psychiatric conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The research, which involves identifying a molecule that regulates...

Achieving a doctorate is a remarkable accomplishment that reflects years of dedication, research, and academic excellence. Congratulations! Yamei ZuoB.S. in General Biology, Wuhan University, China“SPE-13 is a small sperm membrane protein required for fertilization in Caenorhabditis elegans that...

Advances understanding of genetics causing egg abnormalities in humans by Kitta MacPherson In what could be a major advance in understanding the genetic causes underlying human infertility, scientists led by researchers from Rutgers University-New Brunswick have identified a gene variant directly tied...

Congratulations to Dr. Katherine Maniates for her K99 NIH Pathway to Independence Award for her work entitled, "Role of PGM-3 and SPE-56 in fertilization and egg activation". Infertility impacts one in five couples globally. For many of these couples, the sperm and egg look completely normal. This...

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2026 AWARD RECIPIENTS!  Congratulations to the Rutgers Class of 2026 award recipients in Genetics — your dedication, curiosity, and commitment to advancing scientific knowledge have set you apart. Through your hard work in the classroom, laboratory, and community, you...

Two Rutgers Genetics Professors Named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science To view the article of the five Rutgers Professors to receive this honor, please click here. Dr. Maureen Barr and Dr. Christopher Rongo, two Department of Genetics faculty will be highlighted...

Happy Genetic Counseling Match Day to Kamyrn Bush, Sydnee Mcilvaine, and Ethan Rust! Today marks the exciting culmination of hard work, dedication, and passion for helping others through the field of genetics. This milestone is the beginning of a meaningful journey where science meets compassion,...

Congratulations to Kim McKim who was awarded the School of Graduate Studies Faculty Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Award! For many years Kim has made substantial contributions to graduate education for the Molecular Biosciences graduate program, and it is nice to see his efforts recognized.

Please click here to read the Faculty Spotlight article about Dr. Christina Bergey.    

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Verzi! Michael Verzi Appointed to the Duncan and Nancy MacMillan Endowed Chair in Cancer Genomics Rutgers Today article can be found here.