Evolutionary, Ecological, or Conservation Genomics (EECG) Research Awards 2024
The AGA's EECG Research Awards provide funds to support the final stages of genomic research projects for grad students and postdocs.
Learn More...AGA Mission
The mission of the American Genetic Association is to advance organismal genetics and genomics research, and to promote the application of genetic and genomic methods to understand, document, conserve, and manage biological diversity. We fund and support scientific publications, educational and community-building workshops, and focused scientific meetings. We are committed to accomplishing this mission with the most inclusive and diverse community possible, enthusiastically promoting the open dissemination of the highest quality peer-reviewed genetic and genomic research.
Our vision: to harness the power of genomics to understand and conserve the diversity of life
We are committed to accomplishing this mission together with the most inclusive group of members and contributors possible, unrestricted by race, gender, sexuality, religion, political affiliation, or background. We have worked and will continue to work to broaden participation in this field to reflect the diversity of our broader community. We adamantly oppose any forms of discrimination, and we enthusiastically support the dissemination of peer-reviewed scientific research results to other scientists and the public at large.
Special Event Awards and the Ecological, Evolutionary, and Conservation Genomics Research Awards
Application deadline for RCE and HGE awards extended to August 31st!
RCE and HGE awards will be announced September 30th
Special Event Award
The American Genetic Association grants awards each year to its members for support of special events that advance the mission of AGA, particularly to support students to attend the event. Eligible events include specialized workshops and short courses in topical areas of organismal genetics and genomics, but any event relevant to AGA's purpose will be considered. Events that could lead to Journal of Heredity articles will receive special consideration. Awards are between $1,000-$10,000. Funding is competitive, and applications must follow the guidelines.
Ecological, Evolutionary, and Conservation Genomics Research Awards
The American Genetic Association grants EECG Research Awards to graduate and post-doctoral researchers who are at a critical point in their research, where additional funds would allow them to conclude their research project and prepare it for publication. These awards are open to any graduate student or postdoctoral fellow who is a member of the American Genetic Association at the time of application. Awards are for up to $6,000.
Researcher Community Engagement Award (RCE)
The American Genetic Association grants Researcher Community Engagement Awards to its members for engaging with their local communities, bringing organismal genetics and genomics research to the people it ultimately serves. Awards are for up to $2,000.
Humane Genomics Education Award (HGE)
The American Genetic Association grants Humane Genomics Education Awards in support of high-school and undergraduate educational activities that promote humane genomics. Awards are for up to $2,000.
Congratulations to Our 2026 Award Recipients
2026 EECG Research Award Recipients
Ten graduate students and postdoctoral researchers received 2026 Ecological, Evolutionary, and Conservation Genomics Research Awards: Kevin Bennett, Savanna Brown, Isabelle Danforth, Vinay Laxminarayan, Alexander Lewanski, Ronen Liberman, Ellen Sharkey, David Tian, Wyatt Touré, and April Wallace.
2026 Special Event Award Recipients
The AGA funded eight special events in 2026: Conservation Genomics Workshop, University of Antananarivo, Madagascar (May 25–27, 2026); Trends in Biodiversity and Evolution: The Evolutionary Role of Structural Genomic Variation, Vila do Conde, Portugal (July 8–10, 2026); ConGen Global 2026, Vale Natural Reserve, Linhares, ES, Brazil (August 3–13, 2026); Connecting Genomics to People, Culture, and Place (CGPCAP), Big Island, Hawai'i (June 20–26, 2026); Ontario Ecology, Ethology, and Evolution Colloquium (OE3C) 2026, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada (April 30–May 2, 2026); Introduction to Conservation Genetics Workshop, Hood College, Frederick, MD, USA (July 13–17, 2026); University of Kansas Center for Genomics 5th Annual Research Symposium, The Jayhawk Welcome Center, Lawrence, KS, USA (May 8, 2026); and EMBO Meiosis Workshop, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Spain (September 12–17, 2026).
In Memoriam
Read the freely available article in JHered:
The American Genetic Association has established the Robert K. Wayne Conservation Scholarship and Research Fund to support graduate students whose research directly benefits a threatened species. The first $6000 scholarship was awarded to Kyle Jaynes in 2023. We welcome donations from members of our community who wish to grow the impact of this Fund in Bob's honor.
Upcoming AGA Presidential Symposium
Polygenic Adaptation in a Changing World
President Michael Nachman
October 5–6, 2026 · Granlibakken Resort, Tahoe City, California. Registration is OPEN — Individual $400, Student/PostDoc $200. Register by September 1, 2026 at cvent.me/DOrKRb (individual) or cvent.me/Q5z2On (student/postdoc). AGA membership is required to register.
Confirmed Speakers
John Kelly, University of Kansas
Samuel Yeaman, University of Calgary
Bret Payseur, University of Wisconsin
Jianzhi Zhang, University of Michigan
Guy Sella, Columbia University
Rachael Bay, UC Davis
Dmitri Petrov, Stanford University
Jenny Tung, Max Planck Institute Leipzig
Joanna Kelley, UC Santa Cruz
Molly Schumer, Stanford University
Sarah Kocher, Princeton University
Rasmus Nielsen, UC Berkeley — Keynote Speaker, 2026 Guggenheim Fellow
Jeff Good, University of Montana
Thomas Juenger, University of Texas
Graham Coop, UC Davis
Paul Schmidt, University of Pennsylvania
Trisha Wittkopp, University of Michigan
Katie Lotterhos, Northeastern University
Julia Kreiner, University of Chicago
Past Presidents' Symposia
AGA2022, AGA2021, and AGA2020
Click the links to view the programs and video recordings from these Symposia
Presidents' Symposia Issues in JHered - freely available
AGA2026: Polygenic Adaptation in a Changing World - President Michael Nachman
Genomic Technologies and the Future of Conservation - President Beth Shapiro
Selfish Evolution: Mechanisms & Consequences of Genomic Conflict - President Lila Fishman
Conservation Genomics, Current Applications & Future Directions - President Kelly Zamudio
Genes as Environment - President Kimberly Hughes
Sex and Asex - President Maria Orive
Origins of Adaptive Radiation - President Rosemary Gillespie
Evolutionary Quantitative Genetics in the Wild - President Anne Bronikowski
Local Adaptation - President Lynda Delph
Chromosome Evolution - President Katie Peichel
Evolution and Plasticity - President Robin Waples
Speciation Continuum - President Kerry Shaw
Special Events Awards 2024
The AGA grants awards to its members for support of special events that advance its mission, particularly to enable students to attend the event.
Learn More...Did you publish in Journal of Heredity this past year?
The Outstanding Student Paper Award for the best student paper published in AGA's Journal of Heredity includes a cash prize of $2,000.
Learn More...Announcing the 2024 Evolutionary, Ecological, and Conservation Genomics (EECG) Research Award Recipients
10 + 1 Awards!
Learn More...2024 Best Student Paper Award Winner
"Ancestry testing of "Old Tom," a killer whale central to mutualistic interactions with human whalers"
Learn More...2024 Special Events Award
Four events funded this year
Learn More...Announcing the 2023 Evolutionary, Ecological, and Conservation Genomics (EECG) Research Award Recipients
Six PhD students and four postdocs receive funding.
Learn More...2023 Special Events Awards
Two US workshops and one student-led Canadian conference received funding
Learn More...2023 Student-Authored Paper Award Outcome
Alison Miller wins award for best student-authored paper in the 2022 volume of Journal of Heredity
Learn More...New blog post: The Proof is in the Pedigree
Learn about how Oliver Ryder and his team at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance made the incredible discovery of condor parthenogenesis. Research article in the December 2021 issue of Journal of Heredity.
Learn More...The 3 domains of conservation genetics
Boldly visualized by Brian Bowen with an Orlog metaphor, wherein the actions of the past and present influence future outcomes. FREE online
Learn More...Online tool speeds response to elephant poaching by tracing ivory to source
Read the JHered article for free at https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esz058
Learn More...Genetics show that the Florida kingsnake is really 3 species
Read the JHered article by Krysko et al. FOR FREE https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esw086
Learn More...New Organization Brings Together Top Researchers to Sequence the Genomes of Invertebrates
FORT LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. – Pop Quiz: what creatures make up more than 70% of the approximately 1.9 million described species on earth and have long served as model organisms in many areas of biology? If you guessed invertebrates, you're right!
Learn More...