Wildlife conservation and genetics research

Advancing Genetics Across the Tree of Life

Since 1903

120+

Years of Discovery

11,000+

Published Papers

All Organisms

From Microbes to Mammals

Since 1903

Founded in Washington, D.C.

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 window is now closed

Awards will be announced May 1st

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.

In Memoriam

Read the freely available article in JHered:

In Memoriam: Robert K. Wayne, a pioneer of evolutionary genomics for wildlife with an emphasis on endangered species

Robert K. Wayne

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

Registration information for the upcoming AGA Presidential Symposium will be announced soon!

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, Duke University

Joanna Kelley, UC Santa Cruz

Molly Schumer, Stanford University

Sarah Kocher, Princeton University

Rasmus Nielsen, UC Berkeley

Jeff Good, University of Montana

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

AGA 2024AGA 2022AGA 2021AGA 2020

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

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.

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Special Events Awards 2024

Special Events

The AGA grants awards to its members for support of special events that advance its mission, particularly to enable students to attend the event.

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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.

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Read All Awards Available

Announcing the 2024 Evolutionary, Ecological, and Conservation Genomics (EECG) Research Award Recipients

10 + 1 Awards!

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2024 Best Student Paper Award Winner

Old Tom

"Ancestry testing of "Old Tom," a killer whale central to mutualistic interactions with human whalers"

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2024 Special Events Award

Special Events

Four events funded this year

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Announcing the 2023 Evolutionary, Ecological, and Conservation Genomics (EECG) Research Award Recipients

EECG 2023

Six PhD students and four postdocs receive funding.

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2023 Special Events Awards

Special Events 2023

Two US workshops and one student-led Canadian conference received funding

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2023 Student-Authored Paper Award Outcome

Student Award 2023

Alison Miller wins award for best student-authored paper in the 2022 volume of Journal of Heredity

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Read All Award Recipients

New blog post: The Proof is in the Pedigree

Condor

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.

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The 3 domains of conservation genetics

Vikings

Boldly visualized by Brian Bowen with an Orlog metaphor, wherein the actions of the past and present influence future outcomes. FREE online

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Online tool speeds response to elephant poaching by tracing ivory to source

Elephant

Read the JHered article for free at https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esz058

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Genetics show that the Florida kingsnake is really 3 species

Kingsnake

Read the JHered article by Krysko et al. FOR FREE https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esw086

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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!

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