Conference: Dynamic DNA Structures in Biology

This award will support graduate student and postdoctoral trainee attendance at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) meeting on Dynamic DNA Structures in Biology, from July 19-24, 2026, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The meeting focuses on unique DNA and RNA structures and how they affect biological processes, including mutagenesis and genome evolution. The meeting is co-organized by Drs. Mitch McVey (Tufts University), Nayun Kim (University of Texas-Austin), and Vincent Dion (Cardiff University). The meeting will feature two keynote talks by Natalia Gromak (University of Oxford) and Katrin Paeschke (University of Bonn), 34 invited talks, 16 talks selected from submitted abstracts, and three poster sessions. Trainees will have multiple opportunities to present and discuss their research, including short talks, poster presentations, a ‘meet the experts’ session, and informal conversations at meals and during networking events. A career development panel and targeted group discussions will offer trainees opportunities to explore various STEM career paths. In selecting short talk speakers, the organizers and session chairs will prioritize graduate students, postdocs, and new investigators. This meeting, held bi-annually since 2008, is the premier conference for scientists worldwide investigating alternate DNA structures and their genomic impact. It regularly attracts approximately 100 participants, including many NSF-funded investigators. The conference sessions include topics on DNA structure-induced genome instability, RNA-mediated genome instability, biochemical and single-molecule analyses of DNA structures and interactions, chromosomal fragility and repeat instability, and a new session on nucleic acid structures found in transposons, viruses, and parasites – all of which constitute foundational knowledge that advances biotechnology The conference primarily highlights unpublished research findings and provides an unparalleled experience for young researchers to learn at the frontiers of the field and develop their careers in science. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2627235 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Mitch McVey | Institution: Federation of Amer Societies For Exper Biology, ROCKVILLE, MD | Award Amount: $12,000 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2627235 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2627235.html