About

I work as the Director of Engagement and Development for the Genetics Society of America (GSA), a scholarly society committed to supporting the next generation of geneticists. GSA provides leadership and professional development training for graduate students and postdocs and promotes interaction among an international community of geneticists. I received my PhD in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of Kansas. I then invested two years in postdoctoral training at the University of Massachusetts Medical School – one-year in a research laboratory followed by a year training in academic administration at the Center for Biomedical Career Development with Cynthia Fuhrmann.

I’ve led the development of multiple educational outreach initiatives, including building the DNA Day Network in collaboration with UNC-Chapel Hill and the University of Kansas. During my graduate and postdoctoral training, I was passionate about creating and implementing professional development activities for domestic and international early career researchers in partnership with multiple nonprofit organizations, including the Future of Research and the Genetics Society of America. These experiences inspired me to commit to a career building partnerships in the spirit of developing innovative programs to enhance the training experience of graduate students and postdocs.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

Ph.D. Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology | University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas | June 2015

B.S. Biology May 2011 | Concentration: Genetics | University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas

Work Experience

Director, Engagement & Development | Genetics Society of America

Independent Consultant | Program Director, Early Career Scientist Engagement | Genetics Society of America

Post Doctoral Fellow | University of Massachusetts Medical School | Advisor: Dr. Cynthia Fuhrmann|Research Area: Career training interventions to balance academic training and national workforce demands.

Post Doctoral Associate | University of Massachusetts Medical School | Advisor: Dr. Eric Baehrecke | Research Area: The role of autophagy in metabolic regulation during Drosophila development.

Graduate Student | University of Kansas – Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Program | Advisor: Dr. Robert Ward | Research Area: An analysis of the requirement for septate junction proteins in essential morphogenetic events.

Undergraduate Research | University of Kansas – Molecular Biosciences | Advisor: Dr. Robert Ward | Research Area: Characterization of the Drosophila septate junction protein Macroglobulin Complement Related (Mcr).

Undergraduate Research | University of Kansas – Molecular Biosciences | Advisor: Dr. Dean Stetler | Research Area: Genetics of Autism, Genetics of Violent Behavior

Technical Skills

Drosophila genetics, molecular cloning, dose/response experimentation, confocal microscopy, live imaging (whole animal (Drosophila, C. elegans, Danio rerio) and single cell), immunohistochemistry (Drosophila, Danio rerio), immunocytochemistry, tissue/cell culture, electron microscopy, antibody design, histology, CRISPR, protein purification, electron microscopy, antibody design, western blotting, northern blotting, PCR, in-situ hybridization

Volunteer Leadership Experience

Genetics Society of America: Trainee Advisory Representative: Board of Directors (2015-2016), Mentoring and Professional Development Committee (2016), Public Policy Committee (2016), Education Committee (2012-2014)

The Allied Genetics Conference: Trainee Organizing Committee (2015-2016)

Drosophila Research Conference: Trainee Bootcamp Organizer (2014), Graduate Student Panelist (2013-2015)

DNA Day Network: Northeast Coordinator (2015-Present), Director (2015-Present), Co-Director (2014-2015) – Science outreach program designed to provide early career scientists with diverse life experiences professional development opportunities while encouraging the broadening of participation in STEM.

Future of Research: Board of Directors (2017-2019), Boston Meeting Lead Organizer (2017), Organizing Committee Member (2016)

University of Kansas: Graduate Student Ambassador for the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (2014), Moderator for Undergraduate Research Symposium (2013), Graduate Student Panelist for Undergraduate Research Symposium (2013), Poster Judge for Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program (2012-2013), Graduate Student Panelist for Post baccalaureate Research Education Program (2012)

Science Café Woo: Program Coordinator (2015-Present)

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Sonia Hall, Courtney Bone, Kenzi Oshima, Liang Zhang, Molly McGraw, Bethany Lucas, Richard G. Fehon and Robert E. Ward, IV. 2014. Macroglobulin complement-related encodes a protein required for septate junction organization and paracellular barrier function in Drosophila. Development 141, 880-898.

Sonia Hall and Robert E. Ward, IV. Septate junction proteins play essential roles in morphogenesis throughout embryonic development in Drosophila. G3: Genes | Genomes | Genetics 6(8), 2375-2384.

Informal Science Communications

Bankston, Adriana; Hall, Sonia (2017, May 15) Enhancing the connections between institutions and professional societies in advancing postdoctoral training

Hall, Sonia M. (2017, March 16) Crafting your resume for a non-academic position

Hall, Sonia M. (2017, January 24) Collins to remain as NIH director at beginning of Trump administration

Hall, Sonia M. (2017, January 11) New study shows the GRE is a poor predictor of graduate student success in the biomedical sciences

Hall, Sonia M. (2016, February 22) Building a career focused on mentoring: An interview with Josh Hall

Hall, Sonia M. (2015, October 16). Career Profile – eLearning Specialist

Selected National Presentations – Research

Hall, S. and R. E. Ward IV Uncovering a fundamental requirement for septate junction components during morphogenesis. Genetics Society of America 56th Annual Drosophila Research Conference Chicago, IL March 4-8, 2015. Poster

Hall, S. and Ward, R. Macroglobulin complement related (Mcr) and Thioester protein 3 (Tep3) demonstrate a requirement for thioester-containing proteins in Drosophila development. American Society of Cell Biology Philadelphia, PA December 5-10, 2014. Poster

Hanzlick-Burton, C. and Hall, S. An interdisciplinary project-based approach using Drosophila genetics and cell biology to improve reasoning, problem solving, and foundational knowledge in high school student. American Society of Cell Biology Philadelphia, PA December 5-10, 2014. Poster

Hall, S. and Ward, R. Macroglobulin complement related (Mcr) and Thioester protein 3 (Tep3) demonstrate a requirement for thioester-containing proteins in Drosophila development. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students San Antonio, TX November 12-15, 2014. Poster

Hanzlick-Burton, C. and Hall, S. An interdisciplinary project-based approach using Drosophila genetics and cell biology to improve reasoning, problem solving, and foundational knowledge in high school student. Genetics Society of America 55th Annual Drosophila Research Conference San Diego, CA March 26-30, 2014. Invited Talk

Hall, S., Jarvis, and R. E. Ward IV An examination of the requirement for septate junction components during morphogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics Society of America 55th Annual Drosophila Research Conference San Diego, CA March 26-30, 2014. Poster

Hanzlick-Burton, C. and Hall, S. An interdisciplinary project-based approach using Drosophila genetics and cell biology to improve reasoning, problem solving, and foundational knowledge in high school student. Genetics Society of America 55th Annual Drosophila Research Conference San Diego, CA March 26-30, 2014. Poster

Hall, S., Mendez, J., Long, S., and Ward, R.E. Characterization of septate junction biogenesis during embryogenesis in Drosophila. Genetics Society of America 54th Annual Drosophila Research Conference Washington, DC April 3rd-7th,2013. Poster

Hall, S. and Ward, R.E. Macroglobulin complement related is a secreted core septate junction protein whose localization is mediated through the transmembrane protein Neuroglian. Genetics Society of America 53rd Annual Drosophila Research Conference Chicago, IL March 11, 2012. Invited Talk

Hall, S., Bone, C., and Ward, R.E. Macroglobulin complement related (Mcr) is an extracellular component of epithelial septate junctions. Genetics Society of America 52nd Annual Drosophila Research Conference San Diego, California March 30-April 3, 2011. Poster (Award 1st Place)

Selected National Presentations – Career Development

Hall, S. Taking a look back to identify sustainable solutions. The Ronin Institute: The Future of Careers in Scholarship Unconference Cambridge, MA November 5, 2016. Invited Talk

Villafuerte, L. and Hall, S. When you can’t learn it all at the bench – Reach out for career development! Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science National Diversity in STEM Conference Long Beach, CA October 13-15, 2016. Invited Workshop

Selected National Presentations – Education

Hanzlick-Burton, C. and Hall, S. An interdisciplinary project-based approach using Drosophila genetics and cell biology to improve reasoning, problem solving, and foundational knowledge in high school students. Genetics Society of America 55th Annual Drosophila Research Conference San Diego, CA March 26-30, 2014. Invited Talk

Hanzlick-Burton, C. and Hall, S. An interdisciplinary project-based approach using Drosophila genetics and cell biology to improve reasoning, problem solving, and foundational knowledge in high school students. Genetics Society of America 55th Annual Drosophila Research Conference San Diego, CA March 26-30, 2014. Poster

Selected Regional and Local Presentations

Hall, S. Using memberships in professional societies as a resource for career and professional development. University of Kansas Biology Honors Seminar Lawrence, KS September 8, 2016. Guest Lecturer

Hall, S. Maximizing your conference experience to build important professional skills. University of Kansas Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program Annual Bootcamp July 27-29, 2016. Invited Talk

Hall, S. Using science outreach to build professional skills. University of Kansas Biology Honors Seminar Lawrence, KS September 24, 2015. Guest Lecturer

Hall, S. Keys to a successful poster presentation. University of Kansas Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program Annual Bootcamp July 30, 2015. Invited Talk

Hall, S. and R.E. Ward IV An examination of septate junction components in morphogenesis of Drosophila melanogaster. 12th Annual K-INBRE Symposium Kansas City, MO January 18-19, 2014. Poster

Hall, S., Mendez, J., Long, S., and Ward, R.E. Characterization of septate junction biogenesis during embryogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. 11th Annual K-INBRE Symposium Manhattan, KS January 19-20, 2013. Poster

Hall, S. and Ward, R.E. Macroglobulin complement related is a secreted core septate junction protein whose localization is mediated through the transmembrane protein Neuroglian. K-INBRE Research Symposium Kansas City, Missouri, January 14-15, 2012. Poster (Award)

Hall, S. and Ward, R.E. Characterization of Macroglobulin complement related (Mcr) during Drosophila development. Kansas City Area Fly Meeting Kansas City, Missouri June 4, 2011. Invited Talk

Courses Designed

Career Pathways Communities (Co-developed with Morgan Thompson).

Audience: Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars.

Format: Workshop – Peer learning groups themed around a specific career pathway category. Each community is co-facilitated by a scientist employed in the career pathway and a graduate teaching assistant. Designed lesson plans, facilitator guide, session and course evaluations, program implementation plans, and publicity.

High School Cell Biology and Genetics

Audience: Ninth grade and Advanced Placement public high school students

Format: Experiential Learning – Designed using an interdisciplinary approach between a science educator and research scientist to improve student performance in the mastery of foundational scientific concepts, problem solving, and reasoning skills using project based instruction. The course was designed with the integration of the Next Generation Science Standards and included eight concepts that are recognized as being essential for science and engineering students in K-12.

Workshops Designed and Taught

Navigating the Career Decision Making Process: This interactive session begins with graduate student and postdoctoral participants identifying and discussing their professional strengths. Participants then explore how their personal values and life experiences shape their goals and contribute to career satisfaction. In small groups, the participants also discuss professional tasks they do not enjoy. Using the previous discussions and activities, the participants design and critically evaluate an action plan that will better position them for successful career decisions.

Enhancing connections between institutions and professional societies to advance postdoctoral training: (Co-developed with Adam Fagan) This session is a structured discussion among institutional leadership, career professionals, postdoc associations, and professional societies. Participants map out current and future needs for enhancing postdoctoral training and develop strategies for improving synergy among these stakeholders. The primary goals of the session are to: identify which opportunities and training experiences are most effective at the institutional level and how professional societies can help support and promote these programs; identify how institutional offices and associations can help contribute to national or international efforts led by professional societies to provide added benefit to their local populations.

Designing a Time-effective Science Outreach Program: (Co-developed with Lynn Villafuerte) This interactive session begins with a case study of an effective outreach program, the DNA Day Network. Working in small groups, the participants identify needs that exist on their campuses and think of ways that professional skills can be taught to graduate students and postdocs through participation in an outreach program. Participants are guided through the development of an implementation timeline and program budget. Individually, participants work to identify resources for funding and share their findings with the larger group. By the end of the session, participants have a basic design, budget, and prioritized action plan to implement a science outreach program.

Discovering the secrets of biology as told by a fruit fly: In this interactive workshop, educators explore tools from the model organism community that can be utilized to teach foundational biological concepts such as transcription, translation, and protein synthesis. These tools are then used by participants to develop a project-based education module to teach course content related to cell division and cell biology as it relates to growth and development.

Courses Taught

LA&S 492: PREP/IMSD Program Seminar Applying to Graduate School, Fall 2014

Audience: Post Baccalaureate and Undergraduate Students with backgrounds underrepresented in science and engineering.

Format: Seminar/Workshop – Each weekly session centered on a general task or skill required for graduate school application submission and interviewing, including but not limited to scientific writing and data presentation skills.

Biol 426: Laboratory in Cell Biology, Spring 2012

Audience: Senior Undergraduate Students

Format: Experiential Learning

Biol 150: Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Fall 2011

Audience: Undergraduate Biology Majors

Format: Experiential Learning

Awards

Travel Award Recipient Future of Bioscience Graduate And Postdoctoral Training Conference, Part 2, 2017

NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship T32, 2016

Doctoral Research Award University of Kansas, 2014

FASEB Travel Award, 2014

Office of Graduate Studies Travel Award, 2014

Doctoral Summer Research Fellowship, 2014

NSF GK-12 Fellowship, 2012-2014

Ida Hyde Scholarship for Women in Science, 2013

Doctoral Research Award University of Kansas, 2013

K-INBRE Poster Award, 2012

University of Kansas Travel Award, 2012

Genetics Society of America Poster Award, 2011

Howieson Opportunity Fund Recipient, 2010

Professional Memberships

Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science, 2016-Present

Graduate Career Consortium, 2016-Present

National Postdoctoral Association, 2015-Present

American Society of Cell Biology, 2014

American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2014-Present

Genetics Society of America, 2010-Present

Publicity

Genes to Genomes – The GSA’s Early Career Leadership Program an Interview with Sonia Hall

Genes to Genomes – GSA steps up its focus on early career scientists

Nature – Battle of US overtime pay rule leaves many postdocs in limbo

Forbes – This social network makes it easier for scientists to share their work