Category: Announcement

As of March 2022, GIGA operates as a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are 100% tax deductible under the law, and go to fund GIGA community efforts for research, education, and outreach in invertebrate genomics.

Donations can be made via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/GIGAIII

GIGA congratulates newly elected board members, and sends a deep thank you for retiring members.

Rotating positions include President, Executive VP for Conferences, Executive VP for Early Career Development, Executive VP for Development and Fundraising, and Student Representative.

GIGA thanks outgoing governing board (GB) members for their service to the Alliance (Joe Lopez, Heather Bracken-Grissom, Jean-François Flot, and Monica Medina).

Special thanks to Past President Joe Lopez for his dedicated leadership of the society!! Thanks to all nominees for their willingness to serve the community, and warm welcome the new GIGA Governing Board members:

President – Todd Oakley, University of California Santa Barbara

Executive Vice-President for Conferences – Vanessa González, Smithsonian Institution

Executive Vice-President for Early Career Development – Maria Carmen Ablan Lagman, De La Salle University

Executive Vice-President for Development and Fundraising – Joe Lopez, Nova Southeastern University

Student Representative – Kate Castellano, The Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute

The current Secretary (Kevin Kocot), Treasurer (Gonzalo Giribet), and Communications Director (Fabrizio Ghiselli) will continue their terms until the October 2023 election, according to the GIGA bylaws.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS. The Global Invertebrate Genomics Alliance (GIGA) is seeking nominations for 5 officers of the GIGA Governing Board from its membership. Nominations of other members and self-nominations are encouraged. These officers will serve two-year terms beginning at the end of November 2021. The future and advancement of the society depend on its member’s participation, so please consider serving. The Governing Board generally meets quarterly, and frequently corresponds by email. The following positions are open:

President – The President will have the authority to negotiate collaborations and agreements, and then report back to the Governing Board and the Community of Scientists (COS) for full consensus. The President can sign formal agreements and contracts approved by the GB and/or the COS. Regular GIGA conferences will likely be led by local organizing committees, but the President can assist in planning the regular GIGA conference, along with the Retiring President and Conference Vice-President.

Executive Vice-President for Conferences – In consultation with the President, shall be responsible for the administration, fundraising for, and operation of, the Community of Scientists in accordance with the existing constitution, bylaws, and policies.

Executive Vice-President for Development and Fundraising – Will make efforts to raise funds for the GIGA mission, and direct donations to the GIGA donor account.

Executive Vice-President for Early Career Development – Shall develop and establish educational opportunities to train students and early career scientists, relevant to the mission of GIGA.

Student Representative – Will serve as a liaison to the student communities related to GIGA. The GIGA By-Laws are at https://www.giga-cos.org/…/10/GIGAConstitution2020.pdf

Please send your nominations to Collinst@fiu.edu by Friday, October 22nd, 2021. If nominating other members, please copy them on your nomination e-mail. Currently serving officers may be nominated. Each self-nomination or accepted nomination should include a short biographical sketch of the nominee and a vision statement (up to 1 page) for the respective position.