Karen Arndt, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, will present the Lee Hartwell Lecture at the Genetics Society of America’s Yeast Genetics Meeting.
The award is presented biennially to a yeast researcher whose work has had significant impact beyond the field. Arndt was recognized not only for her pioneering studies on transcription regulation and the PAF1 complex but also for her exceptional mentorship and service to the genetics community.
Arndt’s research has advanced understanding of how transcription elongation and histone modifications influence gene regulation, or how cells turn genes on and off, and how those processes are controlled at the molecular level. Her discoveries have helped scientists better understand how genes work in more complex organisms, including humans, and how they are related to the development of cancer.
Over her three-decade career, she has published more than 40 influential papers and has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health. She has also built a reputation as a generous mentor and colleague. In 2023, she received Pitt’s Impact Award for her dedication to guiding the next generation of scientists.