Sir Kenneth Mather Memorial Prize 2020 – Rosa Cheesman

The 2019/20 Sir Kenneth Mather Memorial Prize is awarded to Dr Rosa Cheesman.

Rosa’s outstanding thesis  ‘Leveraging family data for complex trait genomics’ was nominated by her PhD supervisor, Dr Jonathan Coleman, at the Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King’s College London.

The thesis demonstrated how family-based quantitative genetics is not only the foundation for genomic research on complex psychological traits, but is of enduring value, especially when integrated with new genomic tools.

Rosa is now working as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oslo’s new PROMENTA Centre where she is very excited to be investigating how genetic variation and social environments combine to shape children’s mental health and educational trajectories, using rich genetic, psychological and socio-demographic data.

The Sir Kenneth Mather Memorial Prize rewards a BSc, MSc or PhD student of any UK University or Research Institution who has shown outstanding performance in the area of quantitative or population genetics.  The prize is awarded annually by The Genetics Society and The University of Birmingham and pertains to a project report, dissertation or thesis submitted during the academic year in question.

Rosa will receive her prize at the Society Mendel’s 200th Birthday event on 20th July, 2022.