HomeBGA 2025 - Atlanta

55th Annual Meeting of the Behavior Genetics Association

25 - 28 June 2025

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

About the 2025 BGA Meeting

Get ready for BGA in ATLanta! We are looking forward to seeing you and learning about your science. The 55th annual BGA meeting will be held hybrid on the Emory University Campus as well as virtually. The 2025 meeting will bring together renowned researchers in the field of behavior genetics, including plenary sessions by local researchers. The theme of this year's meeting is "Harnessing broader perspectives of phenotypic and genotypic risk and liability". The meeting will include both formal presentations by faculty and trainees and multiple networking opporutnities. Please join the conversation about the meeting on social media.

There will also be a Festschrift in honor of Matt McGue on Wednesday, June 25, from 11am-6pm.

Local Hosts

Rohan HC Palmer and Irwin Waldman

Program Chair

Benjamin Neale

Important BGA Event Dates

55th Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, USA, 25-28 June 2025
Welcome Reception, Evening of 25 June, Location TBD
Closing Reception, Evening of 28 June, Location TBD

Festschrift in honor of Matt McGue

Information about the Festschrift

Conference Site

Emory University Student Center

605 Asbury Cir, Atlanta, GA 30322

Abstract Submission & Guidelines

Abstract submission for the 2025 BGA annual meeting in Atlanta (USA), is now open! You are welcome to submit a symposium, an oral presentation or a poster presentation.

Symposia:

For a symposium application: the main organizer submits a symposium, and invites the speakers of this symposium, all via this link: https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/events/74445/symposia/create. We require 4 presentations, a chair [who may be a presenter] and a discussant [who should not be a presenter]. Ideal symposium applications have a coherent theme and reflect the range of locations, career stages and demographics of BGA.

Oral and poster presentations:

Other abstracts for oral presentations and posters can be submitted via Oxford Abstracts. Abstract submissions are now closed (due date was March 14, 2025).

All presenters have been notified about the status of their abstract submission.

Printed poster sizes are required to be 36 inches (91.44cm) (height) x 48 inches (121.92cm) (width). Virtual poster presenters will receive specific instructions from the program chair.

Registration

Registration for BGA 2025 is now open. Please click here.

Register for the McGue Festschrift. Please click here.

(This is to ensure that attendees also register for the McGue Festschrift as we need to gauge attendance and know how many free lunches to provide.)

Hotel & Accommodations

BGA attendees are strongly encouraged to stay at the Emory University Campus Eagle Dorms

**Emory University Campus Eagle Dorm, 646 Means Dr, Atlanta, GA 30322 (0.2mi./0.32km*) Book/Reserve here *****

Please note that reservations are open until June 4th or until sold out (there is room for up to 351 people)

Other housing options that also are available in and around Emory:

At Emory

Emory University Conference Center Hotel, 1615 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 (1mi./1.6km*) Book here

The Emory University Inn, 1767 N Decatur Rd, Atlanta, GA 30307 (0.5mi./0.8km*) Book here

In Decatur (near the Closing Banquet)

Courtyard by Marriott, 130 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, Georgia 30030 (2.4mi./3.86km*) Book here

Hampton Inn, 116 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, Georgia 30030 Book here

In Midtown Atlanta

Hotel Clermont 789 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306 Book here

Wylie Hotel, 551 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 Book here

The Georgian Terrace, 659 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Book here

Element Atlanta Midtown, 640 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA, USA, 30308 Book here

Loews, 1065 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, 30309 Book here

Hotel Indigo, 683 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 Book here

In Inman Park (near location of Opening Reception)

The Peach House, 88 Spruce Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 Book here

Sugar Magnolia, 88 Spruce Street NE | Atlanta, GA 30307 Book here

Solar Flair Book here

Wood's Edge Book here

Other AirBnBs Look here

*Distance to conference site

Award Nomination Information

Travel awards BGA 2025

To be eligible for the 2025 Travel awards, the following rules apply:

Be an associate member of BGA or be in the process of applying for membership (i.e., an application for associate membership must be submitted on or before March 29, 2025). NOTE: Travel awards are intended to support predoctoral associate members. In rare instances (e.g. recent graduation), a postdoctoral applicant may be considered, however, in general, postdoctoral members are encouraged to apply for regular membership upon graduation.
Submit an abstract by March 14, 2025.
Agree to attend substantially all of the BGA meeting if funds are awarded.
Submit a C.V. and include a copy of the abstract with the application materials.
Submit a letter of endorsement from the associate member’s adviser/sponsor which addresses (a) the applicant’s orientation toward a career that incorporates behavioral genetics; (b) the applicant’s financial need for the award; and (c) how residual costs of attending the conference will be covered. Endorsement letter may be included with the other materials or emailed separately by the adviser/sponsor.
Present a poster or oral paper (as first author) at the meeting.

All applicants should send a copy of the abstract, along with a C.V. and letter of endorsement from a sponsor to the Program Chair, Dr. Ben Neale (bneale@broadinstitute.org) by March 29, 2025.

Early career Awards BGA 2025

The Behavior Genetics Association presents the Early Career Award at its annual meeting for outstanding scientific accomplishments by a member who is early in their career. To be eligible for the Award, individuals must be current members in good standing of the Behavior Genetics Association, and must be within seven years full-time equivalent of receiving their terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D., M.D.). Please note any career disruptions or time out-of-role in the nomination letter. Nominations for the Early Career Award can be made by any member of BGA and we encourage self-nominations. To nominate someone/apply for the Award, please email a brief letter explaining why the individual should receive the award, along with a copy of the nominee’s CV, to the BGA Secretary, behaviorgeneticsassociation@gmail.com before March 29, 2025. The final decision will be made by the Association’s Award Committee, which is composed of the three immediate past Presidents, and the award will be presented at the banquet at the annual BGA meeting in Atlanta. Questions may be directed to: behaviorgeneticsassociation@gmail.com.