Qualitas AG
Zug
On the Road in Spain at ISAG 2019 - Qualitas AG
- 07 August 2026
- Permanent position
- Zug
Job summary
The 37th International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) Conference took place in Lleida, Spain. It offered a unique opportunity for networking and learning in a vibrant environment.
Tasks
- Participants engaged in 660 contributions, including 12 plenary talks.
- Topics spanned from DNA methylation to microbiomes in various species.
- Attendees enjoyed cultural experiences, including local cuisine and excursions.
Skills
- Open to anyone interested in animal genetics and molecular biology.
- Knowledge in genetics and molecular biology is essential.
- Networking and collaboration skills enhance the experience.
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About the job
Image source: ISAG 2019 (https://www.isag.us/2019/)
The 37th "International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) Conference" took place from 8th to 12th July in Lleida, Spain. The journey itself was a small adventure; we decided to forgo flying entirely and travel by train through France to Spain. While there had been issues with train connections from Geneva towards France the day before, we were lucky on Sunday: all trains ran on schedule and after around 13 hours of travel time, we ultimately arrived punctually in Lleida. The hotel, located directly at the station with a view into the station hall, was quickly found.
On Monday, the actual conference began. At the La Lljota conference centre, the approximately 750 participants could look forward to 660 contributions in the form of 12 plenary lectures, 20 workshops, and 3 poster sessions.
Livestock and Exotics
The topics were all more or less connected to molecular genetics. For example, there were talks about DNA methylation and its significance for epigenetic defects, about microbiomes, sequencing and annotation, and projects in various animal species. Besides livestock, there were also sessions on cat and dog genetics at ISAG.
Memorable were also the presentations on more exotic animal species, such as a talk by a South African on the topic of the coat colour of gnus, or a contribution on the sequencing of reindeer.
Variety in the Daily Programme
Alongside the diverse scientific programme, a very varied social programme was also offered. On Monday, the Catalan human towers were shown and a fire-breathing dragon entertained the participants. On Tuesday, local products could be tasted and the old cathedral La Seu Vella visited. On Wednesday afternoon, excursions took place in various directions: locally in Lleida, to Barcelona, to a monastery, a winery, or a gorge. On Thursday evening, the gala dinner was held in the Seu Vella. This varied programme offered excellent opportunities to meet new people in a relaxed atmosphere.
On Friday, after the morning plenary lectures, we took the train back home. Along with our luggage, we took away many exciting research results, new acquaintances, and a heap of wonderful memories.
