Our Postdoc Research Day on October 17th, 2019 was a resounding success! A half-day event that included oral and poster presentations, panel discussions and networking opportunities. The event was initiated by the Dean of the Graduate School, Dr. Barbara Hempstead introducing our keynote speaker Dr. Michael Young from Rockefeller University who is the recipient of the 2017 Nobel Prize for Medicine. His presentation on his groundbreaking studies on biological clocks was in front of a standing-room only audience in Uris auditorium.
Following the lecture, six WCM postdocs presented their latest research findings on topics ranging the role of micro-RNA on neural differentiation to the use of peptide nanofibers to target tumors. They demonstrated that the postdocs of WCM are at the forefront of cutting edge science. The final session of the afternoon was a panel discussion on transitioning from a postdoc into the scientific work force. The panelists were all WCM alumni, Drs. Nazish Abdullah (Regeneron), Kwame Osei-Sarfo (Columbia University), Leonardo Pigantaro (City University of New York-College of Staten Island), Loredana Puca (Petra Pharma Corporation) and Alison Urvalek (Loxo Oncology). Their sage advice and successful careers instilled confidence that the future is bright for WCM postdocs.
The final event of the day was a reception combining poster presentations and networking opportunities in a packed 3rd floor in the Belfer Building. Awards given to the best oral and poster presentations. Dr. José Gabriel Barcia Durán won for his talk on reprogramming adult human endothelium into functional T Cells in vivo. The poster awards winners were Dr. Sandra Steensels for 1st place, Dr. Norihiro Imai for 2nd place and 3rd place was awarded to Melanie Balbach.
The success of the event was due to a well organized and enthusiastic group of postdocs, Drs. Keri Callegari, Sabyasachi Dash, Anna Katharina Schlusche, Heidi Meyer, Ana Rita Lourenco, and Spike Postnikoff in conjunction with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.
Keynote Speaker Dr. Michael Young
From the left, Dean of the Graduate School, Dr. Barbara Hempstead, Keynote Speaker, Dr. Michael Young & Associate Dean, Dr. Randi Silver
Postdoc Reasearch Day Organizing Committee. From the left:
Drs. Spike Postnikoff, Anna Katharina Schlusche, Ana Rita Lourenco, Heidi Meye, Keri Callegari & Sabyasachi Dash.