2018 ANNUAL BMB RETREAT

April 13-14, 2018 Notre Dame of Maryland University, Baltimore MD

This year we gathered for 2 days in Notre Dame of Maryland University facilities for our annual Departmental Retreat. The retreat is an invaluable opportunity for our diverse department and training program to engage scientifically and bond in an informal setting. This year our mandate was to “celebrate science, embrace diversity, and have fun,” and we delivered! Nearly every trainee took the opportunity to present his/her research for a total of 35 posters and 16 talks.  This year featured two keynote addresses: the Lawrence Grossman Achievement Award winner Angelique Besold (Postdoc, Culotta Lab) and the trainee invited faculty keynote Dr. Scott Bailey. To promote team building and a cooperative environment this year, 8 teams were formed to feature model organisms commonly used in science as an inspirational source for creating trivia questions and composing a poem. Needless to say, we had a plethora of original and fun ideas.

We would like to congratulate this years BMB Retreat Award Winners.

Best Talk

Postdoc:

Natalie Robinett (Culotta Lab)

PhD Student:

Joe Fisher (Leung Lab)

Best Poster

Postdoc: 

Thao Tran (Kavran Lab)

PhD Student:

Lyle McPherson (Leung Lab)

Masters Student:

Yoo Jin Kim (Kavran Lab)

Special Awards

Most Enthusiastic Participant: Caitlin McCaig (First Year PhD Student)

Most Engaging Poster Presentation (Eye Catching): Haobo Wang (Bailey Lab)

Most Engaging Oral Presentation: Lily DeBell (Bailey Lab)

The retreat was chaired by Steve Wellard and Alisa Boyko. Nikki Camlin, Thao Tran, Christina Vivelo, Ed Culbertson, Danielle Bouchard, and Lyle McPherson rounded out the trainee retreat committee. Their work was overseen by Dr. Jennifer Kavran.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF  TARA BISER