Mixers, Exhibits, and New People!

Yesterday was a very exciting day. The Marriott is now fully covered in GSA posters, signs giving directions, and almost everyone I see has the easily identifiable conference attendee name badge. It's a common site to see people looking quizzically at maps of the convention center while sipping on a coffee or typing away at a laptop.  

Here I am sitting on the spiraling staircase ready to head into the undergraduate mixer, my first event of the conference! The first hour of the mixer involved hearing a panel give presentations and answer questions about applying to graduate school and pursuing academic careers. The first speaker, Anthea Letsou, represented the National Science Foundation (NSF) and explained the process of applying for research grants. She went into detail about the NSF's Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP) and REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates). Unfortunately, these grants are only for US citizens so I would not be able to apply, but it was still interesting to learn about how students in a different country are able to gain research experience.

The name of the next panelist escapes me, but thankfully, his words do not! This panelist, highly experienced in grad school admissions, outlined the general process of applying to grad schools and the importance of specifically tailoring your personal statement to each program you apply to. What I found interesting was how much he emphasized addressing one's weaknesses head on in the personal statement. For example, in the case that someone had poor grades in undergrad, instead of ignoring this in their personal statement, he strongly recommended addressing it positively as something that they have overcome, and won't stop them from seeking higher education. He also helped our brains begin churning by encouraging us to ask questions such as, "Why do I want to go to grad school in this particular field?" and "Why this particular school?"

The third and final panel speaker was a PhD candidate from Izmir, Turkey named Hatem. I am so glad I had the opportunity to hear her describe her journey, and wow, what a journey! Hatem focused a lot on the importance of finding a lab with a PI (primary investigator) who you communicate well with, as she went through a long and bumpy process of finding a lab that was the right fit with her. Another thing I never thought about in length before was just how important ensuring funding is. Some PhD students are put in a very challenging spot when there isn't enough funding for them to finish their research. They then have to try and find another lab, another PI... According to Hatem, during grad school you really earn a "masters degree in life."

After the panelists presented there was a brief time for questions, followed by snacks and the opportunity to talk in smaller groups with the panelists, grad students, and of course, fellow undergrads! I met students from Kentucky, Illinois, Columbia, and more, some studying yeast, others Drosophila, and one running experiments with C. elegans. The research that these undergrads are doing is amazing - one student I talked with is studying a Drosophila model of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and gave me a quick synopsis of the correlation of ASD with Fragile X Syndrome. I was very impressed! 

This is the registration, pick-up, and go-to desk in the case of any questions. Whoever did the graphics for this conference did an excellent job. Whenever I see the hexagons I immediately think of hexane and benzene rings... Haha oh organic chemistry!

After the undergrad mixer I headed to my first session of talks. I decided to attend the two hour session of talks from the zebrafish community focusing on Regeneration and Stem Cells. It took me a few minutes to decipher what the first speaker meant by "TREEs," and a quick read of their abstract on the TAGC app clarified these to not have trunks and green leaves, but to be "tissue regeneration enhancer elements." I am quickly realizing how many acronyms are used in genetics, and even all throughout biology. Hopefully more of these acronyms will become increasingly familiar by the end of the conference. The next speaker was from Boston Children's Hospital and discussed her work in screening for chromatin factors involved in the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells, more commonly referred to as HSCs (see, another acronym!) She had excellent images showing how chromatin remodeling factors, specifically one called Ing4, are required for HSC specification. One of the other speakers that I found very interesting talked about cryopreservation of zebrafish spermatogonia in whole testis. When placed into female ovaries the spermatogonia differentiated into oocytes! This is fascinating, and my brain is trying to understand how exactly this works.

Following these fascinating talks was the Opening Mixer with Exhibits. This is where I picked up copious flyers, leaflets, pins, and learned about everything from aquatic systems for precisely controlling environments for zebrafish to minicube PCR systems. There was also the most amazing microscope with a built in needle for making transgenic embroys.  

The tightly regulated zebrafish tanks, with the control panel located adjacent to the tanks on the right side. 

The Minicube PCR machine! Now this is something that would look mighty good in our UFV labs... :) Each tube does a separate PCR reaction simultaneously with different temperatures, cycling times, target DNA.. you name it!

"Schedule at-a-glance" posters are located all throughout the conference area, listing the upcoming talks from particular model organism communities. 

Here is the spread of items I picked up from the exhibits and from the welcome package. I'm pretty excited to have a bright red hat reading "Rainbow Transgenic Flies," a stack of genetics themed cards, and a preeetty cool GSA tee shirt. 

At just after 11pm I headed back to my room from the exhibits. I could have easily spent another half hour there, but my copious yawns told me I needed some rest. Thankfully the exhibits are around for most of the conference so there is plenty of time to take another look.

So far, the Allied Genetics Conference has opened my eyes to some amazing research being done around the world, not only by research professors, postdocs, and grad students, but also by fellow undergrads. The talks so far have also confirmed just how complicated science is and how a nice, tidy answer wrapped up with a bow just doesn't happen. Science, and genetics specifically this weekend, is full of unanswered questions and dedicated individuals seeking answers. Although not said with explicit words, the passion in each speaker is so evident from the long days spent in the lab, the commitment needed to run experiment after experiment, the constant asking of questions, and the insatiable curiosity.

- Vivienne   

Vancouver --> Toronto --> Orlando

If someone ever tells you to hop on a plane to Orlando, Florida, hop on that plane with gusto and you will thank yourself! I am typing this from my hotel room at the Orlando World Center Marriott. My head is slightly fuzzy from being awake for so long, but the sheer excitement of being here and the beauty my eyes have taken in since arriving here has kept me awake and smiling.

So far I've seen conference attendees flooding quickly into the conference center. How can I tell, you ask? Well, the CRISPR shirt on one attendee and GENETICS written in bold print on another's backpack makes me pretty sure. :) 

This is the very first thing you see when entering the Marriott. The three black columns with abstract blue art are actually elevator shafts! There are stairs just below the globe-like structure that spiral down past a waterfall and lead into an expansive hallway that leads to the many (and I mean MANY!) conference rooms. 

Once you walk down the stairs and make your way to the ballrooms and meeting spaces, this is what you see. I took this picture before the people flooded in and the signs went up, and you can really see just how incredible this center is. According to the concierge, one of the ballrooms is one of the largest rooms in the entire world. This ballroom will hold all of the posters as well as the exhibits.  

Palm trees are present around just about every corner and along every street, flourishing in the balmy heat and daily rainstorms. This is the view directly out of a large window on the convention center floor. 

And more palm trees! This vegetation is so different to anything I've seen in the Pacific Northwest. Taking an ecology class here on a trip would be an excellent field study...  I would be the first to sign up... :) Studying the underlying genetic mechanisms that allow plants to flourish in extreme heat versus cold and winds would be very interesting, especially if students were immersed in the climates themselves! 

Another interesting plant enjoying the Orlando humidity and high temperatures. It was so humid outside that my camera lens began to fog up!

The glorious staircase leading down to the convention center rooms. If you look closely, you may be able to make out the marble of the stairs, which makes up most of the convention walkway's flooring (stunning!)

This is just a small part of the large outdoor pool area. Just look at the detailed structure of  the palm tree trunks. So cool!  

Banana trees (with no fruit, just yet!) make their home right outside the entrance to the food court.

And at last, the stunning view from my room. Every night when the sun sets and the evening breeze sets in the Marriott puts on a laser show, lighting up the pool with vibrant colors and music. It's so beautiful. The fireworks from Disney world can also be seen lighting up the sky at night, with some set off during the day as well.



I hope you have enjoyed this first post and introduction to the setting of the Allied Genetics Conference 2016. I will be posting every day during the conference, and will share stories of the talks, workshops, exhibits, people, and more that I experience. I know that I am going to learn a huge amount from the people I meet, the research I learn about, and the events I attend. After all, TAGC doesn't just stand for the Allied Genetics Conference, but also for the Totally Awesome Genetics Conference (kudos to the GSA for coming up with that!)

Stay tuned for more! 


 - Vivienne