The HSCRB department recently gathered for our annual retreat. Held at the New England Aquarium this year, the retreat was an opportunity to share exciting new research findings and come together as a community.
The day kicked off with opening remarks from HSCRB Chair, Amy Wagers, who highlighted achievements across the department, including research accolades, administrative wins, and a look ahead to the future of HSCRB.
Among the accomplishments, junior faculty members Jason Buenrostro, Kara McKinley, Ryan Flynn, and Ruth Franklin received tridents in celebration of their outstanding awards and recognitions from the past year.
Mansi Srivastava, Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Affiliated Faculty at HSCRB, gave a keynote presentation, followed by a talk by Fei Chen, Assistant Professor.
We then heard lightning talks from Hannah Tam, Hsu Lab; Luis Hernandez-Nunez, Fishman Lab; Lingli He, Scadden Lab; Yu-Chen Cheng, Michor Lab; and Laura Ben Driss, Lee Lab.
To close out the morning session, Jeff Macklis presented the John Hatch Trainee Leadership Award to Dustin Tillman, a graduate student in the Macklis Lab. This award seeks to recognize and celebrate trainees who contribute positively to the HSCRB community at the highest levels of impact and excellence. Dustin was chosen for his contributions to the academic community (across HSCRB, MCB, MCO, and DRB, as well as the HU presidential search where he served as a student representative); for his leadership in the MCB and MCO DIB committees as well as in the broader community in his role as a mentor for students from under-represented backgrounds; for his award-winning teaching in several undergrad and grad courses; and for his collaboration and exceptional teamwork.
Formal programming took a pause for lunch, an opportunity to roam around the aquarium, and group photos in front of Boston’s gorgeous Long Wharf.
HSCRB members then reconvened for a faculty talk by Jessica Whited, Assistant Professor.
The talk was followed by another round of lightening talks by Chloe Baron, Zon Lab; Mark Khoury, Hsu Lab; and Noelia Anton Bolanos, Arlotta Lab.
A poster session followed the afternoon’s talks, and the day concluded with an announcement of the winners for best lightening talk and poster. Chloe Baron and Hannah Tam were the lightning talk winners, with Noelia Anton-Bolanos coming in second. Zeke Benshirim and the Education Team won for best posters.
