Schedule

Friday, March 19, 2021:

5:00 - 5:30 PM (EST)     Welcome and Cultural Celebration

Welcome by Adán Colón-Carmona, Ph.D., Professor of Biology - Cell, Genetics and Molecular Biology of Plants at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and Dr. Karina Gonzalez Herrera, Associate Director of Diversity & Minority Affairs in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Division of Medical Sciences at Harvard University.

Welcome by Dr. Stephania Herrera, DBA, SACNAS Executive Director.

Larry Spotted Crow Man - Co-Director, Ohketau Cultural Center

Mariachi Veritas de Harvard 

5:30-6:30 PM (EST)     Networking - by discipline and other interests

 

Saturday, March 20, 2021

9:00 - 9:20 AM (EST)    Welcome, Opening Remarks, and Blessing

Welcome and conference blessing by David Burgess, Ph.D., Professor of Cell Biology at Boston College.

Welcome remarks by Sheila Thomas, Ph.D., Dean for Academic Programs and Diversity at Harvard University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School

Student introduction of keynote speaker by Talia Hart, PhD candidate in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University 

9:20 - 10:20 AM (EST)    Keynote lecture by Dr. Kellie Ann Jurado, Presidential Assistant Professor in the Microbiology Department at the University of Pennsylvania

10:25 - 11:25 AM (EST)   Poster Presentations

11:30 - 12:30 PM (EST)   Career Paths Panel featuring: 

Frances Colón, Ph.D., CEO/President of Jasperi Consulting (Policy and Government career path)

Brenda Lemos Waterman, Ph.D., Consultant at Clarion (Consulting career path)

Flavian Brown, Ph.D., Senior Scientist at Jnana Therapeutics (Biotechnology/Pharma career path)

Rachel Yunck, Ph.D., Patent Agent (Life Sciences) at Womble Bond Dickinson (Patent Law career path)

12:30 - 1:25 PM (EST)   Lunch

1:30 - 2:20 PM (EST)   Professional Development Sessions 

The PhD Application Process led by Maryanna Aldrich, Manager in the Division of Science Graduate Affairs Office at Brandeis University (recommended for undergraduates and post-baccalaureate students).

Making the Most of a Summer Program and Mentoring Up led by Sheila Thomas, Ph.D., Dean for Academic Programs and Diversity at Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Adán Colón-Carmona, Ph.D.Professor of Biology, Cell, Genetics and Molecular Biology of Plants at the University of Massachusetts (recommended for undergraduates and post-baccalaureate students).

MD, PhD, or MD-PhD: Identifying the Best Program Match led by Henry Wortis, M.D., Professor of Immunology and PREP Program Director at Tufts University (recommended for undergraduates).

SACNAS Chapter & Being a Student Leader led by Eric Curiel, SACNAS National Chapters Manager, Amanda Ruiz, Graduate Student at Brown University, Daniel Hidalgo, Graduate Student at UMass Medical School, and Eimy Bonilla, Graduate Student at Harvard University (recommended for undergrads and graduate students).

Preparing for Interviews led by Mary Munson, Ph.D., Professor in the Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Department at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Karl Munger, Ph.D., Professor of Developmental, Molecular, & Chemical Biology at Tufts University, and David Van Vactor, Ph.D., Professor of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School.

2:25 - 3:15 PM (EST)   Oral presentations

3:20 - 3:30 PM (EST)   Closing Remarks