11:00 am - 12:00 pm | Career Panel Discussion
Panelists: Hsiao-Tuan Chao (Baylor College of Medicine), Quinn Rother-Carter (Chan Zuckerberg Biohub), Francesca Soncin (UC San Diego), Sumin Jang (UChicago)
12:00 - 1:00 pm | Lunch - Registration required
1:00 - 1:40 pm | Hsiao-Tuan Chao, MD, PhD (Baylor College of Medicine)
"Discovery genetics and translational neuroscience for autism spectrum and neurodevelopmental disorders"
1:40 - 2:20 pm | Francesca Soncin, PhD (UC San Diego)
"Building the human placenta: a stem cell view of early development"
2:20 - 2:45 pm | Student Lightning Talks
Carol Dilts (DRSB, Rebay Lab): "Investigating cellular mechanics during Drosophila wing vein patterning"
Sophie Kelly (IB, Herbert & Gillis Labs): "Genetic variation and olfactory function in a walking fish"
Jessica Markman (CON, Kratsios Lab): "Modeling the EBF3 Neurodevelopmental Syndrome in C. elegans"
2:45 - 3:05 pm | Coffee Break
3:05 - 3:30 pm | Student Lightning Talks
Amanda Johnson (DRSB, Gardel Lab): "APLNR Signaling Drives Directed Migration of Human Mesoderm"
Parisa Tajalli (DRSB, Carrillo Lab): "Examining the role of peripheral glia in health and disease"
Shalise Burch (DRSB, Moskowitz Lab): "Same Signal, Different Story: RA in Trisomy 21 Heart Cells"
3:30 - 4:10 pm | Quinn Roth-Carter, PhD (Chan Zuckerberg Biohub)
"Engineering Immunocompetent 3D Skin Models"
4:10 - 4:50 pm | Sumin Jang, PhD (University of Chicago)
"Evolutionary rewiring of transcriptional repression in human motor neurogenesis"
ART SHOW
The symposium will include an Art Show to highlight the creativity of our community. Submissions are open to anyone attending the symposium. Please find the details below:
- Submit any science/research-inspired art or craft project that you have made yourself! We welcome 2D (microscopy images, sketches, prints, paintings, etc) and 3D (sculptures, crocheting, carvings, etc). You must be able to transport your item to campus, and it should not exceed 4ft x 4ft or 30lbs unless you request and receive permission from the symposium organizing committee.
- Submit a picture or a very detailed description of the artwork that you will exhibit here: https://forms.gle/fFnZWmpCBM5Sva2P7
- Submissions are due on April 1st, 2026.
The symposium is sponsored by the University of Chicago's Developmental Biology and Growth & Development T32 Training Programs
and the Center for Motor Neuron Disease.
Registration is required to attend the LUNCH.