Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences held its annual Student Research Symposium in September, with poster sessions, oral presentations, a keynote speaker, a Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition and Teacher of the Year awards.

“The Alumni Association and Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences co-sponsored symposium and Teacher of the Year awards are the highlight of our diverse scientific community,” says Stephen Ekker, Ph.D., dean of the graduate school. “Representing almost 200 Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. students, faculty, staff and alumni, this event celebrates dedication and achievement in the lab and in our communities around each of the three Mayo Clinic sites.”

Posters and oral presentations

Posters at the symposium numbered 152 — a record number. One student from each track in the school was selected to present their research.

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kristina Drizyte-Miller
• Virology and Gene Therapy, Christopher Driscoll
• Neuroscience, Jonathon Sens
• Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Christopher Paradise
• Immunology, David Friedman
• Clinical and Translational Science, Damian Di Florio
• Biomedical Engineering and Physiology, Dakota Jones

Keynote speaker

David Masopust, Ph.D., University of Minnesota Department of Microbiology and Center for Immunology, was the Findling Lecturer, presenting “Immune System Reconnaissance for Infection and Cancer.”

3MT

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The Three-Minute Thesis, or 3MT, competition challenges Ph.D. students to describe their research within three minutes to a general audience.

• Overall winner and People’s Choice: Tyler Bussian, “Zombie Cells — a New Target for Alzheimer’s Disease.”
• Runner-up: Emma Goddery, “Keeping Brain Inflammation in Check.”

Teacher of the Year awards

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Teacher of the Year awards for Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences were presented to:

• Martin Fernandez-Zapico, M.D., Division of Oncology Research, Department of Oncology, Professor of Pharmacology.
• Lewis Roberts, M.B., Ch.B., Ph.D., Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, the Peter and Frances Georgeson Professor of Gastroenterology Research.

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This article was originally published in Alumni Magazine, Issue 1, 2020.

Tags: biomedical engineering, Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Education, Emma Goddery, Events, general internal medicine, immunology, Lewis Roberts, Martin Fernandez-Zapico, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, molecular pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, neurosciences, oncology, People, Stephen Ekker, Tyler Bussian, virology