Masonic Cancer Center Trainee Research Symposium
The Trainee Symposium will highlight the work of undergraduate students, pre- and post-doctoral scholars, early career research staff, and residents/fellows in cancer research. Through this event, students and trainees will gain valuable career insights through presentations and networking with each other. Please join us to explore career development topics, celebrate research accomplishments, and develop new ideas and collaborations.
There is no fee to attend, but registration is required.
Pre-registration is closed. If space allows, day-of registration will be available.
Questions? Contact event organizers at [email protected] or reach out directly to the MCC Education & Training Inreach Coordinator, Emily Kraeske ([email protected]).
Agenda
There are two tracks to the Trainee Symposium, targeted towards different career stages. Attendees are welcome to join for the most relevant portion of the day according to their career stage, or to attend the entire day.
9:00 AM -11:00 AM: Early Pathways
Early pathway individuals are advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and early career staff.
- Introduction
- Trainee Flash Talks
- Career Transitions Panel
with Nilanjana Banerji, Nikki Kuechenmeister, Grace Bushnell, PhD
11:00 AM - 1:30 PM: Combined Track
All attendees are encouraged to attend this portion of the day.
- Career Networking
- Lunch, Exhibitor Time
- Poster Session
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM: Terminal Degree Holders
Terminal degree holders are postdocs, advanced degree staff, and early career faculty.
- Introduction
- Trainee Talks
- Career Transitions Panel
with Dana Mowls Carroll, MPH, PhD, Mark Daniel, PhD, Jenifer McClure, RN, Stefani Thomas, PhD
Poster Session
The Abstract Poster Session will take place during the combined tract, from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM. All submissions will be accepted to the Poster Session. Abstracts will be accepted through November 3, 2025.
Guidelines
Please review the Poster Logistics document here for complete, detailed instructions.
All presenters must register as an attendee of the MCC Trainee Symposium by November 14, 2025. Please register early.
You are responsible for preparing and printing your poster. There are two formatting options for printing your poster:
- You can use up to four 8 ½ x 11 pages to create your poster.
- You can print one large poster. Posters can be displayed vertically or horizontally, but should not exceed 46” in either dimension. 44” is recommended to fit on the poster board without hanging off the edge.
All posters must be presented in person; no virtual option is available. If you are not able to present your poster, another member of your team is welcome to present it.
Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
Trainee Flashtalk Competition
Flash talk submissions have closed. Flash talk finalists will be notified at the beginning of November.
Flash Talk Winners
The top two outstanding flash talk winners of each tract will receive a $1,000 MCC Travel/Professional Development Award.
Guidelines
The MCC Flash Talk Competition will focus on communicating science to other researchers who are unfamiliar with a particular field of study. All competitors are expected to submit:
- one static slide and
- a set of bullet points or a descriptive summary of no more than 100 words summarizing the talk
Submissions will be judged by a panel of MCC faculty & staff, using Flash Talk criteria. Six finalists will then be selected to participate in a live, in-person Flash Talk Competition at the MCC Trainee Symposium. Winners of the Flash Talk competition will be voted upon by a panel of judges made up of basic, translational, population science, and community researchers. Judges will be from a wide range of backgrounds, so please ensure that your talk is understandable across people familiar with cancer research, but not one particular area of study.
Support
Please consider watching the STRIDE How To do a Flash Talk recording.
Review the Poster Session Logistics to prepare for the poster session.
Tips: When preparing your presentation, aim for clarity, accessibility, and engagement. Your work should be understandable not only to specialists in your field but also to those without a specific research background. The judging panel will include both research professionals and non-professionals, so be mindful of striking a balance between technical accuracy and plain-language explanation.
Get a professional headshot taken at the MCC Trainee Symposium between 10 AM and 12 PM! Photos should be available within 2-3 weeks from the event date.