One of the conference’s standout features continued to be the distinctive tandem presentation format, where Principal Investigators and their trainees present their research together. Berna Sozen, Ph.D., from Yale University, noted that it provided invaluable exposure for early-career researchers and offered a refreshing approach to scientific communication. "Science communication is a big part of our job," Sozen said. “It led to lots of great discussions on evolutionary biology. There could be some opportunities now to expand my collaborations, which is something really great."

Duygu Özpolat, Ph.D., from Washington University in St. Louis, also highlighted the conference's intimate size as a significant benefit for deep discussions and networking. "I think the diversity of organisms and research topics has been great, and the smaller size allows us to interact continuously," she shared.

First-time tandem presenter Joshua York, Ph.D., from Northwestern University said, “This format was both challenging and inspiring, as it required a collaborative approach that reinforced the team-driven nature of scientific research.”

"The tandem talks show that science is a team effort," added Monique Pedroza, a Yale University trainee. “I really appreciated the conference’s focus on mentorship and collaboration.”

"For me, from a European perspective, Stowers feels like a Max Planck Institute," said Jan Štundl, Ph.D., from Caltech. "It’s a beautiful place that motivates you to think out of the box."

Stowers Research Conferences will present its next event in Spring 2025 in conjunction with the OddPols conference. Learn more here.