On Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, the molecular biosciences community gathered for the molecular biosciences graduate program orientation and symposium 2026.  

The full-day event brought together new and continuing graduate students, faculty, staff, industry representatives and members of the University of Nevada, Reno research community for orientation activities, scientific presentations, networking and the celebration of student research achievements.

Hosted collaboratively by the Cell and Molecular Biology, Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, and Biochemistry graduate programs, the symposium showcased the interdisciplinary nature of the Molecular Biosciences Program and the breadth of innovative research being conducted across campus. The program featured opening remarks, graduate student resources and opportunities, faculty research rotation pitches, scientific partner presentations, a keynote address by Brian Gulbransen, Ph.D., chair of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, and research presentations from graduate students representing all three molecular biosciences programs.

Participants also engaged in a poster session featuring 50 student research posters, providing opportunities for discussion, collaboration and mentorship among students, faculty and guest judges. 

Throughout the day, students presented research spanning neuroscience, gastrointestinal biology, infectious disease, pharmacology, developmental biology and molecular medicine. Six students were selected to give oral presentations highlighting their research and scientific contributions to their respective fields.

The symposium concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding student presentations.

Congratulations to the Poster Presentation Award recipients: Gretchen Berg, Karla Flores Martinez, and Serna Lee. Congratulations also to Pavani Perera and Dayton Morris, who received recognition for their outstanding oral presentations. Their accomplishments exemplify the excellence, creativity and scientific rigor of the molecular biosciences graduate student community.

The event served as both a welcome to incoming students and a celebration of the research, scholarship and collaborative spirit that define the molecular biosciences program at the University.