Apr 29, 2025

HGSAC prepares for largest Life Sciences Symposium yet

The Life Sciences Symposium, organized by the Huck Graduate Student Advisory Committee (HGSAC), is set to showcase student research on May 23.

The Symposium is the marquee event organized by the HGSAC every year, and 2025 marks its ninth edition, for which the organizers forecast a record turnout.

“We are expecting about 200 attendees,” said Avery Sicher, a neuroscience graduate student serving as co-chair of HGSAC. “This year, we received over 100 abstracts submitted by graduate students, undergraduate researchers, and postdoctoral researchers at Penn State, which is the most we have ever received.”

Attendance at the symposium is free, and registration includes meals and refreshments. Student posters and presentations are eligible for awards.

“The Life Sciences Symposium embodies the vision of the Huck that life science research works best without boundaries,” said Melissa Rolls, lead grad program chair and Berg Professor of Biochemistry. “Everyone engaged in life science research at PSU in any college, department or program, is welcome to participate.”

This year’s theme centers on “bioethics in life sciences research.” Debra Matthews—professor of genetic medicine at Johns Hopkins University and associate director for research and programs at the Berman Institute of Bioethics—has been confirmed as the symposium’s keynote speaker.

“It is always important for us to think about the ethical implications of the experiments we conduct as graduate students,” said Sicher. “This is becoming increasingly important with new medical technologies, artificial intelligence, and agricultural engineering.”

“Dr. Mathews has expertise in ethics and policy issues pertaining to all areas of life sciences research, so her perspective will be something that all Huck graduate students will find interesting, whether they are in the Plant Biology or Neuroscience graduate programs. She also is a PSU graduate.”

Those interested in attending the symposium may register on the HGSAC website. Huck students interested in joining HGSAC, or simply learning more, are encouraged to email psu.hgsac@gmail.com. HGSAC also holds meetings that are open to all students, and information on those is available in the group’s weekly email.