2026 | VICB | Vanderbilt University

2026 Student Research Symposium

Friday, September 25, 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Student Life Center

Keynote Speaker

Craig Crews, Ph.D., Executive Director, Yale Center for Molecular Discovery John C. Malone Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Professor of Chemistry, of Pharmacology, and of Management at the Yale University School of Medicine

Craig Crews, Ph.D.

Induced Proximity Drug Modalities: Hijacking Mother Nature to Control Protein Function

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Agenda

8:00 – 8:30 am	Breakfast and poster setup
8:30 - 8:35 am	Opening Remarks: Doug Mitchell, Ph.D. (Director, Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology)
Oral Session I (TBD, Chair)
8:35 - 9:05 am	TRAINEE FLASH TALKS 4 Talks
9:05 - 9:25 am	RICHARD ARMSTRONG PRIZE WINNER Trainee Name (PI lab) Talk Title
9:25 - 10:05 am	Jason MacGurn, Ph.D. (Associate Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology)/ Adam Ebert Talk Title
10:05 - 10:20 am	Break
Oral Session II (TBD, Chair)
10:20 - 10:50 am	TRAINEE FLASH TALKS 4 talks
10:50 - 11:30 am	Daria Kim, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor of Chemistry)/ Valentina Guidi Talk Title
11:30 - 11:45am	VU-St. Jude Chemical Biology Alliance Award Announcement
11:45 am - 12:00 pm	Break for Lunch
LUNCH BREAK
12:00 - 1:00 pm	Catered Lunch provided for all attendees Q&A with Dr. Crews (RSVP-only in Meeting Room 1)
Oral Session III (TBD, Chair)
1:00 - 1:40 pm	Heidi Hamm, Ph.D. (Professor of Pharmacology)/ Emma Webb Talk Title
1:40 - 2:00 pm	TRAINEE FLASH TALKS 3 talks
2:00 - 2:40 pm	Lars Plate, Ph.D. (Professor of Chemistry & Biological Sciences)/ Molly Sullivan Talk Title
2:40 - 2:55 pm	Break
Oral Session IV - Keynote (Will Sutton, Chair)
2:55 - 4:00 pm	Craig Crews, Ph.D. (John C. Malone Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Department of Chemistry, Department of Pharmacology, Yale University) Induced Proximity Drug Modalities: Hijacking Mother Nature to Control Protein Function
RECEPTION
4:00 - 5:30 pm	Reception & Poster Session

Poster Session

Abstract due date: Aug 14

Registration deadline: Aug 28

Poster size requirement: 4’x4’

Email CBAS@Vanderbilt.edu with any questions.

Awards

Richard Armstrong Award for Research Excellence
Winner receives a speaking slot, plaque, and $1000 prize
Grand Prize Poster Award
Award: $250
CBT–VICB Collaborative Project Award
Winners:
Neil Chada and Katherine Young (John Tanner Wilson Lab, VICB) and Matthew Fisher (Anang Shelat/Tinkle Lab, CBT)
Will present at 2027 seminar symposium