This month, a group of four huskies represented Northeastern’s biochemistry research community at the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) national annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Undergraduates Maya Einhorn, Anne Lee, Vivian Lin, and Ashlin Owen each presented first-author posters at the meeting; Maya, Anne, and Ashlin also competed in the Undergraduate Research Poster Competition. Biochemistry Program Director and ASBMB Chapter faculty advisor, Professor Kirsten Fertuck, helped organize the trip, coordinating logistics and a fun group dinner for NU faculty, current students, and alumni in attendance.
Poster sessions were a highlight of the meeting! Participants had a one-hour time slot to share their work with interested attendees with competition judges as well. The experience offered a valuable opportunity to practice communicating research, receive constructive feedback, and explore the work of other presenters during free time. With sessions spread across multiple days, there was plenty of time to engage with a wide range of scientists, from fellow Northeastern students to new friends and peers conducting fascinating research. Maya presented her work on stem cell cardiac differentiation, quantifying the spontaneous contractions of the heart tissue with the jGCaMP8 calcium reporter tracking the calcium signaling. Anne introduced the relationship between copper coordination geometry and catalytic efficiency in Alzheimer’s disease related amyloid-beta peptide fragments. Ashlin discussed the interplay between the Hippo/YAP pathway and a hypertranscriptive phenotype observed in the axolotl spinal cord during homeostasis. Vivian shared about the potential biological mechanisms through which early life adversity may contribute to accelerated pubertal onset in female rats.
The 2026 meeting featured an impressive lineup of engaging talks to attend. Sessions spanned a wide range of topics centered around biochemistry, from automation and AI in the lab to the molecular mechanisms of aging. Each session highlighted up-and-coming research and the audience was treated to a sneak peak at unpublished data, offering early insight into discoveries still in the making. For the undergraduate attendees, these talks offered an exciting glimpse into the future of biochemistry.
Between the busy poster sessions and scientific symposiums, ASBMB created an environment fostering growth and professional development. Maya and Anne attended the Women’s Networking event, where women at all stages in their careers could gather together and support each other on their journeys. Accomplished women offered undergraduate students advice on next steps, and graduate students got support from post-docs navigating similar challenges.
ASBMB also hosted an Undergraduate networking event in which students had the opportunity to meet with professionals at various programs across the country. Students got to ask PIs and post-docs about their research journeys, how they made various career decisions, and any tips they may have for undergraduates. This event helped students connect and network with researchers, and discover opportunities in their field!
If you’re interested in attending next year’s meeting, the 2027 ASBMB annual meeting will return April 3-6, 2027, right here in Boston! Some funding will be available to help offset costs of
abstract submission and conference registration. Students interested in presenting should stay connected with the Biochemistry Club ([email protected]) for updates on abstract submission deadlines and details.
We look forward to seeing another strong Northeastern presence at ASBMB in 2027!
