A week after returning from BPS 2026, I am still processing everything I learned at the Annual Meeting. First things first—my daily step count has dropped significantly from last week’s conference pace, where I was averaging nearly 10,000 steps a day! Jokes aside, what truly stood out to me this year was how much more information I could absorb and, more importantly, how I could translate it into ideas relevant to my own research.

In my first two years attending the meeting, I was mainly learning how to navigate such a large and intensive conference, with sessions running from morning to evening. This year, I found myself engaging with the talks on a deeper level. Two strategies that made a difference:

1.     Pen and paper at hand: Taking notes during talks helped me jot down ideas and questions while keeping me fully engaged.

2.     Pre-conference preparation: Using the BPS app ahead of time to plan my schedule ensured I was primed going into sessions.

 

I first learned about BPS through my mentor, Dr. Fernanda Laezza who had been discussing with Dr. Gabriela Popescu, the then BPS President, the importance of training in biophysics for new generations.  My mentor introduced me to Dr. Popescu and the two recommended that I attend the Annual Meeting—an introduction that set everything in motion and for which I remain deeply grateful.

My first BPS Annual Meeting felt the most daunting, but it also brought meaningful connections. During a poster session, I met fellow Canadian biophysicists who invited me to the BPS Canadian meet-up. It was there that I met Dr. Trushar Patel and Dr. Ewan McRae—both incredibly inspiring scientists. I also met Dr. Teresa Giráldez at the New Members Coffee. Her kindness and encouragement left a lasting impression on me and continues to inspire how I engage with new members today.

By my second year, I felt far more comfortable knowing what to expect. Having my mentor, Dr. Laezza, by my side on the first day during the BPS Travel Award ceremony made the experience especially memorable. That year, I participated in the Student Research Achievement Award (SRAA) event—where,  to my delight, I won—and received travel awards from both BPS and my home institution, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). The SRAA evening was long but energizing. I got to share the moment with other graduate students, many of whom I met that night, which turned the competition into an evening of collaboration and fun. We exchanged flash talks, practiced poster presentations, and bonded over our research (and our shared nerves). Although I missed the Canadian meet-up that year due to the competition, catching up with colleagues over lunch was a wonderful consolation. I also met with Dr. Catherine Royer through the BPS Mentor Match program. She generously shared her experiences and helped me think more broadly about my career path. The 2025 Annual Lecture and reception were also highlights.

This third year felt entirely different. I arrived well-prepared and more focused. While I missed some familiar faces, I reconnected with many wonderful colleagues. Notably, I had the pleasure of presenting my poster to Dr. George Okeyo (Nanion), whose thoughtful insights on my work and genuine curiosity made our conversation a memorable moment of the conference. I also ran into two of my fellow Houston Area Molecular Biophysics Training Program (HAMBP) trainees during the poster session—a fun and unexpected highlight. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces. The heart of BPS is not just the science—it is the people. This year, I challenged myself to attend as many sessions as possible (including the late-evening ones). Given that I am the opposite of a night owl, this was indeed a challenge! To my surprise, I stayed fully engaged, especially during the late workshops, which turned out to be some of the best of the conference. The Structural Biology in the Age of Artificial Intelligence workshop was very engaging and there was no question about falling asleep. Overall, I am feeling grateful for another year of discovery, dialogue, and connection.

 

Below is a conversation I had with my mentor, Dr. Fernanda Laezza, about the value of attending scientific conferences and her advice for graduate students. I have shared them below in a brief Q&A format.

 

1. What is one piece of advice you would give to graduate students?

One of the most important pieces of advice is to attend conferences with a plan. Don’t get me wrong, a plan doesn’t have to be rigid. Your plan might simply be to give yourself freedom from constraints and let your intuition guide you toward sessions or people that spark your curiosity. For some individuals, having even a loose focus can make your experience more productive and stimulating.  Especially at the beginning, and for first‑time attendees, conferences can feel intimidating. That’s completely normal; we all went through that phase.

Another approach is to choose a theme or goal. This could be anything: improving a technique, learning how others answer a question you care about, or gaining knowledge about a new topic.

Ultimately, the structure of your plan, whether highly organized or completely flexible, doesn’t matter. What matters is that the experience is constructive and helps you grow.

2. Why is it importance for students to attend scientific meetings/conferences?

Attending conferences is essential for all aspects of training. Conferences provide critical opportunities to network, get inspired, and begin shaping your own niche and scientific interests. They also offer a way to rapidly absorb the ever‑changing world of science and stay current with new discoveries.

Equally important is building on the experience after the conference ends. Now that BSP has been over for almost a week, this is the time to revisit your notes, the names of people you met, and the ideas you collected, and turn them into action. To be fruitful, conference experiences must evolve into concrete steps. These actions can be as simple as testing a hypothesis, exploring a new idea, reading a paper, or reconnecting with someone you met during the event.