Calendar of events, awards and opportunities
Every week, we update this list with new meetings, awards, scholarships and events to help you advance your career. If you’d like us to feature something that you’re offering to the bioscience community, email us with the subject line “For calendar.” ASBMB members’ offerings take priority, and we do not promote products/services. Learn how to advertise in ASBMB Today.
Feb. 26: JBC Methods Madness voting begins!
Vote for your favorite method in the Journal of Biological Chemistry's three-week competition. Sixteen prominent methods — eight classics and eight new challengers — are matched up and you get to decide which will be crowned the tournament champion! Vote for your favorite methods on these dates:- Feb. 26–March 1: Scientific Sixteen (Round 1).
- March 4–8: Energetic Eight (Quarter Finals).
- March 11 & 13: Free Radical Four (Semifinals).
- March 18: #JBCMethodsMadness Championship.
- March 20: Champion method and tournament winner announced.
Feb. 26 & March 8: Webinars on spatial genomics and proteomics using MaxFuse
On Feb. 26, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News is hosting the first installment of a two-part webinar series on Maxfuse, a new AI-powered algorithm. The first part is about using it to bridge spatial genomics and proteomics and will be presented by Garry Nolan of Akoya Biosciences and Stanford University. The second part, on March 8, will feature Aaron May of Enable Medicine, who will speak about how MaxFuse works with his company's cloud platform. Learn more.
Feb. 27: GEN webinar on rare disease therapeutics
Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News is hosting a webinar Feb. 27 during which experts "will discuss important trends in rare disease therapeutics and highlight ways of accelerating the drug discovery and development process." There will be a Q&A session after the presentation. Learn more.
Feb. 28 & Feb. 29: FASEB CARES Award webinar
As part of its Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion initiative, the Federation of American Societies for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology offers Career Advancement and Research Excellence Support, or CARES, awards. These awards provide "financial support to alleviate burdens associated with caregiving— enabling researchers at FASEB member societies to continue their scientific training, professional development and career progression." To learn more about CARES, attend a webinar at 3 p.m. Eastern on Feb. 28 or 2 p.m. Eastern on Feb. 29.
Feb. 28: Deadline for HHMI's Gray fellowship applications
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute will select up to 25 early-career scientists for its 2024 Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program. The competition is for postdocs in the basic biological and biomedical sciences. Its goal is "to increase diversity in the professoriate by supporting early-career researchers who show exceptional promise of becoming successful academic scientists, which includes the potential to build and contribute to an equitable and inclusive lab culture." Fellows get up to $1.5 million for up to eight years, from their postdoc period to the start of their labs. The deadline to apply is at 3 p.m. Eastern on Feb. 28. Learn more.
Feb. 29: Deadline for fellowship applications for Biomolecular Horizons 2024
On Sept. 20–22, the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Federation of Asian & Oceanian Biochemists & Molecular Biologists is holding a fellowship for young scientists in the Macedon Ranges in Australia. Early-career researchers are invited to participate in the Young Scientist Program. Highlights include:
- Two days of pre-conference science and networking experiences.
- Presentations from all participants.
- Keynote speakers.
- Workshops and activities.
Feb. 29: SACNAS webinar on ChatGPT for careers
At 12 p.m. Pacific Time on Feb. 29, the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science is hosting a webinar about ChatGPT. Elisabeth Johnson will cover how to use it for career planning. Learn more.
March 1: Deadline for pd|hub implementation applications
The Professional Development Hub (pd|hub) is accepting applications from organizations and programs interested in implementing its "Foundations of Career Exploration for Ph.D. Scientists" collection. With funding from the National Institutes of Health, the pd|hub Collections offer detailed implementation guides and expert consultations to support the adaptation of peer-reviewed educational approaches. The guides have been refined and annotated in recognition of the individuality of student/postdoc identity formation during the career-exploration processes and to enhance inclusive facilitation practices. Access full pd|hub resources and support by applying to be an implementation site! The application deadline is March 1. View the models, meet the experts and apply.
March 1: FDA's Rare Disease Day public meeting
In observance of Rare Disease Week, the Food & Drug Administration will host a virtual public meeting March 1. Panel discussions will cover "the legal framework for approving studies and medical products at FDA, what FDA does during review processes to approve medical products, decentralized clinical trials and digital health technologies" and more. There's a public docket, and stakeholders are invited to share their perspectives to shape the discussions at the meeting. Learn more.
March 8: Register for ASBMB career panel and networking event at The College of New Jersey School of Science
ASBMB members are hosting a career panel and networking event at The College of New Jersey on March 19. It will start with a panel of scientists from local industry, the public sector and academic institutions who will talk about their career paths. A networking session with light refreshments will follow. Register by March 8. Learn more.
March 15–16: National Postdoctoral Association conference
The 2024 National Postdoctoral Conference will be held in Seattle. It is "the largest national conference and networking event dedicated to the postdoctoral community" during which attendees will have the "opportunity to gather and enhance their professional development and leadership skills." Learn more.
March 18: Apply to be an early-career rep on FASEB board and policy committee
The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology reserves three voting positions on its Board of Directors and Science Policy Committee for early-career scientists. International applicants are welcome. Each appointee will serve one two-year term. Learn more.
March 20: Science virtual career fair
Science Careers, of the journal Science, is hosting a virtual career fair titled "Accelerating your career path." Attendees will explore career paths and connect with employers in industry and academia. Learn more.
March 23–26: See you at #DiscoverBMB in San Antonio
#DiscoverBMB is the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. With a mission to share the latest, most impactful research findings in the molecular life sciences, #DiscoverBMB offers an exciting agenda that includes talks by the field's foremost experts, interactive workshops on the latest trends, technologies and techniques, and an invigorating exhibition of posters, services and products. The meeting attracts researchers in academia and industry, educators, trainees and students from across the globe. It offers unparalleled opportunities for collaborating, networking and recruiting. See the symposia themes and organizers. Learn more and register.
April 1: Deadline for Breakthrough Prize nominations
The public nomination period for the 2025 Breakthrough Prizes closes April 1. The Breakthrough Prizes honor scientists in life sciences, physics and mathematics, each with a $3 million award. Learn more.
April 1: Deadline to apply for funding to support science writing/communication internship
The National Association of Science Writers is accepting applications for its Diversity Summer Fellowship. It provides financial support for students and early-career science communicators who are underrepresented in the field. Up to six fellows will be awarded $3,000 to help complete a U.S.-based science communication internship and a one-year complimentary membership to NASW. Learn more.
April 2: Deadline to submit to the Lasker Foundation's 2024 Essay Contest
The Lasker Foundation is accepting submissions for its 2024 essay contest. The prompt is this: "Identify a specific unmet need in biomedical knowledge or a scientific question that is insufficiently addressed in biomedical research today." The contest is open to:
- Medical school students, interns, residents and fellows.
- Doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows in biomedical sciences.
- Graduate students training in health professions programs (e.g., public health, dental, pharmacy, etc. who are currently doing research).
April 5: Scientist Mentoring & Diversity Program Biotech and MedTech application deadline
The Scientist Mentoring & Diversity Program is a one-year career mentoring program that pairs ethnically diverse students (undergraduate juniors and seniors, baccalaureate, master's or Ph.D.), postdocs and early-career researchers with industry mentors "who work at companies in the medical technology, biotechnology and consumer healthcare industries." Scholars will attend a five-day training session "to learn about career opportunities in industry and receive career development coaching. They also attend a major industry conference." Learn more.
April 15: Spread the word about the 2024 Genes in Space contest
Help inspire the next generation of space scientists by sharing the application for the 2024 Genes in Space competition! Designed for students in grades 7–12, this annual contest "invites students to solve the challenges of living and working in space" by designing a DNA experiment for the International Space Station. Proposals will be accepted through April 15. Check out the prizes:
- Twenty-five awardees will win prize packages, including miniPCR biotechnology kits for their schools.
- Five finalist teams will additionally receive mentoring from scientists and attend the 2024 ISS R&D Conference, where they will present their ideas to a panel of judges.
- The winner will attend Space Biology Camp and watch their experiment launch into space in 2025.
April 17: ASBMB's webinar on NICHD funding and training opportunities
Join the ASBMB public affairs department in its monthly “Finding the funds” webinar connecting ASBMB members with the unique funding opportunities available to them as BMB scientists. In this edition, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development will present its funding priorities, award opportunities and training grants. Join us to discover the many ways you can get funded by NICHD. The webinar starts at 2 p.m. Eastern. Learn more and register.
May 9: Apply for DOE's Lawrence award
The U.S. Department of Energy's Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award honors midcareer U.S. scientists and engineers for exceptional technical contributions and achievements in research and development supporting DOE’s mission and its programs to advance the national, economic and energy security of the United States. Learn more.
May 15: Apply for HHMI's Hrabowski program
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute is now accepting applications for its national competition to select up to 30 early-career faculty members to join the 2025 cohort of the Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program. Scholars committed to advancing inclusivity in science will be appointed for up to two five-year terms and receive up to $8.6 million in total support over 10 years. Learn more.
Sept. 26–30: ASBMB's transcriptional regulation meeting
The fields of transcription biochemistry and molecular biology have become one with chromatin biology and epigenetics with extensive cross-talk. RNA polymerase II and its transcription machinery play an essential role in the modification and remodeling of chromatin, and chromatin regulates gene expression in both normal and pathological conditions. With recent innovations and technological advances in clinical and preclinical research, personalized medicine is becoming a reality, in part because of advances in our understanding of RNA polymerase II. Many established and new investigators have taken on the challenge of elucidating the molecular mechanisms of gene expression by RNA polymerase II in the context of chromatin. The community is highly dynamic and multi-disciplinary, with an ever-changing set of focal areas that establish new paradigms and new ways of thinking about the topic. Even after decades of study, this research area continues to advance, reveal new concepts, and bolsters almost every other area of biology. Learn more.
Oct. 21–25: Conference on epigenetic regulation and genome stability
The ASBMB has partnered with the Biophysical Society of China for a meeting on the interplay between epigenetic regulation and genome stability. It will be held Oct. 21–25 in Wuhan, China. The topics include:
- Epigenetic regulation of genome replication.
- Dynamic epigenetic alterations maintaining genome stability.
- Chromatin-based epigenetic inheritance.
- The role of epigenetic alterations in cancer and aging.
Jan. 21–24, 2025: ASBMB Deuel Conference on Lipids
The 2025 Deuel conference will be at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach, Calif. It is a must-attend event for leading lipids investigators — and for scientists who’ve just begun to explore the role of lipids in their research programs. This event will bring together a diverse array of people, including those who have not attended Deuel or perhaps any lipid meeting before. The conference is a forum for the presentation of new and unpublished data, and attendees enjoy an informal atmosphere that encourages discussion. Interested scientists are invited to attend and encourage trainees to submit abstracts. Read our Q&A with the organizers. Learn more.
Aug. 17–21, 2025: The 15th international symposium on proteomics in the life sciences
This five-day symposium, held at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Cambridge, Mass., will be an international forum for discussion of the remarkable advances in cell and human protein biology revealed by ever-more-innovative and powerful proteomics technologies. Formerly known as the "International symposium on mass spectrometry in the health and life sciences," the meeting has been renamed to reflect the growing number of partial and non-mass spectrometry–based methods under discussion.
The symposium will juxtapose sessions about methodological advances with sessions about the roles those advances play in solving problems and seizing opportunities to understand the composition, dynamics and function of cellular machinery in numerous biological contexts. In addition to celebrating these successes, we also intend to articulate urgent, unmet needs and unsolved problems that will drive the field in the future. In addition to talks by invited plenary and session speakers, short talks will be selected from submitted abstracts. See the program of our previous meeting.
Themes:
- Sunday minisymposium — Biofluid proteomics: discovery to clinic
- Emerging technologies: Sample preparation and automation
- Emerging technologies: Instrumentation and data generation
- Emerging technologies: Single cell and spatial proteomics
- Proteomics in structural biology and integration with other high resolution methods
- Interactomics: Understanding pathways, networks and molecular machines
- Chemical biology and chemoproteomics: Toward functional understanding of drugs and their targets
- Cell, organellar and tissue biology: Signaling, cross talk and communication
- Impact of clinical and translational proteomics in human health and treatment
- Multiomics integrative analysis and the emerging roles of machine learning and neural models
Do you have a great idea for a scientific event?
We are now accepting proposals for scientific events to be held in 2024 and 2025. You pick the topic, the sessions and the speakers, and we’ll do the rest.
That’s right! We’ll manage registration, market the event to tens of thousands of scientists, and handle all the logistics so that you can focus on the science.
The top areas of research interest among ASBMB members include the following, but we’ll consider all proposals:
- Protein structure and folding
- Molecular bases of disease
- Gene regulation
- Signal transduction
- Metabolism
What molecule, method or research question needs more attention? We’re here to help you realize your vision and deliver cutting-edge science to the BMB community.
Year-round: Van Andel Institute postdoc preview applications
Van Andel Institute offers sernior graduate students who are exploring postdoc options the opportunity to visit VAI to learn about its postdoctoral training positions. Applications are accepted year-round, and participants will meet one-on-one with faculty and explore VAI's scientific resources. There is no cost to attend for selected applicants. Learn more.
Year-round: HHMI Janelia Visiting Scientist Program applications
Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and established senior investigators are all invited to participate in Janelia's Visiting Scientist Program. Janelia accepts visitor proposals on a continuous basis. Since 2007, more than 410 visiting scientists from 23 countries have participated in the program. Learn more.
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