UCSD Postdoctoral Association

UC San Diego’s Gene Therapy Initiative at UC San Diego, California Life Sciences (CLS), and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) bring you to a two-day deep dive into the cell and gene therapy ecosystem. See attached flyer.

This symposium brings together the brightest minds in the field to bridge the gap between laboratory discovery and commercial scale.

Event Schedule:

Day 1: Sept 16 | Discovery & Translation (Hosted by UC San Diego GTI) Focusing on the frontier of therapy development, featuring keynote Kiran Musunuru (UPENN/TIME 100) and leadership from UCSD, Regeneron, Editas Medicine, N-Lorem, and Siren Biotechnology. Discussions will center on bold strategies for ex vivo/in vivo therapies and safety models.

Day 2: Sept 17 | Commercialization & Scale (Hosted by CLS & CIRM) A focused look at the business of biotech, featuring expert panels on manufacturing, funding, policy, and the path to patient delivery.

Location: Conrad Prebys Auditorium, Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA

Why Attend?

Present Your Research: We are currently accepting abstracts for our Sept. 16 poster sessions. This is a premier opportunity to showcase your work to industry leaders. Link: Submit your abstract by August 7th https://buff.ly/pNi8WNl
High-Value Networking: Connect with the researchers, investors, and executives shaping regenerative medicine in Southern California.
End-to-End Insight: Gain a comprehensive perspective from the initial lab bench to market launch.
Registration: Tickets sell out quickly. We offer discounted pricing for those attending both days.

Register Now https://buff.ly/EqhY34h

View Final GTI Program https://buff.ly/faxZw5y

Full CLS/CIRM Program coming soon https://buff.ly/gSWhbhk

Contact: [email protected]

Interested in mentoring local high school students this summer? ☀️

The UCSD Summer High School Internship Program is seeking postdoc volunteers to host Preuss School UCSD students for 5 weeks (June 23–July 30). All disciplines welcome! Interested? email [email protected]

Science communication workshop opportunity science center

Bridging the gap between academia and industry at UCSD 💡

The "Academia to Industry" Panel and Networking event this past week, hosted by the UCSD Postdoctoral Association (PDA) and the Graduate & Professional Student Association (GPSA) was a great success, with over 40 participants! It was an incredibly insightful session focused on the realities of navigating career transitions. From practical strategies for informational interviewing to nuanced advice on job searching, the panel provided invaluable perspective for those of us looking to translate our academic skills into the industry landscape.
A huge thank you to the speakers for sharing their time, experiences, and candid advice:
🔹 Bastian Ramms (Crinetics Pharmaceuticals)
🔹 Jared Tangney (Biolinq)
🔹 Maria Azzurra (Mercury Legacy)
🔹 Misagh Naderi (Glint Lab)
🔹 Maureen Crocker (Resmed)
🔹 Silvia Vicenzi (Biocytogen)
The networking session afterward was the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow researchers who are navigating similar career paths. Thank you to the PDA and GPSA teams for organizing such a high-impact event for the UCSD community.
Excited to take these lessons forward and continue building bridges between my current research and future industry goals!

🍻 San Diego Postdoc Happy Hour — Inter-Institutional Mixer for Postdocs 🌊
Join us for a relaxed, cross-institutional happy hour to connect, unwind, and build community beyond your lab or campus.

📅 Date: April 30th
⏰ Time: 4-6pm
📍 Location: Cliffhanger Café

Each participant will buy their own food and drinks

We hope to see you there!

Postdoc community in San Diego, you are all invited for an Inter-institutional happy hour at the Cliffhanger Cafe (Gliderport), starting at 4pm on April 30th

🚀 Academia → Industry Panel @ UCSD

📅 April 23 | 🕓 4–7 PM
📍 Horizon Room, Career Center

Panel (4–5:30) + Networking (5:30–7) with food 🍽️
Get job search tips, industry insights & connections!

🎟️ Limited spots—register by April 22

The PDA is hosting a teaching/mentoring skills workshop to form a strong teaching philosophy & teaching statement. Sign up to reserve a spot by April 27th! Here's the link: https://bit.ly/3NLhzGc

Postdoc Running Club 🏃‍♂️
First Monday of every month • 5 PM
📍 Geisel Library
Relaxed ~5k, all levels welcome
Scan the QR code to join our WhatsApp for updates

The 10th Annual SABPA Frontiers in Therapeutics and Diagnostics Forum (April 17, Del Mar) is now accepting poster submissions. Selected presenters get free conference registration and the chance to share their work with an audience of biotech and pharma professionals.

This is a unique setting to practice translating your research for non-academic audiences, receive feedback from industry reviewers, and compete for poster awards. Plus—lunch, happy hour, and plenty of networking!

Priority deadline: April 12
Submit here: https://buff.ly/a1AA3Xs