The 36th annual Student Research Symposium, hosted in Rochester by Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and the Graduate Student Association, brought together more than 250 Ph.D. and M.D.-Ph.D. students from across the graduate school's eight tracks. Their presentations demonstrated the breadth of their studies at Mayo Clinic, the graduate school's goal of excellence, and Mayo Clinic's dedication to furthering research that transforms patient care.

"The symposium celebrates students' contributions to research at Mayo Clinic," says Leigh Griffiths, MRCVS, Ph.D., dean of the graduate school. Their findings constantly provide new information and insight toward improving patient care. Last year, our students had 316 publications in scientific journals. They were named on 37 patents. Every day, their research advances the mission of the institution."

Gaining essential career skills

The symposium also helps students practice communicating their research effectively. Eight students, selected from each graduate track, gave scientific talks and answered questions from peers.

During the poster session, students explained their research techniques and findings as faculty and colleagues stopped by. "It’s a wonderful chance to take a step back, see the bigger picture, and reflect on your work and the reasons behind what we're doing. Our lab had exciting new data this year," says Soha Rizk, a fourth-year student who studies viral infections and immune responses in the lab of Richard Vile, Ph.D.

"The symposium is an incredibly impactful event that allows students to exchange ideas and interact with each other personally and professionally — across sites, graduate tracks and different years that they entered the program — as they prepare for their careers," says Felicity Enders, Ph.D., associate dean of academic affairs.

Neuroscientist Rachel Bailey, Ph.D., from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, delivered the keynote Distinguished Findling Lecture. She described developing gene therapies for neurodegenerative diseases — a presentation that made an impression on Anna Detry, a fourth-year student studying breast cancer in the lab of John Hawse, Ph.D.

"She explained how her research led to clinical trials and then how those trials provided new information that she was able to take back to her lab to further improve the treatment," says Detry. "It was valuable to learn how that happens and what I might consider at the starting stages of my research for advances that eventually make it to the clinic."

A high-spirited highlight of the afternoon was the Three Minute Thesis competition, an internationally held contest. Seven students each took the stage to present their research, aiming to win over a panel of non-scientist judges.

Fifth-year graduate student Donna Roscoe offered a witty take on mouse models of human immunology. Her humor and plain talk wowed the judges and audience, winning her travel grants and the opportunity to advance to the 2026 Midwest Association of Graduate Schools event in Kansas City, Missouri.