Gordon Research Conference on the Chemistry and Biology of Peptides (Ventura, CA)
I would like to thank MIT WIC for their support, which helped me attend the Chemistry and Biology of Peptides Gordon Research Seminar and Conference, held in Ventura CA in February 2020. The theme of this year’s Peptide GRC was The Next Generation of Peptide Tools and Therapeutics, and attracted 200 participants in the field.
Shortly after registering for both the GRS and GRC, I was notified that my abstract was selected for an oral presentation at the GRS, the student-organized seminar held just before the conference. My project focuses on designing cell-penetrating peptides to deliver macromolecular cargo using machine learning. I had a fantastic time presenting to and learning from my peers. Other participants were also studying cell-penetrating peptides and small cell-permeable cyclic peptides, and we had excellent conversations regarding the translational applications of peptides. I received valuable feedback and interesting ideas to pursue in the future.
At the end of the seminar, we all voted for our favorite talks, and I was selected as one of two speakers to present at the GRC. I was immensely grateful for this opportunity to present to experts in my field and for the discussions that followed. Presenting alongside professors significantly lowered the barrier to initiating discussions during the evening sessions. I gained valuable insight regarding cell-penetrating peptides in the field, and even sparked a collaboration with a nearby lab.
Attending the conference was also of great personal benefit. Each afternoon had several hours of free time, which allowed me to socialize with my peers on beach hikes and other outings. A large number of us connected through our passion for peptides and chemical biology, and we look forward to crossing paths again in the future. Overall, I would say that attending this conference has been the best experience so far in grad school. I was so grateful for the opportunity to give a talk at the GRC and to have valuable discussions with leaders in the field. I am also especially grateful for the connections I made with other students, postdocs, and professionals, and I look forward to staying connected in the future.