Support from the WIC+ Professional Development Grant enabled my ability to attend the ACS Spring 2022 National Meeting in San Diego, California.
Prior to this meeting, I had not attended an ACS Meeting before, and it was truly incredible. I found the energy at the meeting to be full of excitement, with hundreds of talks occurring simultaneously across many scientific disciplines. It was so refreshing to be able to attend talks and symposia in person. I attended countless talks and poster sessions, and I was able to make important connections with others in the chemical biology community. It was extremely rewarding to be able to engage with scientists whose work I admire. While at the meeting, I attended the Biological Chemistry in Industry networking lunch and was able to network while exploring if a career in industry is right for me. Additionally, I attended a workshop aimed at improving interview skills, which has provided me with invaluable insights as I being to prepare for my next career stage.
I was selected to give an oral presentation in the ACS Biological Chemistry Division’s graduate student symposium. I was thrilled to have been given this opportunity, especially since this was the first time I have been able to externally present my work during my graduate career. I received valuable feedback after my presentation, both in the Q&A session and in informal discussion with colleagues afterwards. I am excited to implement some of the suggestions I received and believe that this will strengthen my work.
I would like to extend my sincerest thanks for this award. This conference was truly an unforgettable experience, and I feel very fortunate to be supported by WIC+.