Neurobiology Retreat, September 24 - 25, 2025 (Wednesday - Thursday)
Neurobiology hosts an annual retreat for our community of neuroscientists, traditionally at the Holiday Inn in Wrightsville Beach, NC. The formal scientific component of the annual retreat includes a distinguished guest speaker, faculty, postdoc and student talks, and several poster sessions. Informal components of the retreat include casual scientific discussions, a student-hosted dinner for the guest speaker, highly anticipated student and faculty skits, live music, and heavy socializing.
The retreat is a student-organized event: fourth year students take the lead role in planning the retreat and, with input from the entire student body, select a speaker, choose the venue, and decide important aspects of the scientific and social planning.
Keynote Speakers
Scott Soderling, PhD
Professor and Chair, Department of Cell Biology
Duke University
Ashley Wilson, PhD
Senior Product Manager, Verily
Schedule of Events
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
|
Time |
Event |
|---|---|
|
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm |
Conference Check-In |
|
1:00 pm – 1:05 pm |
Introduction: Steve Lisberger |
1:10 - 3:45 pm: Talk Session I
Moderator:
| Time | Speaker |
|---|---|
|
1:10 pm - 1:30 pm |
Rebecca Yang, PhD |
|
1:35 pm - 1:55 pm |
Emily Alway – Student, Bohorquez Lab |
|
2:00 pm - 2:20 pm |
Jacob Morra, PhD – Postdoc, Naumann Lab |
|
2:25 pm – 2:45 pm |
Russell Ravenel – Student, Tadross Lab |
|
2:45 pm – 3:00 pm |
Short Break |
|
3:00 pm – 3:20 pm |
Jing Xu, PhD – Postdoc, Ji Lab |
|
3:25 pm – 3:45 pm |
Jeff Russ, PhD |
3:50 - 4:50 pm: Keynote I
Scott H. Soderling, PhD
Title
Introduction by
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
|
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm |
Poster Session I *Limited Light Hors D'oeuvres & Cash Bar* |
|
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm |
Dinner Banquet Student Skit |
|
8:30 pm – 10:00 pm |
Dance Party with DJ |
Thursday, September 25, 2025
7:30 - 9:00 am: Breakfast available outside ballroom
9:00 - 10:10 am: Talk Session II
Moderator:
| Time | Speaker |
|---|---|
|
9:00 am – 9:20 am |
Debra Silver, PhD |
|
9:25 am – 9:45 am |
Audrey Mercer – Postdoc, Mooney Lab |
|
9:50 am – 10:10 am |
Ziyi Gong – Student, Pearson Lab |
|
10:10 am – 10:20 am |
Short Break |
10:20 am - 3:20 pm: Talk Session III
Moderator:
| Time | Speaker |
|---|---|
|
10:20 am – 10:40 am |
Yoonhee Ki – Student, Li Lab |
10:45 - 11:45 am: Keynote II
Ashley Wilson, PhD
Title
Introduction by
| Time | Speaker / Event |
|---|---|
|
12:00pm – 2:00 pm |
Lunch/Free time |
|
2:00 pm – 2:20 pm |
Marija Rudzite – Student, Sommer Lab |
|
2:25 pm – 2:45 pm |
Zijian Zhang, PhD – Postdoc, Velmeshev Lab |
|
2:50 pm – 3:10 pm |
Kevin Franks, PhD |
|
3:20 pm – 5:35 pm |
Poster Session II *Limited Light Hors D'oeuvres* |
|
5:45 pm – 6:00 pm |
Awards for Best Student and Postdoc Talks Michael Mutersbaugh Award |
For questions related to the retreat contact Jeremy Kay.