Registration Open for USU's 15th Annual Hansen Life Sciences Retreat Saturday, Oct. 25

Registration is open for Utah State University’s 2025 Hansen Life Sciences Retreat slated for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 25 on the Logan campus.

Celebrating its 15th year, the annual gathering is open to all USU undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, faculty and staff, from varied disciplines, who are involved in the study of biological processes at the molecular level.

“Each fall, we invite scholars from all departments throughout the university who are pursuing study and research in the molecular life sciences to pause their experiments, throw off their lab coats and join us to share ideas and approaches with one another,” says Sean Johnson, associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor in USU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, which coordinates the conference. “This is a gathering to encourage collaborative efforts and celebrate each individual’s contributions in the larger research community.”

Registration for the retreat is $20 per person, which includes breakfast and lunch, along with a retreat shirt for participants who register by Oct. 7. Scholars who wish to present a poster during the retreat should also register by Oct. 7.

The all-day gathering will be at Maverik Stadium’s Larry W. and Lindi Miller Champions Club.

Recent USU graduate Max McDermott, who completed a doctoral degree in neurobiology in 2025, says the annual retreat informed him of varied research taking place across the university.

“Each time I attended the Hansen retreat I made new contacts with researchers studying topics applicable to my research — in neighboring campus labs — that I knew nothing about,” he says. “Participating in the retreat was very valuable and inspiring to my research efforts.”

Justin Jones, director of USU’s synthetic spider silk and biomaterials laboratory, encourages his students to attend the retreat each year.

“This is a cutting-edge yet low-pressure, friendly environment for students to share their ideas,” says Jones, associate professor in USU’s Department of Biology. “It’s a great place for students to gain experience and confidence with their presentations.”

He adds the retreat is also an ideal place to foster partnerships.

“The retreat offers an easy way to build collaborations, which is a tremendous boost,” Jones says. “Every single time I’ve attended the retreat, I’ve become acquainted with other researchers from whom our lab has benefited. They’re just a stone’s throw away, yet we don’t always get to know each other without gatherings like the Hansen retreat.”

The Hansen Life Sciences Retreat honors the memory of renowned biochemist R. Gaurth Hansen (1920-2002), a gifted scientist, teacher and administrator who spent much of his career enriching Utah State University. A native of Cache Valley, Utah, Hansen began his undergraduate studies at Utah State before transferring to the University of Wisconsin, where he completed bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.

Hansen joined USU's faculty as an academic vice president in 1968, and was soon promoted to provost. His efforts contributed to a 20-fold increase in the university's research budget. In addition to his administrative and teaching endeavors, Hansen published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles in professional journals, and he received many prestigious national accolades. He was named USU Distinguished Professor Emeritus in 1985 and retired from Utah State in 1994.

The Hansen Retreat is supported by USU alum Lars Peter Hansen and Grace Tsiang, along with their son, Peter Hansen.

For more information, contact the USU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at 435-797-0544.