Research Coalescence: USU Scholars Share Ideas, Camaraderie at Life Sciences Gathering

With each passing year, Utah State University’s Hansen Life Sciences Retreat grows in participants but, in its 14th year, the annual gathering, Oct. 25-26, has some regulars.

“I really like the atmosphere,” said USU biology doctoral student Max McDermott, who has attended the retreat for several years and, at the 2024 gathering, presented research he conducts on opioid receptors in the brain in faculty mentor Erin Bobeck’s lab.

“Each time I attend the Hansen retreat I make new contacts with researchers studying topics applicable to my research — in neighboring campus labs — that I knew nothing about. It’s very valuable and inspiring to share ideas across disciplines,” McDermott said.

Justin Jones, director of USU’s synthetic spider silk lab, encourages his students to attend the retreat and to present a poster or a talk.

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

Jones says the retreat is also an ideal place to foster partnerships.

“The retreat offers an easy way to build local collaborations, which is a tremendous boost,” he 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.”

USU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry initiated and coordinates the autumn gathering. The event is named for renowned biochemist, professor and USU administrator R. Gaurth Hansen (1920-2002), whose 26-year tenure with Utah State greatly advanced the university and its research efforts. Hansen’s son, USU alum and Nobel Laureate Lars Peter Hansen, BS’74, along with his wife, Grace Tsiang, and son, Peter Hansen — all of whom were in attendance at the 2024 retreat — provide financial support for the annual assembly.

In a statement of welcome at the opening of the retreat, Hansen, a leading expert in economic dynamics and David Rockefeller Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago, said it was a “great privilege” to attend the retreat and represent his family’s legacy.

“My family’s roots run deep in Cache Valley,” he said. “Both my father, R. Gaurth Hansen, and mother, Anna Lou Rees Hansen, were deeply committed to Utah State University. My father, who served Utah State as a biochemist, researcher and provost, understood the importance of nurturing and encouraging young scholars.”

More than 100 undergraduates, graduate students, faculty and staff from throughout USU attended the day-and-a half gathering, which featured four oral research presentations, all by graduate students, and 24 poster presentations by graduate and undergraduate students. The retreat also featured lightning pitch presentations, where student poster presenters each gave a two-minute talk about their research project. University of Utah biochemist and data visualization expert Janet Iwasa delivered the Friday evening keynote address, “Animating Molecular Machines.”

Featured graduate student presenters were Mark Gold, biochemistry, Johnson Lab; Sam Barker, biochemistry, Dickenson Lab; Max McDermott, biology, Bobeck Lab; and Kristin Durrant, biology, Jones Lab.

Students recognized for outstanding lightning pitches were Edna Armah, Hannah Feinsilber, Vincent Rossi and Dillon Weatherston, with Weatherston receiving the Lightning Talk traveling trophy lamp.

Students receiving awards for outstanding poster presentations were Weatherston, Kadin Crosby and Makenzie Reed.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry staff assistant Anna Petersen composed and performed on piano “Birthday Suite,” a collection of the familiar Happy Birthday to You melody in multiple genres, in honor of Lars Peter Hansen, who celebrated his birthday during the retreat.

“The retreat is designed to honor R. Gaurth Hansen’s legacy, and I’m proud we’re doing this,” said Lance Seefeldt, professor and head of USU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “He was passionate about biochemistry and the life sciences and about educating young scientists. The retreat feels both uplifting and professional, with a good balance of presentations. It is authentic.”