Members of the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology gathered at the Port Jefferson Country Club on May 28 for the department’s annual retreat. It was a day filled with exciting science, recognition of outstanding achievements, and plenty of opportunities to connect with colleagues outside the lab.

Hosted by Benjamin Lin, the retreat brought together faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and staff to share research, celebrate accomplishments, and strengthen the sense of community that makes the department so special.

Emily de Onis (Luk Lab) presenting during the flash talks.

Following a continental breakfast, Department Chair Wali Karzai welcomed attendees and kicked off a full day of presentations highlighting the breadth of research taking place across the department. Speakers shared new discoveries spanning topics from meiosis and ribosome biology to chromatin organization, transcriptional regulation, plant biology, and developmental biology.

The morning session featured presentations from Kai Zhang (Neiman Lab), Vish Chandrasekaran, Melanie Cragan (Karzai Lab), and Ed Luk, each offering a glimpse into the innovative work being carried out in their laboratories. Discussions continued throughout the day with talks from Alexander Neto (Citovsky Lab), Julia Rogers, and Nathaniel Sweet (Hu Lab).

Jiyao Chai, recpient of the Simon's Fellowship and a King/Miller travel award, with his advisor Mike Airola.

One of the most anticipated breaks of the day came during lunch—which included a special treat: an ice cream truck that proved to be a hit with attendees and provided the perfect opportunity for informal conversations and networking.

The retreat also recognized several outstanding members of the department. During the awards presentation, Jiyao Chai (Airola Lab) received the 4th Annual Simon’s Fellowship Award and was also recognized with a King/Miller Travel Award. A second King/Miller Travel Award was presented to Francesco Castelli (Lin Lab) in recognition of his accomplishments and professional development.

In the afternoon, poster presenters delivered brief flash talks to introduce their research before the department gathered for its annual group photo and poster session. The poster session sparked lively scientific discussions and gave trainees an opportunity to showcase their latest findings.

The day concluded with the presentation of the Poster Awards, which were awarded to Caty Bricault (Sharma Lab) and Tom Whitbread (Gunn Lab) for their outstanding research presentations.

 

Caty Bricault at her poster.		Tom Whitbread presenting during the poster session.

More than just a showcase of scientific achievements, the annual retreat provided a valuable opportunity for department members to learn from one another, build new collaborations, and celebrate the accomplishments of colleagues across all career stages. From engaging talks and award recognitions to poster discussions and ice cream on a beautiful spring day, the 2026 retreat was a memorable event that highlighted the excellence and camaraderie of the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology.