
Scientific Program
We are still finalizing sessions and events for IMMUNOLOGY2023™. Please check back for the most up-to-date scientific program information.
Contents
President’s Program
Thursday, May 11, 2023 5:00 PM – 6:15 PM Level 3, Ballroom AB
President’s Address

Mark M. Davis
HHMI, Stanford Univ. Sch. of Med., AAI President
My Immunology Adventures
Leslie J. Berg
Univ. of Colorado Sch. of Med.
Introduction
Presentation of AAI Lifetime Achievement Award and Acknowledgment of Distinguished Fellows of AAI Class of 2023
Sunday, May 14, 2023 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM Level 3, Ballroom AB
President’s Symposium
Generously supported by BD Biosciences
Frontiers of Human Immunology
Chair
- Mark M. Davis, HHMI, Stanford Univ. Sch. of Med., AAI President
Speakers

Pamela J. Bjorkman
Caltech
Mosaic RBD nanoparticles protect against diverse sarbecovirus challenges in animal models

Akiko Iwasaki
HHMI, Yale Sch. of Med.
Immune responses to SARS-CoV-2

Bali Pulendran
Stanford Univ.
Systems biological analysis of immunity to infection and vaccination

Petter Brodin
Imperial Col. London and Karolinska Inst.
Human immune system development
Presentation of AAI Excellence in Mentoring Award
Distinguished Lectures
Friday, May 12, 2023 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM Level 3, Ballroom AB
Distinguished Lecture—Douglas R. Green
Generously supported by BD Biosciences
Chair
- Cathryn R. Nagler, Univ. of Chicago, AAI Program Committee Chair
Speaker

Douglas R. Green
St. Jude Children’s Res. Hosp.
Start me up: early events in T cell activation influence long-term cell fate
Saturday, May 13, 2023 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM Level 3, Ballroom AB
Distinguished Lecture—Carla V. Rothlin
Generously supported by BD Biosciences
Chair
- Cathryn R. Nagler, Univ. of Chicago, AAI Program Committee Chair
Speaker

Carla V. Rothlin
Yale Sch. of Med.
Principles of resolving and non-resolving inflammation
Sunday, May 14, 2023 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM Level 3, Ballroom AB
Distinguished Lecture—Leslie J. Berg
Generously supported by BD Biosciences
Chair
- Cathryn R. Nagler, Univ. of Chicago, AAI Program Committee Chair
Speaker

Leslie J. Berg
Univ. of Colorado Sch. of Med.
Linking variations in T cell receptor signaling to changes in gene expression and T cell function
Special Session
Friday, May 12, 2023 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Level 3, Ballroom AB
Pandemic Preparedness and Response: Lessons from COVID-19
Speaker

Anthony S. Fauci
Former Director, NIAID, NIH
Mark M. Davis
HHMI, Stanford Univ. Sch. of Med., AAI President
Introduction
AAI is delighted to welcome Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., DFAAI (AAI ’73), to deliver this important and timely plenary lecture. Dr. Fauci, who recently stepped down from his position as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases after 38 years, is the former chief medical advisor to President Joseph R. Biden Jr.
Major Symposia
Friday, May 12, 2023 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM Level 3, Ballroom A
Major Symposium A
Peripheral Neuroimmune Interactions
Chairs
- Daniel Mucida, HHMI, Rockefeller Univ.
- Esther Borges Florsheim, Arizona State Univ.
Speakers
- Daniel Mucida, HHMI, Rockefeller Univ., Neuro-immune interactions in the gut
- Esther Borges Florsheim, Arizona State Univ., Mast cell-derived lipid mediator promotes food aversion
- Caroline L. Sokol, Massachusetts Gen. Hosp., Neuroimmune circuits drive allergic immunity
- Catherine Dulac, HHMI, Harvard Univ., Neural circuits of sickness behavior
- Ivan E. de Araujo, Icahn Sch. of Med. at Mount Sinai, Neural control of gut homeostasis
- Felipe Almeida de Pinho Ribeiro, Washington Univ. Sch. of Med. in St. Louis, Sensory control of immunity
Friday, May 12, 2023 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM Level 3, Ballroom B
Major Symposium B
Cell Death and Immunity: Caspases and Beyond
Chairs
- Francis K. Chan, Duke Univ.
- Sunny Shin, Univ. of Pennsylvania Perelman Sch. of Med.
Speakers
- Francis K. Chan, Duke Univ., Necroptosis in anti-viral immunity and tumor immunotherapy
- Sunny Shin, Univ. of Pennsylvania Perelman Sch. of Med., Inflammasome-mediated anti-bacterial defense
- Weiping Zou, Univ. of Michigan, Ferroptosis in tumor immunity
- Megan H. Orzalli, Univ. of Massachusetts Chan Med. Sch., Activation and inhibition of cutaneous antiviral immunity
- Julie M. Blander, Weill Cornell Med., Phagocytic mode of non-canonical NLRP3 inflammasome activation: implications to pyroptosis and immunity
- Kodi K. Ravichandran, Washington Univ. Sch. of Med. in St. Louis, Eating lessons from phagocytes and the implications to immunity
Saturday, May 13, 2023 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM Level 3, Ballroom A
Major Symposium C
Mechanisms of Innate Immune Memory and Tissue Adaptation
Chairs
- Shruti Naik, New York Univ. Grossman Sch. of Med.
- Joseph C. Sun, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Ctr.
Speakers
- Ruslan Medzhitov, HHMI, Yale Sch. of Med., Tissue homeostasis and inflammation
- Luis B. Barreiro, Univ. of Chicago, Genetic and epigenetic determinants of inter-individual variation in innate immune responses to infectious agents
- Timothy E. O’Sullivan, Univ. of California, Los Angeles, Transcriptional and epigenetic control of natural killer cell memory
- Ai Ing Lim, Princeton Univ., Pre-birth immune education
- Steven Z. Josefowicz, Weill Cornell Med., Epigenetic memory of inflammation and infection in hematopoietic progenitor cells
- Shruti Naik, New York Univ. Grossman Sch. of Med., Adaptive and maladaptive immune-epithelial interactions
Saturday, May 13, 2023 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM Level 3, Ballroom B
Major Symposium D
Aging, Obesity, and Adverse Immune Responses
Chairs
- Lydia Lynch, Brigham and Women’s Hosp.
- Andrew E. Hogan, Maynooth Univ., Ireland
Speakers
- Lydia Lynch, Brigham and Women’s Hosp., Uncoupling the effects of obesity from dietary lipids on cancer development
- Andrew E. Hogan, Maynooth Univ., Ireland, MAITabolism: Unravelling the impact of obesity on human MAIT cells and their contribution to disease
- Semir Beyaz, Cold Spring Harbor Lab., Dietary regulation of stem cell—immune cell—microbiome interactions that influence cancer
- Susan M. Kaech, Salk Inst.
- Alison E. Ringel, MIT, Dietary factors that shape immunity in tumors
Sunday, May 14, 2023 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM Level 3, Ballroom A
Major Symposium E
Engineering at the Interface of Immunology and Immunotherapy
Chairs
- Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Univ. of Chicago
- Susan N. Thomas, Georgia Tech
Speakers
- Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Univ. of Chicago, Engineering cytokines to modulate regiospecific function
- Evan A. Scott, Northwestern Univ., Engineering synthetic nanocarriers for targeted immune modulation
- Jennifer H. Elisseeff, Johns Hopkins Univ., Engineering immune-stromal crosstalk regulating tissue structure
- Sai T. Reddy, Swiss Fed. Inst. of Tech., Zurich, Synthetic coevolution of neutralizing antibodies and SARS-CoV-2
- James J. Moon, Univ. of Michigan, Engineering strategies to modulate the gut microbiome and immune system
- Susan N. Thomas, Georgia Tech, Engineered lymph node drug delivery and disease modeling technologies enable next-generation approaches in cancer immunotherapy
Sunday, May 14, 2023 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM Level 3, Ballroom B
Major Symposium F
Environmental Drivers of Myeloid Cells
Chairs
- Jessica A. Hamerman, Benaroya Res. Inst.
- De’Broski R. Herbert, Univ. of Pennsylvania Sch. of Vet. Med.
Speakers
- Jessica A. Hamerman, Benaroya Res. Inst., Monocyte differentiation during inflammation
- De’Broski R. Herbert, Univ. of Pennsylvania Sch. of Vet. Med., Myeloid-derived IL-33 regulates host immunity
- Paul Kubes, Univ. of Calgary, Loss of resident macrophage identity induced by local environmental changes
- Mark B. Headley II, Fred Hutch Cancer Res. Ctr., Immunosurveillance of the lung by specialized dendritic cell populations
- Amariliz Rivera, Rutgers New Jersey Med. Sch., Novel insights on the role of interferons as regulators of pulmonary antifungal immunity
Monday, May 15, 2023 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM Level 3, Ballroom A
Major Symposium G
Mucosal Immunity in Health and Disease
Chairs
- Ivaylo I. Ivanov, Columbia Univ.
- Manuela Raffatellu, Univ. of California, San Diego
Speakers
- Kathy D. McCoy, Univ. of Calgary, Microbes and metabolites: shaping mucosal immunity
- Isaac M. Chiu, Harvard Med. Sch., Nociceptor neuron regulation of gut barrier function and immunity
- Manuela Raffatellu, Univ. of California, San Diego, New insights on mucosal immunity to Enterobacteriaceae
- Ivaylo I. Ivanov, Columbia Univ., Homeostatic functions of commensal Th17 cells
- Suzanne Devkota, Cedars-Sinai Med. Ctr., Immunological and physiological responses to gut bacterial translocation in humans
- Dan R. Littman, New York Univ. Grossman Sch. of Med., Microbiota guidance of T cell differentiation
Monday, May 15, 2023 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM Level 3, Ballroom B
Major Symposium H
Immunity to Emerging Pathogens: COVID-19 and Beyond
Chairs
- James E. Crowe Jr., Vanderbilt Univ. Med. Ctr.
- Laura M. Walker, Invivyd
Speakers
- James E. Crowe Jr., Vanderbilt Univ. Med. Ctr., Human monoclonal antibodies for emerging infections
- Laura M. Walker, Invivyd, Evolution of antibody immunity following Omicron breakthrough infection
- Robert A. Seder, NIAID, NIH, Scientific and clinical development of monoclonal antibodies to prevent malaria
- Mark T. Esser, AstraZeneca, From the lab to the jab: lessons learned from the development of AstraZeneca’s long-acting antibody combination (Evusheld) for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19
- Amy L. Hartman, Univ. of Pittsburgh, Combating the threat of Rift Valley fever virus infection in utero
Award Presentations & Lectures
AAI is pleased to recognize the extraordinary professional achievements, service, and career promise of its members with the following awards and lectures.
Thursday, May 11, 2023 5:00 PM Level 3, Ballroom AB
AAI Lifetime Achievement Award Presentation
AAI President Mark M. Davis will introduce the awardee and present the award prior to the start of the President's Address.
Chair
- Mark M. Davis, HHMI, Stanford Univ. Sch. of Med., AAI President
Award Recipient

Lewis L. Lanier
Univ. of California, San Francisco
The AAI Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed by the AAI Council upon an AAI member. This award recognizes a deserving member for a career of scientific achievement and for contributions to AAI and fellow immunologists.
Thursday, May 11, 2023 5:00 PM Level 3, Ballroom AB
Distinguished Fellows of AAI Class of 2023 Acknowledgment
AAI President Mark M. Davis will acknowledge the honorees prior to the start of the President's Address.
Chair
- Mark M. Davis, HHMI, Stanford Univ. Sch. of Med., AAI President
The Distinguished Fellows of AAI annually recognizes members for distinguished careers and outstanding scientific contributions as well as their service to AAI and the immunology community. It honors active, long-term members (25 or more years) who have demonstrated one or more of the following: excellence in research accomplishment in the field of immunology; exceptional leadership to the immunology community in academia, foundations, nonprofits, industry, or government at a national or international level; notable distinction as an educator.
Friday, May 12, 2023 8:00 AM Level 2, Room 202B
AAI Distinguished Service Award Presentations
AAI President Mark M. Davis will introduce the awardees and present the awards during the AAI Business Meeting.
Chair
- Loretta L. Doan, AAI Chief Executive Officer
Award Recipients

Cherié L. Butts
Biogen
For outstanding service as Chair and Member of the AAI Minority Affairs Committee, 2011–2017

Clifford V. Harding
Case Western Reserve Univ.
For outstanding service as Chair and Member of the AAI Committee on Public Affairs, 2009–2016
The AAI Distinguished Service Awards recognize individuals for outstanding service to AAI and the immunology community.
Friday, May 12, 2023 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Level 2, Room 202A
AAI-BioLegend Herzenberg Award Presentation and Lecture
Generously supported by BioLegend
AAI President Mark M. Davis will introduce the awardee and present the award immediately prior to Dr. Crotty’s lecture.
Chair
- Gary A. Koretzky, Cornell Univ. and Weill Cornell Med., AAI Past President
Award Recipient

Shane Crotty
La Jolla Inst. for Immunology
Long-lived and high-quality antibody and memory B cell responses regulated by Tfh cells and germinal centers
The AAI-BioLegend Herzenberg Award recognizes outstanding research contributions to the field of immunology in the area of B cell biology.
Friday, May 12, 2023 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Level 3, Ballroom A
FASEB Excellence in Science Early-Career Investigator Award Presentation and Lecture
Dr. Garvy will introduce the awardee and present the award immediately prior to Dr. Krishnaswamy’s lecture.
Chair
- Beth A. Garvy, Univ. of Kentucky Col. of Med., FASEB Vice President for Science Policy
Award Recipient

Smita Krishnaswamy
Yale Univ.
Deep geometric and topological analyses characterizing and predicting immune responses
The FASEB Excellence in Science Early-Career Investigator Award recognizes excellence, innovation, leadership, and mentorship of a female early career investigator whose research has contributed significantly to a particular discipline in biological science.
Friday, May 12, 2023 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Level 3, Ballroom AB
AAI-BD Biosciences Investigator Award Presentation and Lecture
Generously supported by BD Biosciences
AAI President Mark M. Davis will introduce the awardee and present the award immediately prior to Dr. Sonnenberg’s lecture.
Chair
- Akiko Iwasaki, HHMI, Yale Sch. of Med., AAI Vice President
Award Recipient

Gregory F. Sonnenberg
Weill Cornell Med.
Innate regulation of immunity, inflammation, tolerance, and cancer
The AAI-BD Biosciences Investigator Award recognizes an early-career investigator who has made outstanding contributions to the field of immunology.
Saturday, May 13, 2023 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Level 2, Room 202A
AAI ASPIRE Award Symposium
AAI President Mark M. Davis will introduce the awardees and present the awards immediately prior to the symposium.
Chairs
- Joan Goverman, Univ. of Washington, AAI Secretary-Treasurer
- Akiko Iwasaki, HHMI, Yale Sch. of Med., AAI Vice President
Award Recipients

Todd Bradley
Children's Mercy Kansas City
Natural killer cell immunoregulation of the HIV-1 antibody response

Hitesh Deshmukh
Cincinnati Children's Hosp. Med. Ctr.
Establishing lifelong trajectories of pulmonary health before and after birth

Rebecca Martin
Virginia Commonwealth Univ.
Targeting dendritic cell metabolism promotes allergen tolerance in asthma

Gabrielle Rizzuto
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Ctr.
Glycan-dependent mechanisms of fetomaternal tolerance

Tuoqi Wu
Univ. of Texas Southwestern Med. Ctr.
Transcriptional regulation of long-term T-cell immunity

Melody Yue Zeng
Weill Cornell Med.
Immune regulation by the gut microbiome in early life
The AAI ASPIRE Awards recognize early career research accomplishments and professional promise in the field of immunology.
Saturday, May 13, 2023 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Level 3, Ballroom A
FASEB Excellence in Science Lifetime Achievement Award Presentation and Lecture
Dr. Butts will introduce the awardee and present the award immediately prior to Dr. Sharpe’s lecture.
Chair
- Cherié L. Butts, Biogen, FASEB Treasurer
Award Recipient

Arlene H. Sharpe
Harvard Med. Sch.
The biology behind PD-1 blockade
The FASEB Excellence in Science Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes excellence, innovation, leadership, and mentorship of a female established investigator whose research has contributed significantly to a particular discipline in biological science.
Saturday, May 13, 2023 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Level 3, Ballroom AB
AAI-Thermo Fisher Meritorious Career Award Presentation and Lecture
Generously supported by Thermo Fisher Scientific
AAI President Mark M. Davis will introduce the awardee and present the award immediately prior to Dr. Wu’s lecture.
Chair
- Gary A. Koretzky, Cornell Univ. and Weill Cornell Med., AAI Past President
Award Recipient

Hao Wu
Harvard Med. Sch. and Boston Children's Hosp.
Inner workings on the inflammasome engine
The AAI-Thermo Fisher Meritorious Career Award recognizes a mid-career scientist for outstanding research contributions to the field of immunology.
Sunday, May 14, 2023 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM Level 2, Room 202B
AAI Vanguard Award Presentation and Lecture
Sponsored by the AAI Minority Affairs Committee
Generously supported by BD Biosciences
AAI President Mark M. Davis will introduce the awardee and present the award immediately prior to Dr. Binder’s lecture.
Chair
- Tonya J. Webb, Univ. of Maryland Sch. of Med., AAI Minority Affairs Committee Chair
Speaker

Robert J. Binder
Univ. of Pittsburgh
Key pathways in immunosurveillance of cancer
The AAI Vanguard Award recognizes an underrepresented member investigator noted for significant scientific achievement and exemplary career success.
Sunday, May 14, 2023 12:30 PM Level 3, Ballroom AB
AAI Excellence in Mentoring Award Presentation
AAI President Mark M. Davis and Shruti Naik, New York Univ. Grossman Sch. of Med., will introduce the awardee and present the award prior to the start of the President’s Symposium.
Chair
- Mark M. Davis, HHMI, Stanford Univ. Sch. of Med., AAI President
Award Recipient

Yasmine Belkaid
NIAID, NIH
The AAI Excellence in Mentoring Award recognizes exemplary career contributions to a future generation of scientists.
Sunday, May 14, 2023 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Level 3, Ballroom AB
AAI-Steinman Award for Human Immunology Research Presentation and Lecture
AAI President Mark M. Davis will introduce the awardee and present the award immediately prior to Dr. Hafler’s lecture.
Chair
- Mark M. Davis, HHMI, Stanford Univ. Sch. of Med., AAI President
Award Recipient

David A. Hafler
Yale Sch. of Med.
Treg biology: insights into immunology by the study of human disease
The AAI-Steinman Award for Human Immunology Research recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the understanding of immune processes underlying human disease pathogenesis, prevention, or therapy.
Committee-Sponsored Sessions
AAI committees host symposia, workshops, lectures, and events that address the most recent advances in their specialty areas of immunology research, as well as issues in public policy and career development.
Thursday, May 11, 2023 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Level 2, Room 202A
Back to School: A Review of Four Fast-Moving Fields
Sponsored by the AAI Program Committee
Chairs
- Cathryn R. Nagler, Univ. of Chicago, AAI Program Committee Chair
- Chandrashekhar Pasare, Cincinnati Children’s Hosp. Med. Ctr.
Speakers
- Judith A. James, Oklahoma Med. Res. Fndn., Cross-reactive B cells
- Chandrashekhar Pasare, Cincinnati Children’s Hosp. Med. Ctr., Mechanisms of microbial and non-microbial (sterile) innate inflammation
- Timothy E. O’Sullivan, Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CRISPR-Cas9 tools and technology in immunity
- Golnaz Vahedi, Univ. of Pennsylvania Perelman Sch. of Med., Advances in single-cell analysis
Friday, May 12, 2023 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM Level 2, Room 202B
Human Immunological Diseases and Pathologies: Current Standard of Care, Mechanisms of Action, and Unmet Needs
Sponsored by the AAI Clinical Immunology Committee
Chairs
- Erica L. Stone, GigaGen, AAI Clinical Immunology Committee Chair
- Thomas A. Wynn, Pfizer
Friday, May 12, 2023 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM Level 2, Room 207B
“My Lab is Recruiting Postdocs:” Policy Approaches to Address the Needs of Today’s Biomedical Research Workforce
Sponsored by the AAI Committee on Public Affairs
Chairs
- Peter E. Jensen, Univ. of Utah, AAI Committee on Public Affairs Chair
- Tullia C. Bruno, Univ. of Pittsburgh
Speakers
- Ericka Boone, Director, Div.of Biomed. Res. Workforce, NIH
- Greg M. Delgoffe, Univ. of Pittsburgh
In recent years, principal investigators have expressed increasing concern about the difficulty of recruiting and retaining postdoctoral researchers, particularly in academia. While the problem is multifactorial, challenges include inadequate compensation/benefits, lack of affordable housing, difficulties achieving work-life balance, and insufficient support for training and mental health. The availability of postdocs has been further reduced by the COVID-19 pandemic and related disruptions, which have sharply decreased the number of international graduate students studying in the United States, resulting in a smaller potential postdoc pool. These challenges, combined with the lack of certainty in achieving “success” when pursuing a career in academia, often lead graduate students to pursue non-academic jobs in industry or elsewhere. With half of U.S. postdocs financially supported by federal agencies, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has established a Working Group to evaluate whether there is statistical evidence of this perceived postdoc shortage, assess the factors that may be causing it, and develop recommendations to facilitate recruitment and retention.
This session will feature a distinguished panel of speakers who will discuss the current state of the postdoc workforce, the reasons for a dearth of candidates applying for postdoc positions, and potential policy approaches to alleviate the strain on the biomedical research workforce. The formal presentations will be followed by an open mic period during which all members of the audience, in particular trainees, will be invited to ask questions and/or speak about their experiences.
Friday, May 12, 2023 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Level 2, Room 209ABC
Immunology Teaching Interest Group: Enhancing Your Immunology Teaching
Sponsored by the AAI Education Committee
Chairs
- Sumali Pandey, Minnesota State Univ., Moorhead
- Damian L. Turner, Williams Col.
Speakers
- Viviane Boaventura, Oswaldo Cruz Fndn., Fed. Univ. of Bahia, Brazil, ImmunoAlvo board game for dynamic teaching of immunology
- William H. Carr, Medgar Evers Col., CUNY, Easing the pain of group work with an ice-breaker activity: "a case in point: from active learning to the job market"
- Nadeem Fazal, Chicago State Univ. Col. of Phrm., A case for teaching basic immunology through scientific journalism: lesson taught by a coronavirus went viral!
- Lindsey D. Hughes, Yale Sch. of Med., A perfect fit: 3D-printed kit to teach students principles of antigen-antibody recognition and herd immunity
Breakout Session Leaders
- Vitaly V. Ganusov, Univ. of Tennessee, and Edith Porter, California State Univ., Los Angeles, Use of the AAI curriculum recommendations in an undergraduate immunology course
- Tomas Helikar, Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, Louis B. Justement, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, Sumali Pandey, Minnesota State Univ., Moorhead, and Rebekah T. Taylor, Frostburg State Univ., Modeling immunological networks in an educational setting using Cell Collective*
- Aimee Pugh-Bernard, Univ. of Colorado Anschutz Med. Campus, The use and creation of analogies as a teaching tool for understanding immunology
- Rebecca Rivard, Gwynedd Mercy Univ., Immune Battle: use of a board game to help improve student understanding of immune function
Are you looking for new ideas or strategies to enliven and improve your teaching? If so, please join us for this special interest group, which will focus on strategies that instructors can use to successfully convey immunology concepts to students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. This session will explore teaching strategies through talks and structured breakout discussion groups. Current educators, new faculty, and trainees with an interest in teaching are welcome.
*Bring your laptop to get the most out of this breakout session!
Friday, May 12, 2023 12:00 PM – 2:15 PM West Salon GH
Careers Roundtables and Speed Networking Session
Sponsored by the AAI Minority Affairs Committee
Generously supported by the Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine
Chair
- Tonya J. Webb, Univ. of Maryland Sch. of Med., AAI Minority Affairs Committee Chair
Networking skills have never been more crucial to ensure success for early/mid-career scientists, including those traditionally underrepresented in biomedical research. At the session, take advantage of the opportunity to meet in small-group format with accomplished, senior immunologists and others to hear how they have handled the career challenges you now face and learn what they believe will work for you today. Then practice networking in a relaxed environment offering a structured networking exercise and personalized feedback on communicating your scientific interests/objectives most effectively. Scientists and trainees of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend!
Registration Fee: $30 (includes lunch)
Discussion Topics
- Grad Student: Finding a Mentor, Setting Sights on Postdoc Training
- Navigating Challenges Unique to International Graduate Students and Postdocs
- Postdoc: Finding a Mentor, Setting Sights on a Faculty Position
- Junior Faculty: Preparing for Promotion and Tenure
- Maintaining Research Productivity at a Primarily Undergraduate Teaching Institution
- Academia or Industry: How to Decide (or Switch Sides)
- Government Agency Careers
- Non-Bench Research Careers:
- Entrepreneurship
- Nonprofits/Foundations
- Research Technology
- Science Policy
- Scientific Patent/Trademark Law
- Scientific Publishing
Friday, May 12, 2023 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM Level 2, Room 207B
Immunological Approaches to (Re)emerging and Global Zoonotic Threats
Sponsored by the AAI Veterinary Immunology Committee
Chair
- Janice C. Telfer, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, AAI Veterinary Immunology Committee Chair
Speakers
- Rudra Channappanavar, Oklahoma State Univ. Col. of Vet. Med.
- Joan Lunney, USDA, ARS
- Bronwyn M. Gunn, Washington State Univ. Col. of Vet. Med.
Saturday, May 13, 2023 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM Level 2, Room 202B
Spotlight on AAI Journals
Sponsored by the AAI Publications Committee
Chairs
- Daniel J. Campbell, Benaroya Res. Inst., AAI Publications Committee Chair
- Eugene M. Oltz, Ohio State Univ. Col. of Med., Editor-in-Chief, The Journal of Immunology
Speakers
- Nitya Jain, Harvard Med. Sch., RXRA regulates the development of resident tissue macrophages
- Todd Bartkowiak, Vanderbilt Univ., Systems immunology analyses of STAT1 gain-of-function immune phenotypes reveal heterogeneous response to IL-6 and broad immunometabolic roles for STAT1
- Tiffany Taylor, Univ. of Pittsburgh, Roles of IL-17-responsive transcription factors in regulating oropharyngeal candidiasis
- Joshua J. Obar, Geisel Sch. of Med. at Dartmouth, Alveolar macrophages: controllers of the antifungal interferon response
- Zhichao Fan, UConn Health, CFTR in regulating monocyte recruitment and integrin function
- Vanessa Espinosa, Rutgers New Jersey Med. Sch., Neutrophils license the maturation of monocytes into effective antifungal effectors
A symposium featuring talks highlighting papers recently published in The Journal of Immunology and ImmunoHorizons.
Saturday, May 13, 2023 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM West Salon GH
Careers in Science Lecture and Roundtables
Sponsored by the AAI Education Committee and AAI Committee on the Status of Women
Chair
- Dorina Avram, Moffitt Cancer Ctr., Committee on the Status of Women Chair
Speaker
- Gwendalyn J. Randolph, Washington Univ. Sch. of Med. in St. Louis, Avoiding tokenism—choosing your seat at the table
At this popular session, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with experienced scientists to explore specific career issues important to today's scientists. Gain insights into issues you are confronting in your own career. Topics include international opportunities in science, succeeding in graduate school, tips on grant writing, considerations for scientists in M.D.-Ph.D. careers, and exciting careers beyond the bench. Topics include building productive mentor/mentee relationships; overcoming self-doubt; and tackling gender biases in recruitment, research, and leadership; and navigating work/life issues, such as balancing careers with family and transitioning from specific career stages, which may be relevant to any work environment (academic research, biotech industry, governmental agencies, nonprofit). Don’t miss this great opportunity!
Registration Fee: $30 (includes lunch)
Discussion Topics
- A Conversation about Bystander Intervention
- New PI (mentoring effectively, recruiting students and postdocs, preparing for promotion, early career self-promotion)
- Succeeding in Graduate School
- Graduate Student to Postdoc
- Postdoc to PI
- Work/Life Balance
- Building Networking Skills
- Biotech and Industry
- Tackling Gender Biases in Recruitment, Research, and Leadership
- Careers in Government Agencies
- Scientific Publishing
- Opportunities for Scientists in Non-Profits/Foundations
- Careers in Science Policy
- Grant Writing for PIs
- Grant Writing for Fellowships
- Research from the M.D., Ph.D. Perspective/The Physician Scientist
- Careers in Veterinary Immunology
- International Opportunities
- How to Build Productive Mentor/Mentee Relationships
- Balancing Teaching Responsibilities with Research
- How to Negotiate for Better Self-Promotion
- NEW! Science Communication, Popular Science Writing, Editing
- Challenges for Women Mentors and PIs
- Academia versus Industry
- Alternative Careers
Sunday, May 14, 2023 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM West Salon GH
Sip and Learn: Speed Networking with Immunology Educators
Sponsored by the AAI Education Committee and ImmunoHorizons
Chairs
- Nicholas A. Pullen, Univ. of Northern Colorado, AAI Education Committee Chair
- Heather A. Bruns, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, ImmunoHorizons Editor
Are you interested in immunology education? Join the editors of ImmunoHorizons and the AAI Education Committee for a networking event for current and future immunology educators! The first part of this session will be short one-on-one meetings, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet others with an interest in immunology education. Then attendees can continue their conversations in a relaxed setting over coffee. All are welcome! Scientists and trainees of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend.
Registration Fee: $15 (includes coffee)
Sunday, May 14, 2023 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM Level 2, Room 209ABC
Careers in Biotech: Panel Discussion and Networking
Sponsored by the AAI Education Committee
Generously supported by BD Biosciences
Chair
- Kiyomi Komori, Kinevant
Panelists
- Agata Bartczak, Horizon Therapeut.
- Louise M. D'Cruz, BD Biosci.
- Ian T. Saunders, Janssen Res. and Development
- Thomas A. Wynn, Pfizer
Many opportunities exist in industry for scientists with advanced degrees. There are positions in laboratory research, program management, business development, regulatory affairs, clinical trials oversight, medical liaison, and more. This panel features scientists employed in a variety of positions in industry discussing their career paths and the skills required for success in each. Following the panel discussion, enjoy casual conversation with the speakers and other scientists from industry at a networking reception.
Sunday, May 14, 2023 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM Level 1, East Overlook
Giving an Effective Media Interview
Sponsored by the AAI Public Communications Committee
Did you know that immunologists are in high demand by the media as subject matter experts? The pandemic highlighted the crucial role that the field of immunology plays in public health, and interest in related health topics is growing well beyond COVID-19 and vaccines. If you can speak about immunology in a way that is easy for the public to understand, and if you know how to prepare for a media interview, you can become a sought-after expert!
In this session, a media trainer from JPA Health will teach you the general principles of preparing for and delivering an effective media interview. Learn how to develop your message and talking points, how to stay on message, how to speak so that consumers can understand and remember your points, and the Top 10 Do’s and Don’ts of media interviewing. You will also learn what to expect when speaking to a print journalist versus being a guest on a television or radio news show. The hosts of The Immunology Podcast will also join us to give some tips specific to being a memorable and engaging guest on a podcast episode.
Sunday, May 14, 2023 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM Level 2, Room 202B
AAI Vanguard Award Presentation and Lecture
Sponsored by the AAI Minority Affairs Committee
Generously supported by BD Biosciences
AAI President Mark M. Davis will introduce the awardee and present the award immediately prior to Dr. Binder’s lecture.
Chair
- Tonya J. Webb, Univ. of Maryland Sch. of Med., AAI Minority Affairs Committee Chair
Speaker

Robert J. Binder
Univ. of Pittsburgh
Key pathways in immunosurveillance of cancer
The AAI Vanguard Award recognizes an underrepresented member investigator noted for significant scientific achievement and exemplary career success.
GUEST Symposia
Each year guest societies, government agencies, and other research organizations join the scientific program to bring unique perspectives on basic research and clinical issues influencing and advancing the field. AAI has been honored to have program partners from many US and international societies, as well as government agencies that both fund and carry out stellar research programs.
Friday, May 12, 2023 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM Level 1, Room 101
National Institute on Aging (NIA, NIH) Symposium
Mucosal Immunity, Microbiome, and Aging
Chairs
- Mulualem E. Tilahun, NIA, NIH
- Elizabeth J. Kovacs, Univ. of Colorado, Denver
Speakers
- Elizabeth J. Kovacs, Univ. of Colorado, Denver, Inflammaging, burn trauma, and the gut-lung axis
- Marta Rodriguez-Garcia, Tufts Univ. Sch. of Med., Aging compromises neutrophil-mediated innate protection against HIV in the human female genital tract
- Noah W. Palm, Yale Sch. of Med., Mapping uncharted landscapes of host—microbiota communication
- Yanjiao Zhou, Univ. of Connecticut Sch. of Med., The gut microbiome and immune responses in young and old mice on an intermittent-fasting diet
Friday, May 12, 2023 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM Level 1, Room 102AB
Society for Natural Immunity (SNI) Symposium
NK Cells and ILCs in Cancer
Chairs
- Todd A. Fehniger, Washington Univ. Sch. of Med. in St. Louis
- Mariapia A. Degli-Eposti, Monash Univ., Australia
Speakers
- Karl-Johan Malmberg, Univ. of Oslo, Norway, Transfer learning reveals NK cell states in the tumor microenvironment
- John B. Sunwoo, Stanford Univ. Sch. of Med., CD103+ NK cells and cancer
- Gabriela M. Wiedemann, Tech. Univ. of Munich, Germany, Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of NK cell antitumor functions
- Heather M. McGee, City of Hope Nat. Med. Ctr., Radiation-induced innate lymphoid cell activation in the liver tumor microenvironment
Friday, May 12, 2023 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM Level 1, Room 101
International Society of Neuroimmunology (ISNI) Symposium
Neuroimmune Interactions in CNS Development, Repair, and Disease
Chairs and speakers will be announced soon. Watch this space for updates.
Friday, May 12, 2023 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM Level 2, Room 202B
German Society for Immunology (DGfI) Symposium
Immune Competence in Tissues
Chairs
- Dietmar Zehn, Tech. Univ. of Munich, Germany
- Christina E. Zielinski, Leibniz Inst. for Natural Product Res. and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Inst., Germany
Speakers
- Dietmar Zehn, Tech. Univ. of Munich, Germany, Dynamics and maintenance of resident CD8+ T cells in the intestine
- Christina E. Zielinski, Leibniz Inst. for Natural Product Res. and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Inst., Germany, Regulation of human T helper cells by the tissue microenvironment
- Georg Gasteiger, Max-Planck Res. Group for Systems Immunology, Univ. of Würzburg, Germany, Tissue niches of resident lymphocytes
- Maike Hofmann, Med. Ctr., Univ. of Freiburg, Germany, T cell responses in chronic viral hepatitis
- Wolfgang Kastenmüller, Max-Planck Res. Group for Systems Immunology, Univ. of Würzburg, Germany, Spatiotemporal orchestration of cellular immunity
- Christine S. Falk, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany, T and NK cell chimerism in human lung transplantation
Friday, May 12, 2023 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM Level 3, Ballroom B
Society for Mucosal Immunology (SMI) Symposium
Protecting the Barrier from Invaders
Chairs
- Gretchen E. Diehl, Mem. Sloan Kettering Cancer Ctr.
- Kathryn A. Knoop, Mayo Clin.
Speakers
- Gretchen E. Diehl, Mem. Sloan Kettering Cancer Ctr., Commensal regulation of gut immunity to pathogens
- Kathryn A. Knoop, Mayo Clin., Early life protection in the intestine
- Amanda M. Jamieson, Brown Univ., Polymicrobial lung infections
- Nichole R. Klatt, Univ. of Minnesota Med. Sch., Vaginal microbiome and HIV infection
Friday, May 12, 2023 3:45 PM – 5:45 PM Level 1, Room 101
International Complement Society (ICS) Symposium
Location Matters: The Evolving Roles of Cell-autonomous and Local Complement
Chairs
- Ben Afzali, NIDDK, NIH
- Marcela Pekna, Univ. of Gothenburg, Sweden
Speakers
- Niki M. Moutsopoulos, NIDCR, NIH, Chew on that: complement and the oral cavity
- Markus Bosmann, Boston Univ., Take a breath: local complement in lung pathologies
- Marcela Pekna, Univ. of Gothenburg, Sweden, C3a receptor signaling in neural plasticity and astrocyte-microglia crosstalk after CNS injury
- Brahm H. Segal, Univ. at Buffalo, SUNY, The unexpected contributions of local complement in ovarian cancer
Friday, May 12, 2023 3:45 PM – 5:45 PM Level 2, Room 207B
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID, NIH) Symposium
Organoid Cultures and Novel Mouse Models
Chairs
- Joy Liu, NIAID, NIH
- Mark T. Heise, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Speakers
- Lisa E. Wagar, Univ. of California, Irvine, Modeling human adaptive immune responses with tonsil organoids
- Calvin J. Kuo, Stanford Univ. Med. Sch., Modeling tissue-resident immunity in organoids
- Mark T. Heise, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Complex genetic architecture underlies regulation of respiratory virus immune responses in the collaborative cross
- Paolo Casali, UT Health, San Antonio, Long Sch. of Med., Construction of mice with a fully human immune system mounting class-switched, hypermutated, and neutralizing antibody response
- Barbara Rehermann, NIDDK, NIH, Wild mouse microbiota in preclinical models of inflammation and metabolism
Friday, May 12, 2023 3:45 PM – 5:45 PM Level 1, Room 102AB
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS, NIH) Symposium
Somatic Mutations in Non-malignant Diseases
Chairs and speakers will be announced soon. Watch this space for updates.
Saturday, May 13, 2023 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM Level 2, Room 207A
Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Symposium
Building the Antitumor Repertoire
Chairs
- Lisa H. Butterfield, Univ. of California, San Francisco
- Stephen P. Schoenberger, La Jolla Inst. for Immunology
Speakers
- Lisa H. Butterfield, Univ. of California, San Francisco, Dendritic cell dysfunction and making better vaccines
- Stephen P. Schoenberger, La Jolla Inst. for Immunology, NeoAg identification
- Neeha Zaidi, Johns Hopkins Univ., Ras antigen vaccines, GVAX vaccines, and pancreatic cancer combinations
- Gordon J. Freeman, Dana-Farber Cancer Inst., Checkpoint modulation of the T cell repertoire
Saturday, May 13, 2023 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM Level 1, Room 101
Chinese Society of Immunology, Taiwan (CSIT) Symposium
Novel Strategies for the Prevention and Therapy of SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Chairs
- Shie-Liang Hsieh, Genomics Res. Ctr., Academia Sinica, Taiwan
- Jr-Shiuan Lin, Nat. Taiwan Univ., Taiwan
Speakers
- Shie-Liang Hsieh, Genomics Res. Ctr., Academia Sinica, Taiwan, Targeting the CLEC2- CLEC5A/TLR2 axis to attenuate SARS-CoV-2-induced immunothrombosis
- Kuo-I Lin, Genomics Res. Ctr., Academia Sinica, Taiwan, Vaccination with a glyco-engineered SARS-CoV-2 spike protein confers cross-strain protection in mice
- Shih-Jen Liu, Nat. Hlth. Res. Inst., Taiwan, Strategies of DNA vaccination against COVID-19
- Che-Ming Hu, Inst. of Biomedical Sci., Academia Sinica, Taiwan, Breaking down the T cell induction barrier with modular nanotechnology for anticancer and antiviral applications
Saturday, May 13, 2023 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM Level 1, Room 102AB
International Cytokine and Interferon Society (ICIS) Symposium
Understanding and Modulating Cytokine Activity through Structural Knowledge
Chairs
- Juan L. Mendoza, Univ. of Chicago
- Ignacio Moraga, Univ. of Dundee, Univ. of Dundee, United Kingdom
Speakers
- Matthew C. Franklin, Regeneron Pharma., Structural insights into the assembly of gp130 family cytokine signaling complexes
- Juan L. Mendoza, Univ. of Chicago, The native JAK-JAK geometry in the type III IFN signaling complex limits the functional potency
- Dylan Daniel, CytomX Therapeut., Designing conditionally activated probody cytokines to localize antitumor activity to cancers
- Ignacio Moraga, Univ. of Dundee, United Kingdom, Manipulating cytokine activities in different extracellular microenvironments
- Jamie B. Spangler, Johns Hopkins Univ., Dissecting immune biology using de novo engineered cytokines
Saturday, May 13, 2023 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM Level 1, Room 101
Canadian Society for Immunology (CSI) Symposium
The Ontogeny and Functioning of the Immune System: Lessons from Non-mammalian Systems
Chairs
- Edan Foley, Univ. of Alberta, Canada
- Jason N. Berman, Univ. of Ottowa and Children's Hosp. of Eastern Ontario Res. Inst., Canada
Speakers
- Edan Foley, Univ. of Alberta, Canada, Single-cell resolution of the zebrafish intestinal immune response to a Vibrio cholerae infection
- Jason N. Berman, Univ. of Ottowa and Children's Hosp. of Eastern Ontario Res. Inst., Canada, Leveraging the zebrafish model for preclinical studies of the immune microenvironment in cancer
- Francesca Di Cara, Dalhousie Univ., Canada, Drosophila immunity
- Shayan Sharif, Univ. of Guelph, Canada, Chicken immunity and viral pathogens
- W. Brent Derry, Univ. of Toronto, Canada, C. elegans innate immunity
Saturday, May 13, 2023 3:45 PM – 5:45 PM Level 1, Room 101
Korean Association of Immunologists and Association of Korean Immunologists in America (KAI & AKIA) Symposium
Immune Cell Communications in Cancer and Inflammation
Chairs
- Minsoo Kim, Univ. of Rochester
- Su-Hyung Park, Korea Advanced Inst. of Sci. and Tech., South Korea
Speakers
- Eun D. Lee, Virginia Commonwealth Univ., Targeting ERAP2 for cancer therapy
- Eun Young Choi, Seoul Nat. Univ. Col. of Med., South Korea, Actin and microtubule cross-talks in immune synapse and the application to CAR T cell therapy
- Chang-Duk Jun, Gwangju Inst. of Sci. and Tech., South Korea, T cell microvilli shedding as a mechanism of T cell clonal expansion
- Myong-Hee Sung, NIA, NIH, Double knock-in reporter mice reveal NF-κβ trajectories in signaling, immune cell development, and aging
Sunday, May 14, 2023 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM Level 1, Room 102AB
National Cancer Institute (NCI, NIH) Symposium
Harnessing Immune Cell Function in the Immunosuppressive Tumor Environment
Chairs and speakers will be announced soon. Watch this space for updates.
Sunday, May 14, 2023 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM Level 1, Room 102AB
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) Symposium
Immunoparasitology: Perspectives by Top Trainees, Early Career, and Established ASTMH Researchers
Chairs and speakers will be announced soon. Watch this space for updates.
Sunday, May 14, 2023 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM Level 2, Room 202A
American Society of Transplantation (AST) Symposium
Cutting Edge Research in Transplantation Tolerance, Rejection, and Infection
Chairs
- Valeria R. Mas, Univ. of Maryland Sch. of Med.
- Leonardo V. Riella, Massachusetts Gen. Hosp.
Speakers
- Keri E. Lunsford, Rutgers New Jersey Med. Sch., Liver transplant multi-omic assessment of immune frailty
- Anoma Nellore, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, Memory B cells in pregnancy sensitization
- Mandy L. Ford, Emory Univ., Risky memory T cell subsets in transplantation
- Paolo Cravedi, Icahn Sch. of Med. at Mount Sinai, Inducing regulatory T cells for allograft survival
Sunday, May 14, 2023 3:45 PM – 5:45 PM Level 2, Room 209ABC
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS, NIH) Symposium
Developmental Immunotoxicology
Chairs and speakers will be announced soon. Watch this space for updates.
Sunday, May 14, 2023 3:45 PM – 5:45 PM Level 2, Room 204ABC
European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS) Symposium
Fundamental Lessons Learned from the Clinic
Chairs
- Bojan Polić, Univ. of Rijeka, Croatia
- Rami Bechara, Université Paris-Saclay, France
Speakers
- Bojan Polić, Univ. of Rijeka, Croatia, Immune-endocrine regulation of blood glucose in a strong non-lethal viral infection
- Eva Martínez-Cáceres, Germans Trias i Pujol Hosp., Badalone, Spain, Cell-based tolerogenic therapies: from bench to bedside, and back
- Luke A.J. O'Neill, Trinity Col., Dublin, Ireland, Macrophage immunometabolism and the regulation of inflammation
- S. Marieke van Ham, Sanquin Res., Netherlands, Insights into human B cell differentiation upon infection and vaccination
- David C. Wraith, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, The mechanism of antigen-specific immunotherapy of autoimmune diseases
Career Development Opportunities
IMMUNOLOGY2023™ provides a wide range of sessions to support the career development of students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty.
Friday, May 12, 2023 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Level 2, Room 209ABC
How to Convert Your CV into a Résumé
Speaker
- Derek J. Haseltine, Hertz Fndn.
For anyone seeking a job outside of academe, how you present yourself on paper is critical. A well-prepared résumé can make all the difference in securing that interview. The focus of this session will be on the important elements of a résumé, the differences between a résumé and the standard academic curriculum vitae, and the information needed to make a good impression. In this special career development session, attendees will be instructed in how to transform their CVs into professional résumés. Small breakout sessions for individual consulting will follow. Bring your CV!
Friday, May 12, 2023 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Level 2, Room 209ABC
Immunology Teaching Interest Group: Enhancing Your Immunology Teaching
Sponsored by the AAI Education Committee
Chairs
- Sumali Pandey, Minnesota State Univ., Moorhead
- Damian L. Turner, Williams Col.
Speakers
- Viviane Boaventura, Oswaldo Cruz Fndn., Fed. Univ. of Bahia, Brazil, ImmunoAlvo board game for dynamic teaching of immunology
- William H. Carr, Medgar Evers Col., CUNY, Easing the pain of group work with an ice-breaker activity: "a case in point: from active learning to the job market"
- Nadeem Fazal, Chicago State Univ. Col. of Phrm., A case for teaching basic immunology through scientific journalism: lesson taught by a coronavirus went viral!
- Lindsey D. Hughes, Yale Sch. of Med., A perfect fit: 3D-printed kit to teach students principles of antigen-antibody recognition and herd immunity
Breakout Session Leaders
- Vitaly V. Ganusov, Univ. of Tennessee, and Edith Porter, California State Univ., Los Angeles, Use of the AAI curriculum recommendations in an undergraduate immunology course
- Tomas Helikar, Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, Louis B. Justement, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, Sumali Pandey, Minnesota State Univ., Moorhead, and Rebekah T. Taylor, Frostburg State Univ., Modeling immunological networks in an educational setting using Cell Collective*
- Aimee Pugh-Bernard, Univ. of Colorado Anschutz Med. Campus, The use and creation of analogies as a teaching tool for understanding immunology
- Rebecca Rivard, Gwynedd Mercy Univ., Immune Battle: use of a board game to help improve student understanding of immune function
Are you looking for new ideas or strategies to enliven and improve your teaching? If so, please join us for this special interest group, which will focus on strategies that instructors can use to successfully convey immunology concepts to students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. This session will explore teaching strategies through talks and structured breakout discussion groups. Current educators, new faculty, and trainees with an interest in teaching are welcome.
*Bring your laptop to get the most out of this breakout session!
Friday, May 12, 2023 12:00 PM – 2:15 PM West Salon GH
Careers Roundtables and Speed Networking Session
Sponsored by the AAI Minority Affairs Committee
Generously supported by the Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine
Chair
- Tonya J. Webb, Univ. of Maryland Sch. of Med., AAI Minority Affairs Committee Chair
Networking skills have never been more crucial to ensure success for early/mid-career scientists, including those traditionally underrepresented in biomedical research. At the session, take advantage of the opportunity to meet in small-group format with accomplished, senior immunologists and others to hear how they have handled the career challenges you now face and learn what they believe will work for you today. Then practice networking in a relaxed environment offering a structured networking exercise and personalized feedback on communicating your scientific interests/objectives most effectively. Scientists and trainees of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend!
Registration Fee: $30 (includes lunch)
Discussion Topics
- Grad Student: Finding a Mentor, Setting Sights on Postdoc Training
- Navigating Challenges Unique to International Graduate Students and Postdocs
- Postdoc: Finding a Mentor, Setting Sights on a Faculty Position
- Junior Faculty: Preparing for Promotion and Tenure
- Maintaining Research Productivity at a Primarily Undergraduate Teaching Institution
- Academia or Industry: How to Decide (or Switch Sides)
- Government Agency Careers
- Non-Bench Research Careers:
- Entrepreneurship
- Nonprofits/Foundations
- Research Technology
- Science Policy
- Scientific Patent/Trademark Law
- Scientific Publishing
Saturday, May 13, 2023 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM Level 2, Room 209ABC
Interviewing for a Job
Speaker
- Derek J. Haseltine, Hertz Fndn.
This session will focus on tips and techniques to help you successfully navigate the interview process. Emphasis will be on how you can present yourself in the best possible light. You will also learn how to respond to unexpected questions. This session is open to anyone but is especially intended for student and postdoctoral attendees.
Saturday, May 13, 2023 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM West Salon GH
Careers in Science Lecture and Roundtables
Sponsored by the AAI Education Committee and AAI Committee on the Status of Women
Chair
- Dorina Avram, Moffitt Cancer Ctr., Committee on the Status of Women Chair
Speaker
- Gwendalyn J. Randolph, Washington Univ. Sch. of Med. in St. Louis, Avoiding tokenism—choosing your seat at the table
At this popular session, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with experienced scientists to explore specific career issues important to today's scientists. Gain insights into issues you are confronting in your own career. Topics include international opportunities in science, succeeding in graduate school, tips on grant writing, considerations for scientists in M.D.-Ph.D. careers, and exciting careers beyond the bench. Topics include building productive mentor/mentee relationships; overcoming self-doubt; and tackling gender biases in recruitment, research, and leadership; and navigating work/life issues, such as balancing careers with family and transitioning from specific career stages, which may be relevant to any work environment (academic research, biotech industry, governmental agencies, nonprofit). Don’t miss this great opportunity!
Registration Fee: $30 (includes lunch)
Discussion Topics
- A Conversation about Bystander Intervention
- New PI (mentoring effectively, recruiting students and postdocs, preparing for promotion, early career self-promotion)
- Succeeding in Graduate School
- Graduate Student to Postdoc
- Postdoc to PI
- Work/Life Balance
- Building Networking Skills
- Biotech and Industry
- Tackling Gender Biases in Recruitment, Research, and Leadership
- Careers in Government Agencies
- Scientific Publishing
- Opportunities for Scientists in Non-Profits/Foundations
- Careers in Science Policy
- Grant Writing for PIs
- Grant Writing for Fellowships
- Research from the M.D., Ph.D. Perspective/The Physician Scientist
- Careers in Veterinary Immunology
- International Opportunities
- How to Build Productive Mentor/Mentee Relationships
- Balancing Teaching Responsibilities with Research
- How to Negotiate for Better Self-Promotion
- NEW! Science Communication, Popular Science Writing, Editing
- Challenges for Women Mentors and PIs
- Academia versus Industry
- Alternative Careers
Saturday, May 13, 2023 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM Level 2, Room 209ABC
NIH Grants Workshop: Demystifying the Grant Application Submission, Review, and Funding Processes
Chair
- Alok Mulky, CSR, NIH
Panelists
- Timothy Gondre-Lewis, NIAID, NIH
- Lillian Kuo, NCI, NIH
- Xinrui Li, CSR, NIH
This workshop will provide participants with an overview of NIH grant submission, assignment, review, and funding opportunities. Emphasis will be on discussing funding mechanisms and opportunities available through NIH, how to make an application “reviewer friendly,” and other strategies that contribute to applications that succeed in obtaining research funding, with a focus on RPG and training grant mechanisms.
The workshop will also provide information on how to understand the peer review system, which is essential to competing successfully for funding, with a focus on recent changes to the review process. NIH review and program staff will provide a broad array of expertise and encourage questions from seminar participants. This workshop is open to anyone interested in learning more about preparing an NIH grant application and obtaining NIH funding. Trainees and independent investigators are welcome.
Sunday, May 14, 2023 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM West Salon GH
Sip and Learn: Speed Networking with Immunology Educators
Sponsored by the AAI Education Committee and ImmunoHorizons
Chairs
- Nicholas A. Pullen, Univ. of Northern Colorado, AAI Education Committee Chair
- Heather A. Bruns, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, ImmunoHorizons Editor
Are you interested in immunology education? Join the editors of ImmunoHorizons and the AAI Education Committee for a networking event for current and future immunology educators! The first part of this session will be short one-on-one meetings, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet others with an interest in immunology education. Then attendees can continue their conversations in a relaxed setting over coffee. All are welcome! Scientists and trainees of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend.
Registration Fee: $15 (includes coffee)
Sunday, May 14, 2023 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM Level 2, Room 209ABC
Careers in Biotech: Panel Discussion and Networking
Sponsored by the AAI Education Committee
Generously supported by BD Biosciences
Chair
- Kiyomi Komori, Kinevant
Panelists
- Agata Bartczak, Horizon Therapeut.
- Louise M. D'Cruz, BD Biosci.
- Ian T. Saunders, Janssen Res. and Development
- Thomas A. Wynn, Pfizer
Many opportunities exist in industry for scientists with advanced degrees. There are positions in laboratory research, program management, business development, regulatory affairs, clinical trials oversight, medical liaison, and more. This panel features scientists employed in a variety of positions in industry discussing their career paths and the skills required for success in each. Following the panel discussion, enjoy casual conversation with the speakers and other scientists from industry at a networking reception.
Monday, May 15, 2023 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Level 1, Room 102AB
How to Have a Successful Postdoctoral Experience
Speaker
- Lori Conlan, OITE, NIH
A postdoctoral fellowship is the time to develop research skills you will need to succeed as an independent scientist. It is, however, just as important to realize that you need to prepare for a career path at the same time. This session will highlight ways of getting the most out of your postdoctoral fellowship, relating successfully with your mentor, and understanding how to use the resources available to you to ensure that your training prepares you adequately for a seamless transition into the next phase of your career.
Other Career Resources
Jobs Board
AAI is sponsoring a virtual Jobs Board on the IMMUNOLOGY2023™ website. The Jobs Board service is FREE to all meeting registrants and exhibitors. Job Seekers! Review the online AAI Jobs Board to identify positions that target attendees. Reach recruiters directly; job postings will include e-mail addresses for recruiters’ designated contacts. Employers! Take advantage of this unparalleled opportunity to recruit from over 3,000 immunologists at all career stages!