The Cellular and Molecular Fungal Biology GRS provides a unique forum for young doctoral and post-doctoral researchers to present their work, discuss new methods, cutting edge ideas, and pre-published data, as well as to build collaborative relationships with their peers. Experienced mentors and trainee moderators will facilitate active participation in scientific discussion to allow all attendees to be engaged participants rather than spectators.
The 2026 GRS will be themed around fungal communities, with a particular focus on inter- and intra-cellular processes, the use of AI and other computational tools, and the spectrum of pathogenic to mutualistic host-microbe interactions. This seminar will explore the multifaceted interactions found within and across fungal and other communities. Abstracts should focus on in silico topics, including AI and digital applications, bioinformatics, genome mining, and other computational studies; host-microbe interactions including pathogenesis, mutualism and symbiosis, mechanisms of virulence, immunology, and host responses; and the community within the cell, including molecular mechanisms, cell signaling, secondary metabolites, protein transport, DNA and RNA topics, environmental responses and other aspects of inter- and intra-cellular processes. The seminar will also include a career development panel focused on connecting junior and senior members of the mycology field.
Application Instructions
The seminar will feature approximately 10 talks and 2 poster sessions. All attendees are expected to actively participate in the GRS, either by giving an oral presentation or presenting a poster. Therefore, all applications must include an abstract.
The seminar chair will select speakers from abstracts submitted by March 15, 2026. Those applicants who are not chosen for talks and those who apply after the deadline to be considered for an oral presentation will be expected to present a poster. In order to participate, you must submit an application by the date indicated in the Application Information section above.
Program Format
Gordon Research Seminars are 2-day meetings which take place on the Saturday and Sunday just prior to the start of the associated GRC. The GRS opens with a 1-hour introductory session on Saturday afternoon, followed by a poster session, dinner and a 2-hour session in the evening. Sunday morning begins with breakfast and is followed by another 2-hour session, a second poster session, and lunch. A final 1-hour session takes place just after lunch, and the associated GRC begins later that evening.
