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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Stark Neurosciences Research Institute
events

Stark Summer Science Symposium

A platform for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees to present research, exchange ideas and network.

Register for the 2026 symposium
trainees present their research at a symposium

Hear about the latest in neuroscience research discoveries

The Stark Summer Science Symposium at the Indiana University School of Medicine was initiated in 2019 and has since become an annual event enabling trainees to connect and share their research.

Predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees at the IU School of Medicine are involved in a series of talks and poster sessions representing all of the major research focus areas of Stark Neurosciences Research Institute. Awards are presented for the best posters and oral presentations. The symposium also includes breakout sessions on mentoring, career development, grant writing and more — furthering Stark Neurosciences Research Institute's focus on developing the next generation of neuroscience researchers.

Register for the 2026 symposium

The 2026 Stark Summer Science Symposium will be July 29-30, 2026, at the University Tower and Hine Hall on the IU Indianapolis campus. Register by July 27, and submit your abstract by June 23.

andy tsai
KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Andy Tsai, PhD

Larry L. Hillblom Foundation Fellow
Stanford ADRD Fellow
Postdoctoral Fellow
Wu-Tsai Neuroscience Research Institute
Stanford University

"Spatial and single-cell transcriptomics reveal the microglial reorganization with aging"

Parking and Location Information

The symposium, set for Wednesday to Thursday, July 29-30, will take place at University Tower and Hine Hall on the IU Indianapolis campus in downtown Indianapolis.

  • University Tower: 911 W North St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
  • Hine Hall: 875 W North Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

Attendees are encouraged to park in the University Tower Garage for convenient access. Hourly rates apply for all garage parking.

  • Tower Garage (875 W North St, Indianapolis, IN 46202) – elevator access to the venue

Additional parking may be available:

  • North Street Garage (819 W North St) – skywalk access to venue
  • Gateway Garage (525 N Blackford St) – 5-minute walk to the venue

For campus parking maps and real-time availability, visit the IU Indianapolis Parking Services website.

Know Before You Go

Wednesday, July 29
Time  Session Speaker(s) Location
 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Registration Open    Hine Hall Auditorium Lobby
 8-8:30 a.m.  Poster Setup    Slate Hallway
 8-9 a.m.  Breakfast    Tower Ballroom
 9-10 a.m.

 Keynote Session: "Spatial and
single-cell transcriptomics reveal
the microglial reorganization with aging"

  Andy Tsai, PhD  Hine Hall Auditorium
 10-10:15 a.m.  Morning Break    Hine Hall Auditorium Lobby
 10:15-11:15 a.m.  Oral Presentations: Session 1    Hine Hall Auditorium
 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.  Lunch    Tower Ballroom
 12:15-2:15 p.m.  Day 1 Poster Session    Slate Hallway
 2:15-3 p.m.  Oral Presentations: Session 2    Hine Hall Auditorium
 3-3:15 p.m.  Afternoon Break    Hine Hall Auditorium Lobby
 3:15-4:15 p.m.  Oral Presentations: Session 3    Hine Hall Auditorium
 4:15-4:30 p.m.  Poster teardown    Slate Hallway

Thursday, July 30
Time Session Speaker(s) Location
 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  Registration Open  Hine Hall Auditorium Lobby
 8-8:30 a.m.  Poster Setup  Slate Hallway
 8-9 a.m.  Breakfast    Tower Ballroom
 9-10 a.m.  Oral Presentations: Session 4  Hine Hall Auditorium
 10 a.m. to noon  Day 2 Poster Session  Slate Hallway
 Noon to 1 p.m.  Lunch  Tower Ballroom
 1-2 p.m.  Quick Synopsis Blitz

 

  Hine Hall Auditorium
 2-3 p.m.  Speaker Breakouts    Hine Hall132/139
 3-4 p.m.  Awards Program and Reception               Brian Pierchala, PhD  Hine Hall Auditorium Lobby
 4-4:15 p.m.  Poster Teardown  Slate Hallway

July 30 | 1–3 p.m.

This interactive networking session is designed to connect trainees with experts across key neuroscience-related career pathways. The session will begin with a fast-paced, panel-style overview, followed by small-group breakout discussions that allow for deeper conversation and individualized questions.

Session Format

  • 1-2 p.m. | Networking Blitz Panel Experts representing each topic area will deliver brief (~5-minute) introductions highlighting their background, area of expertise, and perspectives on career pathways, research focus areas, and professional development.
  • 2-3 p.m. | Small Group Breakout Discussion Attendees will rotate or join focused breakout groups aligned with their interests for informal discussion, Q&A, and networking with each expert.

Networking Topic Groups

  • Alzheimer’s Research and Advocacy Perspectives from nonprofit funding organizations and community engagement leaders, with insight into research funding, advocacy, and translational impact.
  • Industry Careers Discussion of industry-based neuroscience careers, collaboration with academia, and pathways into biotech and pharmaceutical roles.
  • Academic Research Pathways Insights into academic neuroscience careers, research trajectories, and building a successful research program.

A full speaker list and breakout assignments will be shared closer to the symposium. This session is ideal for trainees at all stages who are looking to explore career options, receive candid advice, and build professional connections.

Presenting your research at the Stark Summer Science Symposium? Make sure you are using the correct IU School of Medicine template. Visit the Visual Media website to learn more about poster printing vendors and acceptable poster templates. Posters must not be larger than 36 inches high by 48 inches wide (landscape orientation).

Consider using the Multimedia Production Center at IU Indianapolis for printing. 

Sarah Castle
Adrian Oblak
Tim Ludden
Rene Baugh
Jess Chalk
Chloe Ferguson
Anusha Shivashankar
Rodahina (Roda) Pasteurin

Symposium Award Winners

Oral Presentations
 First Place: Rodahina Pasteurin
Second Place: Anusha Shivashankar
Third Place: Joshua Lykins

Poster Presentations

Graduate Students:
First Place: Hannah Rondon-Cordero
Second Place: Anh Nguyen
Third Place: Kevin Quist

Summer Undergraduate Students:
First Place: Jihoon Kwon
Second Place: Maggie Blair
Second Place: Alec Foster
Second Place: Alyssa Collins

Stark Faculty and Staff Awards
 Outstanding Service to Trainees - Phillip Starski
Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor - Erica Weekman

Image Contest Winner
 Sayanta Dutta, “Eye-to-brain connectivity after optic-nerve crush”

image contest winner for 2025 symposium

Oral Presentations
First Place: Jinhyeong Bae
Second Place: Kaylee Tutrow
Third Place: Luke Dabin, PhD

Poster Presentations

Graduate Students
First Place: Michelle Privratsky
Second Place: Holly Kersey
Third Place: Daniella Lopes

Summer Undergraduate Students
First Place: Bekah Dage
Second Place: Linnaea Krupke

Honored Mention (For researchers not categorized for, but received high scores)
Postdoc: Kate Foley, PhD
Staff Personnel: Carson Prosser

Stark Faculty and Staff Awards
Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Karmen Yoder, PhD
Outstanding Service to Trainees - Rene Baugh
Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor - Brittany Needham, PhD

Image Winner
Kathryn M. Brewer, "Neuron"

An image of a neuron

Oral Presentations
First Place: Jade Harkin
Second Place: Hanyu Xia
Third Place: Nur Jury-Garfe, PhD

Poster Presentations
Graduate Students
First Place: Enrique Chimal-Juarez
Second Place: Henika Patel
Third Place: Kaylee Tutrow
Summer Undergraduate Students
First Place: Ananya Pendela
Second Place: Tessa Hedrick

Honored Mention (For researchers not categorized for, but received high scores)
Postdoc: Debarghya Dutta Banik, PhD
Staff Personnel: Ralitsa Kostadinova

Image Contest Winner
Nur Jury-Garfe, PhD "Astrocytes' battle against the enshrouding abyss of amyloid-vasculature in the cosmos of the brain"

Astrocytes

Oral Presentations
First Place: Peter Lin
Second Place: Stephanie Philtjens, PhD
Third Place: Muriel Mardones, PhD

Poster Presentations
Graduate Students
1st Place: Yuexi Yin
2nd Place: Kari Haines
3rd Place: Nicole Bodi
Summer Undergraduate Students
1st Place: Carlos Gonzalez
2nd Place: Melina Alviar

Image Contest Winner
Debarghya Dutta Banik, PhD, "Regenerating Cells in Postnatal Geniculate Ganglia"

regenerating cells

Regular Talks
First Place - Hendrik Greve
Second Place - Miguel Moutinho, PhD
Third Place - Catia Gomes, PhD

Flash Talks
First Place - Nur Jury Garfe, PhD
Second Place - Sailee Lavekar

Oral Presentations
First place: Hendrik Greve
Second place: Grace Hallinan, PhD
Third place: Kang-Chieh Huang

Poster Presentations
Graduate students
First place: Austin Reilly
Second place: Sailee Lavekar
Postdocs
Shared first place: Carla Garza Lombo, PhD
Shared first place: Stéphanie Philtjens, PhD
Second place: Luke Dabin, PhD

Image Contest Winner
Paula Monje, PhD, "Myelin in a Dish"

Yellow green and orange swirling image titled ""Myelin in a Dish""

Oral Presentations
First place: Darryl Watkins
Second place: Stéphanie Philtjens, PhD

Poster Presentations
Graduate students
First place: Hendrik Greve
Second place: Hayley Drozd
Postdocs
First place: Staci Engle, PhD
Second place: Hande Karahan, PhD
Undergraduates
First place: Asmaa Mahoui
Second place: Katherine Long