Highlights from Brown University’s Inaugural National Undergraduate Research Conference

​The inaugural National Undergraduate Research Conference at Brown University, held on April 12, 2025, brought together 200 undergraduate researchers from across the nation to present their work, engage in networking, and attend insightful sessions. Organized by the Ivy League+ Pre-Health Society, the event featured keynote speeches, oral presentations, and poster sessions covering a wide range of scientific disciplines.

Highlights from the Conference

While specific LinkedIn posts from attendees are not available, the conference’s agenda included:​

• Keynote Address: Dr. Wafik El-Deiry, Director of the Legorreta Cancer Center at Brown University, delivered an inspiring speech on advancements in cancer research.
  
• Oral Presentations: Selected students presented their research findings in breakout sessions, fostering academic discussions and feedback.​
  
• Poster Sessions: Participants showcased their research projects during dedicated poster sessions, allowing for interactive engagement with peers and faculty.​
• Networking Opportunities: Facilitated activities provided attendees with the chance to connect, collaborate, and share insights.

Below, OncoDaily is highlighting reflections from some of the incredible undergraduates who took part in this experience. Their LinkedIn posts capture the spirit of the conference and the impact it had on their academic journeys. Check out what they had to say- 

1. Rachel Smith
   “Such an amazing day presenting my abstract at Brown University!! Listening to Wafik S. El-Deiry, speak on WAF1 gene was such a enriching experience, so grateful for everyone who has gotten me to this experience!”
   
2. Paige Duggan
   “It was a privilege and a pleasure to be selected among 200 undergraduates from 115 institutions across the country to present my research at Brown University’s National Undergraduate Research Conference on Saturday, April 12! Under Dr. Kristi E. Miller, I have been working on my project, “Cell size control under changing environments,” since last Spring.I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to share the knowledge we have gained about the mechanisms governing cell size control with this incredible group of students and faculty.Additionally, I was fortunate enough to hear from Wafik S. El-Deiry, a renowned oncological physician-scientist and entrepreneur, whose work on the p53 tumor suppressor pathway has transformed the trajectory of cancer research and treatment.Thank you to Brown University and the Ivy League+ Pre-Health Society for facilitating such an enjoyable experience. I am already looking forward to next year’s conference!”
   
3. Aditi Bang
   “I am honored and incredibly grateful to have been selected as one of 200 undergraduates from across the country to present research at Brown University’s National Undergraduate Research Conference! I presented on “Calcium and Thrombus Volume Analysis of Patients: Using Pre and Post-TAVR Scans,” which investigates refinements in TAVR valve design to minimize clot formation and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes.I had a great time learning from my peers about their fantastic work and how it is changing the world — truly amazing to see what everyone is passionate about.In addition, I was beyond inspired by the keynote speaker, Dr. Wafik S. El-Deiry, MD, PhD, FACP, a world-renowned physician, cancer researcher, and entrepreneur, and his incredible findings that led to advancements in the oncology field, such as discovering the WAF1 gene.Thank you so much to Brown University and Ivy League+ Pre-Health Society for organizing an engaging and action-packed conference!A huge thank you to my mentors at the Cardiovascular Fluid Mechanics Laboratory, Dr. Sanchita Bhat, PhD and Dr. Lakshmi Dasi, for their consistent support and patience! I am super appreciative of their dedication and hard work to advance the field of cardiovascular engineering research and am fortunate to work alongside them towards this goal.”
   
4. Vaishnavi Balaji
   “I’m incredibly excited to share that I was selected as one of 200 students nationwide to present at Brown University’s first-ever National Undergraduate Research Conference! My research poster, Macro- and Micronutrient Composition of Plant and Animal Foods: Effects of Organic vs. Conventional Farming, was a project developed through countless hours of collaboration with my incredible lab team.I’m beyond thankful for the opportunity to once again showcase my research at such a prestigious event, where the feedback is highly appreciated.Special thanks to the organizing team for curating such an engaging and well-rounded experience. Every session brought something new to the table, whether it was insightful discussions, fascinating posters, or meaningful conversations with fellow presenters. Connecting with passionate peers from around the world was a reminder of the exciting future ahead in research.A heartfelt thank you to Rasagna Vuppala for introducing me to this opportunity, your support means the world to me. I’m also deeply grateful to my amazing mentors, Dr. Steven Holladay and Dr. Krzysztof Czaja, for their constant guidance and for trusting me to be part of such impactful work.And finally, I was deeply moved by the keynote speaker, Wafik S. El-Deiry, who is an inspiring physician and a visionary in cancer research. His work on tumor suppressor protein, p53 left a lasting impression in the field of research. His words on perseverance, hard work, and work life balance will stay with me for a long time.”
   
5. 1. Shray Saheba
      “This past weekend, I had the exciting opportunity to present my research at the National Research Conference hosted by Brown University. It was a truly meaningful experience to share my findings, and to learn about the diverse and impactful research being conducted by peers across the country.

I was especially inspired by the keynote address from Dr. Wafik S. El-Deiry. Hearing about his remarkable contributions to the field of oncology was not only motivating, but also a powerful reminder of the transformative role research plays in advancing medicine.A heartfelt thank you to the organizers for hosting such a well-run and engaging event. Additionally, I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Sunanda Gaur, and Akhil Patel for their continuous support and guidance throughout this project.

Overall, it was truly a memorable and motivating weekend. I am excited for the learning, growth, and research that lies ahead, and I look forward to carrying these experiences with me as I continue on this journey.”

1. 1. Dylan Hernandez
      “Had an incredible time presenting my research this weekend at Brown University’s first-ever National Undergraduate Research Conference! Out of a large pool of applicants from across the country, only 200 undergraduate researchers were selected — and I’m proud to have been one of them.I presented my project, “Investigating Pathways Regulating Size-Dependent Accumulation of Mitotic Activator Cdc25,” which explores how fission yeast cells control when to divide based on cell size.Huge thanks to my PI, Kristi E. Miller for her mentorship and support. It was also great to attend with my colleague Paige Duggan who presented her own research from our lab at Providence College.One of the most inspiring moments of the day was hearing from Wafik S. El-Deiry about his work in cancer research and the discovery of the WAF1 gene.”
      
   2. Emily Shadron
      “This weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to deliver an oral presentation on some of my recent research for the first ever National Undergraduate Research Conference hosted by Brown University! My presentation, entitled “Characterization and Analysis of Craniofacial Osseous Changes Induced by Chronic Metabolic Acidosis” was selected for a 15-minute presentation and Q&A session with over 200 undergraduate students from 125 universities nationwide. The day also consisted of a keynote speech from Wafik S. El-Deiry, MD, PhD, FACP, poster sessions, and networking.I am so grateful to have opportunities like these to share and connect with other undergraduate student researchers from across the country. In a turbulent time for research universities and programming, it was inspiring to see such a diverse group of students, projects, and proposals. I would like to thank Alix Deymier and Laura Doherty, DMD, PhD for their support and investment in my research path. Thank you also to Brown Medicine, Brown University Health, and Brown University School of Engineering for making the day a success!”
      
   3. Jonathan Hus
      “Thank you to Brown University for honoring me with the opportunity to present my original research at the 2025 National Undergraduate Research Conference!I had an absolutely incredible experience and feel grateful to learn alongside such inspiring peers and mentors! Thank you to Dr. Wafik S. El-Deiry for your moving opening address, encouraging us all to follow our passions in medicine, and to all the organizers who made this Conference possible!”
      
   4. Gabriel Holder
      “I’m excited to share that I recently had the incredible opportunity to present at the 2025 National Research Conference at Brown University!I shared my research on the interplay between the estrous cycle and circadian rhythms, and was so inspired by the opportunity to connect with passionate researchers from across the country. The energy and curiosity throughout the event illustrated how exciting and collaborative science can be.One of the most memorable moments was hearing from Wafik S. El-Deiry, Director of the Legorreta Cancer Center and Associate Dean of Oncologic Sciences at Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School. His groundbreaking work in oncology—including the discovery of the WAF1 gene—was incredibly powerful and deeply motivating.A heartfelt thank you to Sydney Aten, PhD for her generous mentorship and support throughout this process.”
      
   5. Shraddha Potti
      “I’m thrilled to share that this past weekend, I was chosen as 1 of 200 students nationwide to present at Brown University’s inaugural Undergraduate Research Conference! I presented on “Biomarker-based efficacy of oncolytic herpes virus therapy for the treatment against NF1-associated malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor,” which details the identification of the PRC2 protein complex as a biomarker for determining successful oncolytic viral therapy in certain cancers. A huge thank you to Dr. Robert Galvin, Dr. David Largaespada, and Largaespada Lab for their resources, support, and mentorship through this process. I am very fortunate and humbled to work alongside them to contribute to the fight against cancer.Additionally, I was beyond honored to witness the presentation of the keynote speaker, Dr. Wafik S. El-Deiry, a world-renowned entrepreneur, doctor, professor, and visionary in the cancer research field. His talk about his work on p53 and the research leading to the discovery of WAF1 was incredibly inspiring and was a hopeful reminder of the incredible work that has been done and is yet to be done in this field. Thank you so much to Dr. El-Deiry for serving as a role model to students like myself.Thank you to Brown University and the Ivy League+ Pre-health Society for organizing the event and giving us students the opportunity to collaborate, network, and learn from each other. It is always a treat to witness the work of peers and be inspired by and hopeful for the future of scientific research.”
      
   6. Leslie Lima
      “This past weekend I was fortunate to present my research at Brown’s first annual National Undergraduate Research Conference. I, alongside 200+ scholars from across the country, gathered together to share our work.It was inspiring to hear from my peers about all of the work they’ve done and how they will continue to enrich their knowledge moving forward.Thank you to my mentors and principal investigators Dr. Christopher Born, MD, Dioscaris R. Garcia, Ph.D., and Dr. Jose Navarro, MD, for helping me kickstart my research journey. Thank you to my advisor, Dean Rashid Zia for coming to support my work and listening to my presentation. Also, huge thank you for the Ivy League + Pre-Health Society for hosting a filling conference and to keynote speaker, Wafik S. El-Deiry, for teaching me the importance on sharing my work with the world to help make it a better place.”
      
   7. Sarah Adams
      “I am grateful to have had the honor to poster at the first annual National Undergraduate Research Conference at Brown University this past weekend! I presented on my ongoing project at the Subramanian Lab “Investigating the regulation of the DNA repair protein PARP-1 by the nuclear kinesin KIF4a in-vitro.” This research has been very exciting to explore these past few months and presents an insightful look into understanding a possible molecular mechanism behind epilepsy and abnormal neuronal development.Thank you to Brown University for hosting this conference, Dr Wafik S. El-Deiry, MD, PhD, FACP for an amazing keynote presentation, and the other attendees for sharing such innovative research across different scientific disciplines. Many thanks to all the members of the Subramanian Lab at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital for supporting me in my research!”
      
   8. Rasagna Vuppala
      “Attending the National Undergraduate Research Conference at Brown University this past weekend was an incredibly cathartic experience. I had the honor of presenting my research, “Assessing the Efficacy of Acetylcholine and C14 Ceramide in Ovarian Cancer Treatment Models,” and was equally inspired by the insightful presentations from peers across the country conducting innovative research in diverse subfields.I’m immensely grateful to the organizing team for hosting such a well-run and insightful conference. A special highlight was hearing from Dr. Wafik S. El-Deiry—his keynote address was a powerful reminder of the importance of balancing clinical impact with personal well-being. As someone aspiring to become a pediatric oncologist, his words truly resonated with me and inspired me to pursue change in the world.A heartfelt thank you to my PI, Dr. Jeffrey Skolnick, and my mentors, Asha Rao and Lilya Matyunina, for their constant guidance and encouragement, as well as my entire research team for their support throughout this journey.Grateful for every moment, every mentor, and every opportunity that continues to shape my journey in science and medicine. This is just the beginning, and I’m excited to keep learning, growing, and contributing to a future where research transforms lives.”
      
   9. Alex Edmonson
      “I had an incredible experience this past weekend at Brown University’s first annual National Undergraduate Research Conference, where I had the opportunity to present alongside 208 undergraduate researchers from across the country. I was proud to share the UCLA Biomedical Engineering Society MAP Gels Research Team’s work on “Microporous Annealed Particle Gel Coatings for Improved Healing in Dental Implants” through both an oral and poster presentation.After an inspiring keynote by esteemed oncological researcher Wafik S. El-Deiry, I connected with peers who share my passion for medicine and healthcare, and learned about the innovative research being conducted by students across the nation.It was truly a privilege to represent our team and contribute to such a passionate and driven community. I’m deeply grateful to my teammates, project managers, and everyone who helped make this opportunity possible.”
      

These inspiring stories from the first-ever National Undergraduate Research Conference at Brown University reflect the dedication, curiosity, and brilliance of the next generation of scientists and healthcare leaders. The presence of Dr. Wafik S. El-Deiry, a pioneering figure in oncology, added a powerful layer of inspiration for all attendees.

Source- Paige Duggan

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