Katie Campbell: Lessons and mantras for all the trainees navigating their first AACR meeting

Katie Campbell, Adjunct Assistant Professor at University of California, shared a post by Emil Lou, adding:

“The American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025 in Chicago will by my 8th (I started attending as a 3rd year graduate student). Over the years, I’ve learned so much with each meeting, and my goals shift as I navigate a career in cancer research- ranging from the science, clinical impact, professional development, mentoring, or scientific communication. I’m proud of how that’s been shaped by the AACRAMC and AACRECR along the way.

For all the trainees navigating their first meeting, here are some of my personal lessons and mantras:

• Networking: When I introduce myself (and I’ll introduce myself to everyone), I start with “Hi, I’m Katie.” It always breaks any of my nerves and reminds me that the human on the other side of the conversation has had their own career trajectory in science and experience with cancer. What’s your icebreaker? What questions do you like to be asked when discussing your research?
• Science: The AACR Annual Meeting has something for everyone. I find that I’m most stuck in my research when I haven’t taken the time to learn something new. While a lot of my research is in melanoma, cancer immunotherapy, genomics, and spatial biology, lately I’ve been thinking more about angiogenesis, mechanobiology, and metastasis. What topic are you excited to learn more about at the meeting? How do new fields of research challenge how you think about your own?
• Mentorship: I’m very inspired by the leaders of the field, taking the time to appreciate the foundation of discovery that allows me to perform my own research. I look forward to sharing the impact of my own mentors, not only on in science, but also the example they’ve set in supporting my career and professional advancement. What skill or quality does your mentor have that you aim to emulate? What resources have made you feel supported by your classmates or program?
• Communication: The meeting is a chance to share your science. Think of every conversation as an opportunity to practice communicating the questions your interested in, your hypotheses, and the intended impact. Can you summarize the goals of your research in less than a minute? Is this understandable to people outside of your field, or even outside of science?

This leads me to my goals:

• Make 5 new friends and connect with them via LinkedIn or social media.
• Prioritize 3 sessions in topics that feel unfamiliar to me.
• Talk to 10 trainees and ask them how their research is going and how they are doing.
• Share the talks that I’m attending here and on Bluesky.

I’ll let you know how it goes! Feel free to say hello in Chicago or follow along with me here and on Bluesky.”

Quoting Emil Lou‘s post:

“Looking forward to the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (the AACR) taking place in Chicago beginning later this week, where the latest/greatest in cancer research will be on display for great debates and discussion.

Follow the AACR25 tag and the Social Media Ambassador team for real-time insights, unique takes, and highlights from the AACR Annual Meeting.

I’ll be posting on Bluesky, LinkedIn, Instagram as well as “X”, highlighting what I think is front-and-center as well as science on the horizon.

More info here.”

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