For the first time, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), the Society for Developmental Biology (SDB), and the Allen Institute are collaborating to present a three-day scientific symposium led by early-career scientists. Designed to nurture the next generation of researchers, the program will provide a platform for professional growth while fostering collaboration at the intersection of developmental biology and stem cell science.
Attendees will have opportunities to engage in scientific exchange, career development, and community building through the following sessions:
- Invited Speakers
- Selected Short Talks
- Poster Sessions
- Live Stem Cell Podcast
- Science in Seattle Networking Event
- Navigating the Digital Landscape Workshop
- Funding in Science Workshop
- Strategic Working Session
Applications close on Friday, May 1, 2026.
Confirmed topics and speakers
Cell Fates and Trials
- Ariel Waisman, FLENI, Argentina
- Bianka Seres, Conception, USA
- Crystal Rogers, University of California, Davis, USA
- Nika Shakiba, University of British Columbia, Canada
Data Analysis Across Scales
- Bruno Vellutini, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Christina Theodoris, Gladstone Institute, San Francisco, USA
- Leslie Sepaniac, University of Wisconsin, USA
- Sadao Ota, University of Tokyo, Japan
Model Systems and the Organism
- Aguilera Castrejon, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Janelia Research Campus, USA
- Akane Kawaguchi, National Institute of Genetics, Japan
- Marta Shahbazi, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
- Yangfei Xiang, ShanghaiTech University, China
Spatial Awareness
- Can Aztekin, Max Planck, Germany
- Claudia Vásquez, University of Washington, USA
- Gianluca Amade
About the Organizers
Organizing Committee
- Alessandro Bertero, University of Torino, Italy
- Ken Cho, University of California, Irvine, USA
- Gideon Dunster, Allen Institute, USA
- Whitney Edwards, University of North Carolina, USA
- Evan Graham, BioLamina, USA
- Valentina Greco, Yale School of Medicine, USA
- Leigh Harris, Allen Institute, USA
- Serge Parent, Allen Institute, USA
- Helen Willsey, University of California, San Francisco, USA
About the Allen Institute
The Allen Institute is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit research organization dedicated to answering some of the biggest questions in bioscience and accelerating research worldwide. The Institute is a recognized leader in large-scale research with a commitment to an open science model. For more information, visit alleninstitute.org.
About the International Society for Stem Cell Research
With nearly 5,000 members from more than 80 countries, the International Society for Stem Cell Research is the preeminent global, cross-disciplinary, science-based organization dedicated to stem cell research and its translation to the clinic. The ISSCR mission is to promote excellence in stem cell science and applications to human health.
About the Society for Developmental Biology
The Society for Developmental Biology is a non-profit professional society of about 2,500 members, dedicated to the advancement of the field of developmental biology. It provides an inclusive, global forum for research, education and career development in developmental biology and related areas to our international community of scientists.
Application Statement
The Stem Cell & Developmental Biology Early Career Symposium is a conference created by early career scientists, for early career scientists, with the aim of shifting the existing influence paradigm by changing how access and visibility are distributed in our fields. As a first step in this direction, early career scientists from The Allen Institute for Cell Science (AICS), the Society for Developmental Biology (SDB), and the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) have joined forces to build a vibrant, supportive community event to empower the next generation of scientists across academia, industry, and the non-profit sector. At this symposium, outstanding early-career scientists will showcase cutting-edge and innovative research in stem cell and developmental biology in scientific sessions, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, build lasting community, and actively participate in charting the future of our field. While the work of early career scientists is the focus of this meeting, this meeting will only be a true success if we have representation from all career levels, so we encourage you to apply if you are further along in your career and passionate about championing early career scientists.
What are the goals of this meeting?
- Share cutting-edge scientific research spanning the fields of stem cell and developmental biology
- Create a community to foster scientific excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration and career development for the next generation of stem cell and developmental biologists
- Identify struggles and potential solutions to struggles that early career scientists face
- Identify future directions of our shared scientific interests
Who is this meeting for?
- Early career scientists, from trainees to newly independent group leaders, who want to hear about exciting science in stem cell and developmental biology, share their work, and form new connections
- Scientists of all career stages across all sectors interested in stem cell and developmental biology interested in promoting the career development of early career scientists
Why should you attend?
- Immerse yourself in scientific excellence in stem cell and developmental biology
- Share your science across the SDB, ISSCR, and AICS communities through selected short talks and posters
- Benefit from career advancement opportunities including targeted workshops and a special networking event
- Discuss the future of stem cell and developmental biology communities!
Why is there an application?
- This first meeting will be held at the Allen Institute, which has a more limited capacity than a traditional conference hall.
- We want to be intentional about creating an event that supports early career scientists with many perspectives represented, personally and scientifically
Application notes:
- Attendance and presentation selections will be based on career stage, scientific excellence, thematic alignment with the conference, and our commitment to building a dynamic, collaborative community.
- For the question, “How would attending this meeting advance your personal, professional, and scientific goals?”, we encourage you to reflect on what excites you most about this meeting as well as anything you might wish to take away from the meeting.
Registration Information
Registration will be open later this year, after the application deadline.
- $650 – Regular Registration
- $500 – Trainee Registration (undergraduate student, graduate student, medical student, post-doctoral trainee)
Registration includes access to the meeting, all meals on each meeting day, coffee breaks, poster receptions, attendance to the Stem Cell Podcast, and one ticket to the Science in Seattle networking event.
