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The 23rd Annual Dept. of Immunology Scientific Retreat

SEPTEMBER 25-26, 2025

  • Oglebay Resort and Conference Center
  • Oglebay Map - grounds and lodging
  • Things to Do
  • Program
  • Abstract submission form is due August 1.
  • Abstract List/Poster Assignments
  • 2025 Retreat Survey
  • REGISTRATION will open August 1
    • Security deposits are required for all faculty ($100), staff, students and fellows ($50). Deposit must be submitted and received prior to the registration deadline to confirm registration. Checks should be made payable to "University of Pittsburgh, Dept. of Immunology" and payments should be sent/delivered to Roberta Erickson, 3053 Assembly Bldg.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Marion Pepper, PhD - Professor and Chair, Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle

INTERNAL SPEAKERS

To be determined

 

ELEVATOR PITCH SESSION PRESENTERS:

To be determined

 

*** BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR - ELEVATOR PITCH SESSION ***

"You happen to meet the NIH director in the elevator. She asks you about your project, but she's also checking her email on her phone because she's the NIH DIRECTOR! What do you tell her about your project? You need to be creative so that you get her full undivided attention."

  • 10  3-minute oral presentations will be selected for this session. Simply submit your abstract to be considered for a (very) short elevator pitch talk at the retreat. Max 1 slide and max 3 minutes per talk. Animations OK - as long as you stick to the time limit. Extra credits for creativity!  If you'd like to be considered, simply submit your abstract following the guidelines below and also indicate so in your registration. A small prize will be awarded to the winner of the session. This session is open to all GSRs and Postdocs.

 

ORAL PRESENTATIONS FROM SELECTED ABSTRACTS

Abstract Submission and Poster Sessions -

ABSTRACT GUIDELINES:

Timeline – Abstracts are due by Aug. 30, 2025. Abstracts are required if you plan to participate in the poster session and/or be considered for an oral presentation or the Elevator Pitch Session. Please indicate your plans on the registration form and email your abstract submission form to Jodi Russo at JOR190@pitt.edu by the due date. 

Eligibility – Graduate students, postdocs, clinical fellows (or equivalent), and technicians.

Scoring – The Retreat Organizing Committee will select three abstracts for oral presentation at the 2025 Retreat. Selections will be made from the Graduate Student (YR4+), Postdoc/Research Associate, MID Scholar, and Lab Staff submissions who have indicated that they would like to be considered.  They will give 10 minute presentations plus 5 minutes for Q&A. 

Format – Abstracts should not exceed 250 words in length. This does not include the title, authors or funding source (optional).  Abstract should be a one-page pdf document less than 4 MB in size. The following information must be completed at the top of the document:

  • NAME OF PRESENTING AUTHOR
  • EMAIL
  • LAB AFFILIATION
  • CLASSIFICATION: Graduate Student (YR1-3), Graduate Student (YR4+), Postdoc/Research Associate, Faculty, Lab Staff, Other (please identify), MID Scholar
  • CONSIDER FOR AN ORAL PRESENTATION: YES or NO
  • CONSIDER FOR ELEVATOR PITCH SESSION: YES or NO
  • PRESENT POSTER AT POSTER SESSION: YES or NO

NOTE: ABSTRACTS SELECTED FOR ORAL PRESENTATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR POSTER AWARDS.

POSTER GUIDELINES: 

As indicated above, abstracts must be submitted by Aug. 30 if you plan to participate in the poster sessions. Please indicate your plan to do so when registering.

Posters will be judged based on the quality of the Subject Matter, Presentation and Poster Display. First place posters in the Graduate Student (YR4+) and Postdoc/Research Associate categories will be invited to present at the 2026 Retreat.

Poster sessions will be held on Thursday and Friday mornings, September 25 and 26. Posters will be assigned numbers, with the odd numbers presenting on Thursday morning and the even numbers presenting in the Friday morning session. Presenters will be required to put their posters up the morning of their session and to remove their posters at the end of the day.

NOTE:  THE DIMENSIONS OF POSTERS CANNOT EXCEED 3’ x 3’. Pins and numbers will be provided.

 

SPONSORS

  • Platinum/Keynote Session Sponsor 
  • Gold/Poster Session Sponsor
  • Silver Sponsor

RETREAT ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

  • Robert Binder, PhD
  • Anthony Cillo, PhD
  • Jishnu Das, PhD
  • Roberta Erickson
  • Daniella Schwartz, MD
  • Ellen Fleming - Graduate Student, St. Leger Lab
  • Jessica Jana - Graduate Student, Overacre Lab
  • Steven Joachim - Graduate Student, M. Shlomchik Lab
  • Aaron Rosen - Graduate Student, Das Lab
  • Drew Wilfahrt - Postdoctoral Associate, Delgoffe Lab