BioLegend provides a monthly $500 Travel Award for junior investigators in the US and Canada, as well as a separate £300 Travel Award for the UK. So far, BioLegend has provided over $28,000 in Travel Awards, supporting researchers' ability to travel to scientific meetings worldwide.
We had a chance to catch up with and interview one of the winners of the Travel Award, Courtney Long, graduate student from The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Here's what she had to say about her experience winning the Travel Award and the conference she attended:
What is your area/field of study?
Osteoimmunology
What conference did you attend?
The 4th International Conference on Osteoimmunology: Interactions of the Immune and Skeletal Systems in Corfu, Greece. Did you present any materials/papers at this conference, and if so, can you give a brief description of the paper you presented?
I presented a poster about the role of E proteins in osteoclast development. The E proteins are a family of transcription factors widely expressed in immune cells. When E protein activity is analyzed in a gain of function model, we detect an increase in bone mass. The reason for increased bone mass is because of fewer osteoclasts, or bone resorbing cells, due to apoptosis in homeostatic conditions. Through sequencing techniques, we discovered that the E proteins can upregulate expression of an ectoenzyme named CD38. This protein has previously been shown to have anti-osteoclastic capabilities. When we knocked down CD38, we were able to return cells with an E protein gain of function to normal survival rates.
How was your overall experience of the conference you attended?
It was wonderful. I got to meet with people from all over the world and form excellent networking connections. Not to mention, we had tons of wonderful Greek food in the most unique places.
Did you do any "touristy" things when you were in the city where your conference was? If so, describe them briefly.
Yes, the Aegean Conference coordinators took us on a tour of Corfu by bus. We got to see a palace, a fortress, and downtown Corfu.
What was your overall experience with the BioLegend Travel award program?
It was amazing. BioLegend made it possible for me to attend this conference. I was able to meet graduate students and potential mentors from other countries, visit an island I might otherwise not have been able to, and present my research to my colleagues to get very helpful feedback.
Would you recommend this program to others, if so, why?
I definitely would. It's a very easy program to work with and it opens doors that might have otherwise been closed. Do you need travel support to get to your next conference?
Sign up for the BioLegend Travel Award today!
