Phoenix STEM Conference

Biological Sciences Learning Center UChicago, 924 East 57th Street, Chicago

January 24, 2026

The Phoenix STEM Conference brings together the University of Chicago Phoenix STEM community and their friends for a day of celebration of research achievements and professional development. It is dedicated to showcasing the academic accomplishments and innovative research of the Phoenix STEM Scholars. It also provides professional development opportunities for undergraduate STEM students through workshops and panel discussions. All Phoenix STEM Scholars, faculty, staff, mentors, friends and program supporters are welcome to attend to celebrate and engage with future leaders of STEM.

Conference Speakers

Dr. Juan L. Mendoza

Dr. Juan L. Mendoza has been a faculty member in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology since 2018. He has degrees from San Francisco State University and UTSW, Dallas. He completed a postdoc position at Stanford. Dr. Mendoza was named one of the inaugural Freeman Hrabowski Fellows by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The Mendoza lab builds on his breakthroughs in protein engineering to shed light on important aspects of human health, disease, and the impact of therapeutics.

Dr. Iris Romero

Iris Romero, MD, is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and the Executive Vice Dean for the Biological Sciences Division at the University of Chicago. Dr. Romero is a first-generation college student who attended the University of New Mexico for medical school and completed her OB/Gyn residency at the University of Utah. She joined the faculty of the University of Chicago in 2007. Dr. Romero is an active clinician focused on hereditary cancer genetics and improving cancer outcomes for Latina populations.

Phoenix STEM Conference Schedule

January 24, 2026

9:30-10:00 Registration, Nametag Pickup, Coffee, Breakfast BSLC 1st floor

10:00-10:15 Conference Welcome, TBA BSLC 008

10:15-11:15 Keynote Speaker, Iris Romero, BSD BSLC 008

11:30-12:20 Poster Presentations BSLC 1st floor

12:30-12:40 Lunch pick-up BSLC 1st floor

12:40-1:30 Finding your research niche, Juan Mendoza, PME BSLC 008

1:30-4:00 Professional Headshots TBA

1:30-2:20 Parallel Panels

How to find your way after college (work/grad school/med school)

Panelists: Swapna Shaw, Mary Kasper, Veronica Hauad (recommended for 3rd year students) BSLC 202

How to find research labs at UChicago

Panelists: Jocelyn Malamy, Scott Snyder, Alexander Cusumano

(recommended for all) BSLC 240

How to find your passion/major

Panelists: Kathryn McLravy, TBA

(recommended for 1st and 2nd year students) BSLC 218

2:30-3:30 Parallel Sessions

Grad School (Who, when, how?); Lester Harris, UChicagoGRAD

(recommended for 2nd and 3rd year students) BSLC 202

How to establish yourself in the lab, how to develop relationships; Christina Roman, BSD, Anna Wuttig, PSD)