SSU to host major conference for bioscience undergrads
Sonoma State University will serve as host for the 49th annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference, bringing together some of the nation’s most promising undergraduate scientists for a dynamic celebration of discovery, collaboration, and innovation.
For nearly five decades, the conference – which falls on April 11 this year – has served as one of the premier undergraduate research events in the country, providing a forum for undergraduate researchers to present original data in biology, biochemistry, and biophysics, and fostering intercollegiate collaboration among students and faculty who share a strong commitment to advancing undergraduate research in the biological sciences.
“By hosting the 2026 conference, Sonoma State reinforces its role as a leader in high-impact undergraduate education and hands-on scientific inquiry," said Dr. Lisa Hua, SSU associate professor of biology and organizer of the conference. "Students and faculty from universities across California and the U.S. are planning to attend, which underscores the prestige of the conference and of SSU’s expanding visibility as a hub for undergraduate scientific research."
Hua – whose organizing team at SSU includes Drs. Brent Hughes, Shannon Lee, and Nathan Rank – noted that in addition to California universities, students and faculty from Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Washington will attend the conference.
This year’s conference will feature keynote addresses by Rank, of SSU’s Biology Department, and his long-term research collaborator, former SSU faculty member Dr. Elizabeth Dahlhoff of Santa Clara University. Rank and Dahlhoff are widely respected for their collaborative research in ecological and evolutionary physiology and their longstanding commitment to mentoring undergraduate researchers. Their joint participation highlights the strength of SSU’s faculty scholarship, its culture of sustained scientific collaboration, and its deep investment in undergraduate research training. Their keynote presentations will underscore the conference’s central mission: advancing biological sciences through meaningful research experiences for undergraduates.
The West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to:
- Present original research in a professional conference setting
- Engage with peers and faculty mentors from across the country
- Build academic and professional networks
- Strengthen graduate school and career preparation.
Faculty are encouraged to support and nominate their student researchers for participation in what is widely regarded as one of the nation’s most outstanding venues dedicated exclusively to undergraduate biological sciences research.
Important Dates
- Abstract Submission Deadline: March 15, 2026
- Registration Deadline: March 15, 2026
Early planning and submission are strongly encouraged.
General conference information is available at https://biology.sonoma.edu/wcbsurc
Questions not addressed on the website may be directed to [email protected] or Dr. Lisa Hua, [email protected].