Recap: 2026 Sloan UCEM Symposium
On Monday, April 13, Sloan Scholars from across the country gathered in Cambridge,
Massachusetts, for the 2026 Sloan UCEM Symposium, hosted by the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT). In addition to being a series of student research
presentations, the 2026 UCEM Symposium served as an opportunity to strengthen the
community connecting Sloan Scholars nationwide. Through conversations over meals,
research discussions, networking, and shared experiences, scholars were able to build
new relationships and learn more about the work being carried out by their peers at
institutions across the country.
The symposium began with breakfast and opening remarks, followed by a series of mini-talk sessions highlighting the breadth of research being conducted by UCEM Scholars. Presentations explored topics ranging from energy and mineral engineering to physics and aerospace, biomedical engineering and health sciences, coral microbial ecology, physics, artificial intelligence, and more. Attendees were able to engage with research from fellow scholars at MIT, Cornell, Duke, UC San Diego, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Penn State, and the University of South Florida. If you'd like to see the names of the scholars who presented, you can find them on our agenda here.
Between morning and afternoon oral presentations, a student poster session created
space for informal conversations around projects and research interests. Twenty-three
scholars representing all seven participating institutions shared posters and discussed
their research with peers.
At midday, scholars gathered for lunch and networking before hearing from keynote speaker Dr. Bryan Bryson, whose presentation, “From Uncertainty to Impact: Building a Life in Science,” reflected on the experiences and possibilities that shape a career in science. The keynote provided an opportunity for scholars to consider not only their research and academic careers, but also the broader paths that can emerge from a life in STEM.
Beyond the research presentations, the symposium also provided professional development opportunities. In the afternoon, a panel of three MIT postdoctoral researchers - Amanda Ruiz, an MIT-Northpond Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow in biological engineering; Yakira Mirabito, a School of Engineering Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow in mechanical engineering; and Ashley Saunders, a Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow in chemical engineering - spoke candidly about the transition from graduate study into postdoctoral research. Drawing on their own experiences, the panelists shared practical perspectives on the different pathways available within academic science. A tour of the MIT campus followed, giving attendees an opportunity to experience the host institution and spend additional time together after a full day of presentations and discussion.
The symposium concluded with dinner and closing remarks from Chibueze Amanchukwu (MIT '17), Neubauer Family Assistant Professor in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago. In remarks titled “Words of Encouragement: From MIT Sloan Scholar to Nationally Recognized Sloan Fellow,” Amanchukwu reflected on his own journey, offering a fitting close to a day centered on research, mentorship, and community.
We are grateful to MIT for hosting this year’s gathering and to all of the scholars, presenters, speakers, and organizers who contributed to the symposium. Their participation helped make the 2026 UCEM Symposium a meaningful opportunity for research exchange, professional development, and community-building within the Sloan Scholars Network. To learn more about the UCEM program, you can click here.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s symposium possible!