Attending the Society for Free Radical Biology and Medicine (SFRBM) 2006 Annual Meeting in Denver, CO was a very enriching experience. This mid-sized meeting allowed me to gain a broad perspective on the field, as well as develop one-on-one connections with colleagues. Both my graduate research and post-graduate career will be enhanced by this valuable opportunity.

At this meeting, I was invited to present my work in a 15-minute oral presentation and slide show. This was a great honor and an exciting opportunity, being my first oral presentation outside of my graduate program. I was able to share what I have learned about mitochondrial alterations in our model of drug-resistant lymphoma, and to receive feedback in the form of questions and comments from some of the leading scientists in the field.

The field of free radical biology and medicine is a broad one, ranging from the generation of different types of free radicals, to the various antioxidant pathways which combat them, to their effects on different biological systems, to their assorted disease endpoints (while my work specializes in the role of one reactive oxygen species in one model of cancer). Luckily, each day opened with “Sunrise Free Radical School,” a series of introductory sessions on the current literature and methods pertinent to the topics covered in the plenary sessions. These introduction and plenary sessions helped me to better understand the role of free radicals in systems both inside and out of my own. The poster sessions and oral presentations further exposed me to a wide variety of systems and techniques in the field. I was able to learn about the larger field of free radical biology and medicine and to gain a broader perspective on my own work, as well as discover novel ways of looking at and testing my specific model.

My network of professional connections grew exponentially at this meeting; I arrived knowing very few people, and left knowing many. My mentor, Dr. Margaret Briehl, has attended the annual meeting for over 10 years, is an active member of the Society, and was inducted onto the SFRBM council at this meeting. As a result, she has a very large acquaintance, and was able to introduce me to a multitude of post-doctoral fellows and senior scientists. My participation in several special programs further allowed me to interact with other students and scientists in an intimate setting. Additionally, the daily poster sessions and evening receptions allowed me the opportunity to meet and mingle with new colleagues. I hope that the contacts I made may lead to future collaborations and career opportunities.

I was very excited to attend two workshops addressing career opportunities in science. I also took the opportunity to ask a variety of scientists, from students, to post-doctoral fellows, to senior investigators, about the paths they have taken or will take in their careers. As I move (inch?) toward graduation, it is exciting to learn about my options for what will come next.

In summary, my attendance at the SFRBM’s Annual Meeting was very beneficial to my scientific career, as well as being a lot of fun. I am extremely grateful for the financial support of the Herbert E. Carter Travel Award, which made this opportunity possible.