2026 Carrie L. Byington, MD VPCAT Distinguished Lecture Series on Mentorship featuring Jen Heemstra, PhD

The Vice President’s Clinical and Translational (VPCAT) Research Scholars Program, in partnership with the Utah CTSI Translational Science Forum (TRANSFORM), invites you to the 2026 Carrie L. Byington, MD VPCAT Distinguished Lecture Series on Mentorship, featuring Jen Heemstra, PhD, Charles Allen Thomas Professor and Chair of Chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis. Join us for Dr. Heemstra’s Distinguished Lecture, followed by a networking lunch with colleagues from across the University of Utah. Distinguished Lecture  |  11:30 am to 12:30 pm Networking Lunch  |  12:30 to 1:15 pm SLC Marriott University Park Dr. Heemstra is an accomplished scientist, educator, mentor, and leader whose research focuses on harnessing the properties of nucleic acids and proteins for applications in biosensing and bioimaging. An avid science communicator and mentor, she has received numerous awards for her teaching, research, and leadership, including the Cottrell Scholar Award and National Science Foundation CAREER Award, and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She is also the author of Labwork to Leadership, which explores the skills scientists need to lead, mentor, and build thriving research teams. Her presentation, Setting Resilient Goals for Thriving in Your Academic Career and Beyond, is sure to inspire. Dr. Heemstra’s distinguished lecture and networking lunch are featured as part of the Utah CTSI Translational Science Forum, and we encourage attendees to take advantage of the full symposium. Join colleagues from across the University for a day of translational science, networking, poster presentations, and additional programming, including the afternoon’s featured KtoR presentation by VPCAT alumnus Nathan R. Blue, MD, MSCI. We hope you’ll make a day of it! Utah CTSI Translational Science Forum  |  8:00 am to 5:00 pm Register for the full 2026 Utah CTSI Translational Science Forum. Can’t attend the full forum? Please still join us! The Distinguished Lecture and networking lunch are open to all University of Utah faculty, trainees, and staff, whether or not you are able to participate in the full TRANSFORM program.