We’ve Got You!

In 2022, SIVB returned to in-person annual meetings – an essential part of bringing our community back together. Continuing to stay engaged, motivating each other, and learning from each other is now more important than ever for our Society.

With this in mind, “We’ve Got You!” is a featured series of the In Vitro Report, which shares the stories of SIVB members, new and seasoned, alike. Regardless of your career stage and area of expertise, we hope these reflections encourage and engage you, our students, colleagues, and members, to pursue your research dreams!

In this issue, we highlight the reflections of four talented and committed SIVB members — Jasmyn Hoeger, Prasanna Valavanur Shekar, Ava Vaillant and Easter Syombua — members of the Education Committee that is chaired by Brad Upham. They reflect on their journey with the SIVB since joining our Society.

We hope that you will enjoy the opportunity to get to know a little more about Jasmyn, Prasanna, Ava and Easter, and find their stories engaging and inspiring. We look forward to reading your stories in this column soon!

Addy Alt-Holland and Michael Fay

When I started my first research project as a sophomore in high school, I had no idea where it would lead me or the opportunities it would bring me, all I knew was that I was having fun. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I heard about SIVB after winning the SIVB Special Award at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and being invited to submit an abstract to the 2022 SIVB Annual Meeting in San Diego. For those of you who don’t know much about the world of science fairs, ISEF is the most prestigious science fairs for middle school and high school students to present their original research at. For many of us, it is a life changing experience. For me, it was no different as it set me on a path to a career in science and led me to finding SIVB.

Upon arriving to my first SIVB Annual Meeting in 2022, I had no idea what to expect but I can confidently say the society has helped fuel my passion for STEM and in particular in vitro biology. I had such a positive experience at the 2022 Meeting that I decided to join the Society and haven’t missed an annual meeting since. Over the past three years, I have been actively involved in the Society, first as the IVACS Student Representative (2022-2024) and now as the IVACS Section Secretary (2024-2026). Through these roles, I have had the opportunity to network with individuals within and outside of the Society, plan and execute seminars, workshops, and plenary sessions, and grow as a scientist.

Beyond leadership roles, I have also been an invited speaker. At the 2023 SIVB Meeting, I was a plenary session speaker where I shared my personal journey to science as a rural first-generation undergraduate student at the University of Iowa. Having the opportunity to give a talk during a plenary session at 19 is something I could have never imagined happening 5 years ago. However, through leadership experiences, professional development, and the unwavering guidance and support I received from SIVB I grew in the confidence and public speaking skills needed to be an impactful plenary session speaker.

Ultimately, the Society has played a crucial role in my personal and professional development. I am beyond grateful for the SIVB members who chose to believe in me when I first attended an annual meeting as a high school student and mentor me from within SIVB. I have grown into the student and scientist I am today because of the experiences and mentorship I have received from SIVB members.

My name is Prasanna V. Shekar, and I am pursuing my doctorate in the Plant and Environmental Sciences department at Clemson University. Despite having been a part of SIVB for about three years, I believe I have a thorough understanding of the SIVB community. I initially believed the conference would be like any other, where you meet individuals in the field of science and exchange scientific knowledge. The information was posted on one of the social media sites and I followed through. The conference took place in Norfolk, VA, in June 2023, and the experience was unparalleled. The organizers were really friendly, and I quickly got to know most of them. As a new member of the group, I felt free to express my opinions. I applied to serve as the student representative for the plant biotechnology section (PBS) and was elected for the position. As a member of the Education Committee, I collaborated with Dr. Upham Brad to make plans for the upcoming year. One of the SIVB conference’s greatest advantages is that it lasts for five days, providing ample opportunity for networking and getting to know various members of the community. I had the opportunity to meet several pioneers of the field, including Dr. Addy Alt-Holland, Dr. Piero Barone, Dr. Veena Veena, Dr. Raj Deepika Chauhan, and many more. Under Dr. Upham’s direction, we began to brainstorm and organize student activities for the upcoming year, and I was much more excited to be there for the second time where I had more responsibility as a student representative. As a student, I felt more confident since I was attending meetings where my opinions were valued and discussed. In addition to seminars and talks, the Society hosts student workshops, luncheons, and mentorship programs for students in need of guidance. They have everything covered. No, since I am now a member of the Society, I want to emphasize that we have everything covered. I have been collaborating with the Education Committee and other committees in order to provide the scientific community and the students with more engaging and beneficial possibilities. Finally, I would like to specially mention to Ms. Michele Schultz for making me feel welcome during my volunteer session. Overall, I would like to refer to this as my scientific family rather than a scientific society. I’m excited to see everyone this year and continue to contribute in the years to come.

I attended SIVB for the first time last year. I was overwhelmed by how welcoming everyone was, and their willingness to get to know a student like myself who still has so much to learn. I was encouraged by scientists at the conference to run for the position of IVACS student representative on the Education Committee, and I can confidently say it has been one of the most rewarding professional experiences I’ve had. I have learned so much from Brad Upham, and I will forever be grateful for being given the priceless opportunity to have a say in the planning of these conferences. I would like to thank the members of SIVB who have taught me that I’m deserving of a seat at the table.

I first learned about the Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB) through my plant biotechnology research, where I frequently came across publications and conferences associated with the Society. At the time, I didn’t fully understand the value of becoming a member. However, I regularly attended PlantGene meetings and was excited when they announced their annual meeting in St. Louis, Missouri. Upon visiting the website and checking out the program, I discovered it was the SIVB Annual Meeting, and I immediately knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t miss.

Attending my first SIVB meeting last year was eye-opening. Unlike other conferences, this one perfectly resonated with my research interests. Meeting, interacting with, and learning from top genome-editing scientists was an incredible experience, and it didn’t take me long to decide that I needed to be part of SIVB. Since joining, the networking opportunities have been invaluable. I’ve connected with leading researchers, exchanged protocols, accessed bacterial cultures and new editing proteins, and received mentorship from some of the best in the field.

Beyond attending meetings, I serve in SIVB’s Education Committee, where I have had the privilege of working alongside Brad Upham. Being part of this committee has allowed me to contribute to student mentorship programs and help shape educational initiatives that support upcoming scientists. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve within SIVB and to continue learning from distinguished colleagues like Brad Upham.