4th Virology Career Symposium

4th Virology Career Symposium Registration Form
Registration deadline is Wednesday, April 1st

Monday, April 6, 2026
12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
With lunch buffet and catered reception
UCI Applied Innovation, The Cove
5270 California Avenue
Irvine CA 92697

Schedule:
12:00 – 1:00 PM     Registration and Lunch Buffet

1:00 – 1:10 PM      Welcome – Bert Semler
Distinguished Professor, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Director, NIH T32 Virology Training Grant

1:10 – 2:00 PM     Keynote Address – Jonathan S. Towner, PhD
Lead Virologist for the Virus Host Ecology Section
Viral Special Pathogens Branch
Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“From Bats to Pigs to Humans, a Career in Global Public Health”

2:00 – 2:15 PM      Q&A for Dr. Towner

2:15 – 2:30 PM      Coffee/Tea Break

Career Path Presentations: Industry, Academia, and Public Health

2:30 – 2:50 PM    Brett Marro, PhD (Johson & Johnson Innovative Medicine) 
2:50 – 3:10 PM     Sarah Daijogo, PhD (Avid Bioservices
3:10 – 3:30 PM     Orkide Koyuncu, PhD (UC Irvine)
3:30 – 3:50 PM     Felicia Hernandez, PhD (Ambry Genetics)
3:50 – 4:10 PM     Jesse Dillon (Cal State Long Beach)

4:10 – 4:15 PM      Closing remarks – Tom Lane
 Chancellor’s Professor, Neurobiology and Behavior Director, Center for Virus Research

4:15 – 6:00 PM      Meet and greet with industry professionals; catered reception