What a day we had at the Carnegie Science Center! On May 15, the Gur Lab joined 91 colleagues from across the Department of Computational and Systems Biology for our annual retreat, and it was everything we hoped for and more.
Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zone
As computational scientists, we’re used to spending our days immersed in code, molecular dynamics simulations, and data analysis. But sometimes the best insights come when we step away from our screens and connect with the broader scientific community. That’s exactly what happened when Mandy Shaheen, assistant to the chair, organized this year’s retreat at the Carnegie Science Center.
“The goal of the retreat was to give people a chance to step out of their routines, hear what their colleagues are working on, and reconnect,” Shaheen explained. “In a department like ours, it means a lot to slow down, learn something new, and spend real time together.”
For our lab, this was especially meaningful. Mert, Mert Golcuk, Fareeda, Sema Zeynep, and the rest of our team got to share our latest research with colleagues who might not normally see the intersection between our computational approaches and their own work.
Research Presentations with a View
The day featured scientific talks and poster sessions, but with a twist—we weren’t in a sterile conference room. Instead, we were surrounded by the interactive exhibits of the Carnegie Science Center, with stunning views of Pittsburgh’s three rivers as our backdrop.
The poster sessions were held right in the Mars exhibit, which gave our team members a chance to present their research in a truly unique setting. As Shaheen noted, “They could practice presenting their science to the point where everyday people can understand it, which I think is extremely important to show the public the benefits of research.”
This resonated deeply with our lab’s mission. Whether we’re working on protein dynamics, drug discovery, or computational methods development, being able to communicate our science clearly to diverse audiences is crucial.
Keynote Inspiration
Trey Ideker from UC San Diego delivered the keynote address titled “Building a Mind for Cancer.” As someone who pioneers the use of genome-scale measurements to construct network models of cellular processes and diseases, his work aligns beautifully with many of the computational approaches we use in our own research.
Science Beyond the Lab
When we weren’t discussing research, we had the chance to explore the museum’s exhibits. The “Mental Health Mind Over Matters” display offered important perspectives on breaking down stigma, while “Mars: The Next Giant Leap” let us imagine the future of space exploration—a nice break from thinking about molecular-scale exploration!
Reflections from Our PI
Mert Gur perfectly captured the spirit of the day: “It was fantastic to hear such engaging scientific talks and explore the impressive posters. The setting was perfect—stunning views of the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, along with delicious food, tasty pastries and plenty of coffee to fuel our discussions. It was a great day with great company. I’m already looking forward to the next one!”
Looking Forward
As we returned to our computational work the next day, we carried with us new perspectives, potential collaborations, and a renewed appreciation for the diverse research happening within our department. The retreat reminded us that while we may spend our days modeling molecular systems, we’re part of a much larger scientific ecosystem.
Here’s to more opportunities to connect, learn, and grow together as a scientific community. The 2025 CSB retreat at the Carnegie Science Center set a high bar—we can’t wait to see what next year brings!
