ComSciCon

ComSciCon-Triangle 2027

  1. Welcome!
  2. Application
  3. Organizers
  4. Conference Program
  5. Speakers
  6. Sponsors
  7. Code of Conduct

Welcome!

ComSciCon Triangle 2027 will take place at the Burroughs Wellcome Fund in Research Triangle Park in Durham, NC on two consecutive Saturdays: January 23rd and January 30th

Please reach out to triangle@comscicon.org with any questions.

Application

Applications close November 29th, 2027; apply here: https://forms.gle/ffmJV7VhzEGxYcgz6

Organizers

Quyen Nguyen (she/her)

Co-Chair

Quyen graduated with a Bachelor’s in Biochemistry from the University of Florida, where she previously studied norovirus pathogenesis under Dr. Stephanie Karst. She’s now a third-year PhD student at Duke University in the lab of Dr. Michael Boyce, where she is investigating the role of glycosylation in regulating the transport and deposition of collagen. From her 5+ years in biomedical research and informal experiences as an educator, Quyen believes in the importance of science communication and is actively seeking/creating such opportunities in the Triangle as well as beyond.

Olivia Conway (she/her)

Co-Chair

Olivia is a 4th-year PhD student in the Cell Biology department at Duke. Her current research focuses on mitochondrial genome integrity in the context of neurodegenerative disease. She attended ComSciCon as a participant in 2025 and returned as an organizer because she is passionate about improving the relationship between academic scientists and the general public.

Melissa Aldana (she/her)

Venue Head

Melissa graduated with a Bachelor’s in Biology from Brown University, where she studied dosage compensation in drosophila under Dr. Erica Larschan. She’s now a third-year PhD Candidate at Duke University in the lab of Dr. Zhao Zhang, where is studies extrachromosomal circular DNA (ecDNA) in cancer. When she’s not in lab, Melissa enjoys going on walks and reading.

Reza Rahimi (he/him)

Marketing Designer

Reza Rahimi is a PhD student in Biology at Wake Forest University, where he studies how marine microorganisms sense and respond to chemical signals in their environment. His research focuses on interactions among viruses, phytoplankton, and protist predators and how these microscopic relationships influence marine ecosystems and carbon cycling. Reza is passionate about making science more accessible and engaging through visual communication, art, and storytelling. Outside of the lab, he enjoys painting, wildlife and astrophotography, and staying active through swimming and volleyball.

Avani Salunkhe (she/her)

Panels and Marketing Organizer

Avani is a PhD student at Wake Forest University in the Biology Department. She is interested in avian ecology, behavior, and genomics across hybrid zones. She is currently studying Indigo and Lazuli buntings, two songbird species which hybridize in the Great Plains. Avani’s interest in science communication stems from her years volunteering at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, where she learned the importance of storytelling in teaching audiences of all ages about biological processes and conservation.

Erin Dickert (she/her)

Panels and Application Organizer

Erin Dickert is a PhD Candidate in the Fox lab in Duke University’s Cell and Molecular Biology program. Drawing on a background in DNA damage, her current work focuses on how broken chromosomes segregate during mitosis and how mitotic break repair becomes distinct from the rest of the cell cycle. This is her first year with ComSciCon. In her free time, Erin likes to bake, cross-stitch, and watch Dancing with the Stars.

Sophia Colmenares (she/her)

Panels and Marketing Organizer

Sophia is a third-year PhD at Duke’s Biomedical Engineering Department. Her research is focused on computational pharmacology. Sophia is excited to be a part of the ComSciCon organizing team and to learn more on how she can communicate her science. Outside of her research, she enjoys weightlifting, eating popcorn, and playing with her 1 and 3/4 cats.

Rachel Burdorf (she/her)

Pop Talk Lead and Panels Organizer

Rachel is a PhD candidate in the UNC Chapel Hill Microbiology & Immunology program. Her research is based in HIV cure science. She believes that the most urgent challenge for scientists today is to improve how we share research with the wider community. Outside of science, her hobbies include creative writing, reading, and music. Feel free to ask her about her cats!

Conference Program

More detail to come in December 2027!

ComSciCon-Triangle 2027 will feature invited speakers and panelists across multiple modes of science communication (SciComm). Attendees can expect a mix of keynote lectures, panels on current SciComm topics, and poptalk activities to improve science communication skills. All attendees will participate in a hands-on Write-A-Thon resulting in a deliverable for their SciComm portfolios!

Reference last year’s agenda and program book for an idea of what ComSciCon Triangle has to offer

Speakers

Check back in December 2027!

Sponsors

Code of Conduct

ComSciCon is committed to providing a safe, hospitable, and productive environment for everyone present, regardless of race or ethnicity, religion, ability, socioeconomic status, age, physical appearance, economic or professional status, country of origin, sex, gender or gender expression, or sexuality. A conference where people feel uncomfortable or threatened is not  productive, nor tolerable. Accordingly, ComSciCon prohibits intimidating, threatening, or harassing conduct during our conference and is committed to creating and maintaining a safe environment for everyone during the workshop. This policy applies to speakers, organizers, expert reviewers, and attendees, and by participating in ComSciCon, you agree to adhere to this policy.

ComSciCon expects that participants will:

  • Be considerate and respectful to all community members.
  • Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior, materials, and speech (more below).
  • Speak up if they observe anything at an event that conflicts with this Code of Conduct. If you are being harassed or feel uncomfortable, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the ComSciCon organizing team immediately.

Unacceptable behavior from any community member will not be tolerated. Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to:

  • Intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning speech, materials, or conduct by any Participants of the event and related event activities. Many event venues are shared with members of the public; please be respectful to all patrons of these locations.
  • Violence, threats of violence, or violent language directed against another person.
  • Failure to obey any rules or regulations of the event venue.

Harassment of participants will not be tolerated in any form. Harassment includes:

  • Offensive verbal or written comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, national origin, affinity group, etc.
  • Viewing or sharing sexual images in public spaces.
  • Deliberate or perceived intimidation, stalking, or following.
  • Harassing or non consensual photography or recording.
  • Sustained disruption of talks or other events.
  • Inappropriate physical contact.
  • Unwelcome sexual attention.
  • Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.

Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in harassing behavior, ComSciCon organizers will take any action they deem appropriate, ranging from a verbal warning to expulsion from the conference, to contacting local authorities.

ComSciCon organizers may take action to address any behavior disrupting the conference or making the environment hostile for any participants. We expect participants to follow these rules at all conference events and ComSciCon-related social activities.

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the conference staff immediately (by email at the designated confidential address triangle@comscicon.org). Organizers will be available to assist anyone experiencing unacceptable behavior and will work to help you feel safe for the duration of the event. All reports will be held as confidential by ComSciCon event organizers. 

We value your attendance, and want to make the conference experience as educational, productive, and fun as possible.