Explore UAB

This full-day event features external and internal faculty speakers, trainee oral presentations, poster session and the Grandpa Challenge.

Thursday
October 22, 2026
9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Marnix E. Heersink Conference Center
701 19th Street South
Birmingham, Alabama 35233

Exterior entrance to the Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation Conference Center showing wall signage.

Registration

Registration is free but we need a head count for the event. Please take a moment to RSVP for this event.

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The Grandpa Challenge

Describe your research to your Grandpa or neighbor in 3 minutes or less. You may use props and a single title slide with a graphic (NO DATA). This challenge is open to all levels of trainees– undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral fellow. The audience will vote on Best Pitch and Most Creative, each receiving a $150 cash prize. Selection of entries chosen to compete will be confirmed in early October.

Apply for The Grandpa Challenge


Immunology Symposium Poster Session

The top two abstracts will be selected to give 15-minute oral presentations (12 minutes presentation; 3 minutes questions) at the Symposium on October 22nd and receive a $250 cash prize. All others will compete for $100 cash prizes as the top senior (4th year graduate student and above) and junior (undergraduate, 1st - 3rd year graduate students) level trainees from the poster presentations at the Immunology Symposium.

Submit your abstract (250 words)