WashU BME hosts department’s first student-led retreat
More than 120 students and faculty members took part in the Department of Biomedical Engineering's first research retreat, which aimed to encourage departmental collaboration and community
Doctoral students from the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the McKelvey School of Engineering hosted the department’s first research retreat on Sept. 13-14. More than 120 students and faculty members took part in the event.
“The retreat was a great success, highlighting the amazing research all our peers are doing while engaging in fun outdoor activities,” said Dinal Jayasekera, a second-year doctoral student and one of the event organizers. "We hope to continue events like this in the future to foster community within the department."
All of the department’s doctoral students were invited to take part in the retreat, which included keynote talks from faculty, presentations from senior doctoral candidates, table-topic sessions with faculty members and students, and a poster session. The event aimed to bring together students and faculty to discuss achievements in their respective fields while encouraging collaboration. It also served as an opportunity to introduce incoming graduate students to the biomedical engineering community at Washington University in St. Louis.
“During the retreat, student interest and curiosity reached a whole new level as students asked questions of each other and faculty about their research and life experiences," said Lori Setton, Lucy & Stanley Lopata Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering and chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. "Taking the time to relax, listen and laugh together will have a lasting impact on the department and student experience moving forward.”
