Who, What, Why: Cice Chen’s first-of-its-kind research conference for undergraduates

This fall Guyin (Cice) Chen, a fourth-year majoring in biochemistry, chemistry, and neurobiology in the College of Arts & Sciences, has been balancing her coursework and neurodegeneration research while leading the effort to organize the first-ever undergraduate-focused National Research Conference at Penn (NRCP).

“Most conferences we knew of were designed for grad students or field professionals,” says Chen, who is from Hong Kong and serves as president of Project Lucid, the club behind NRCP. “We saw this as a unique opportunity for undergraduates to engage in research discussions, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, like community colleges, state colleges, and historically Black universities.”

The NRCP brought together more than 220 students from more than 70 institutions nationwide, creating an unprecedented space for undergraduates to present research and learn from experts in fields spanning life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, humanities, and social sciences.

Planning for the conference began in January, and the scope was substantial. Chen and a team of 14 other student organizers needed to secure $30,000 in funding, arrange catering, book a large enough venue, and align their schedule with keynote speakers including Penn’s 2023 Nobel Laureates, Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman, as well as Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor Barbara Mellers, all within a tight timeline.

“Nine months wasn’t much time,” Chen says. “We had to move quickly and decisively, striking essential partnerships both within and beyond Penn.”

Through determination, Chen’s team achieved what initially felt impossible: a two-day conference for undergraduate researchers with speeches, networking sessions, poster presentations, a communication workshop, competitions judged by Penn faculty, and even a gala.

Chen says she was presented with a bouquet and thank you card at the Gala. “It was incredibly sweet—I didn’t expect anything like that,” Chen says. “When I received the flowers, I just stood there, speechless and red in the face. I’m so grateful to the team; every single member worked incredibly hard. The camaraderie we built is something I’ll always treasure.”

Reflecting on her team’s motivation, Chen emphasizes the invaluable experience students gained through events like the communication workshop and grad school admissions panel. Led by Carlin Romano from the Annenberg School for Communication, the workshop helped students practice making their research relatable to a diverse audience, a skill Chen describes as “essential for anyone aiming to make research both accessible and impactful.”

The graduate school and medical school admissions panel featured insights from representatives of the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the School of Arts & Sciences and from the Neuroscience Graduate Group and M.D. and M.D./Ph.D. programs in the Perelman School of Medicine. Panelists discussed the admissions application process and expectations.

“From the feedback we received, students left feeling better prepared and more confident about grad or med school,” says Chen, who is herself preparing for graduate studies in biochemistry or neuroscience.

Reflecting on the conference’s impact, she shared her own career goals. “I don’t want to do things just for the sake of doing them but with an intent to make meaningful, lasting change, like what we achieved here.”