A Summer of Science: REU Trainees Conduct Research at Host Labs, Present at Summer RosettaCon 2026
Featured image is the 2026 REU cohort with Program Manager Camille Mathis and PI Jeffrey Gray.
This is part two of a three part series about the Rosetta Commons REU experience.
Following an intensive week at Code School, Rosetta Commons Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) trainees departed for an eight-week research experience at host laboratories across the United States and Europe. Eager to dive into hands-on research and explore new cities, the trainees embraced the challenge with enthusiasm.
Coming from diverse academic backgrounds, many trainees arrived with minimal prior experience in biomolecular modeling and design.
“I found the research experience quite intimidating at first, since I didn’t have much previous research experience and would have to learn a bunch of new technologies to succeed,” said trainee Keagan Hitt. “However, toward the end of the summer, I found the research to feel more like a routine than something to worry about, as I was able to figure out what I should do next on my own.”
Similar growth was echoed across the cohort. “My summer research experience was incredible,” shared trainee Tony Peonio. “It truly felt like I was a researcher instead of a student acting as one.”
The bonds formed between trainees and their host lab members proved vital to their success. Cohorts met weekly to analyze scientific literature, discuss research methodologies, and practice presentations in a supportive environment. Beyond academic growth, these connections provided a crucial peer support system when challenges arose.
REU trainee Olivia Kong with her labmates in the Oberdorfer Lab at TU Graz. Credit: Olivia Kong
“Throughout the summer, my peers became an important resource and support network for my growth as a scientist and person,” said trainee Olivia Kong. “I had a wonderful experience learning about what it was like to live in both a new research environment and a new country, and after my research experience, I am considering applying to research programs abroad.”
Trainee Rosemary Jurado added, “I valued the opportunity to learn about my labmates’ research and to hear about their individual paths through graduate school, which gave me a clearer sense of what a career in this field could look like.” These conversations offered essential perspectives as trainees began weighing their post-graduation options.
REU trainees James Zhu, Rosemary Jurado, Iris Zheng, Kelvin Lartey, Marwa Naji, and Daniel Martinez (left to right) with David Baker (second from left).
The culmination of their summer research was attending and presenting at Summer RosettaCon 2026, hosted at the University of Washington in Seattle. For over twenty years, RosettaCon has brought together world-leading scientists in biomolecular modeling and design to share advancements, forge collaborations, and foster professional development.
For most of the REU trainees, Summer RosettaCon 2026 was their first scientific conference, and it made a lasting impact.
“I was struck by how much the community collaborates, everyone contributing to the development of these tools and working together to address existing gaps,” said trainee Martina Madrzak. “I was also surprised by the sheer range of applications for Rosetta tools, as well as their potential future use cases. Everyone there is working toward building better methods for computational protein engineering, and given the strength of that community, I’m optimistic about what’s ahead.”
“I have gained a strong interest in model development through working on developing pipelines and hearing many interesting talks at the conference,” noted trainee Steven Engelbretson.
REU trainee Francisco Jimenez presenting his poster at Summer RosettaCon 2026.
Every trainee found unique highlights throughout the event.
“I found the poster session to be the most useful, because a lot of people came over with their own questions and comments about my research that I hadn’t considered previously,” said trainee Francisco Jimenez.
For trainee James Zhu, the highlight came before the poster session: “I think the lightning talk is a really interesting part. It really allows other attendees to focus on your project.”
Exclusive to REU trainees, these lightning talks challenge students to pitch their research using just one slide in one minute. The quick presentations act as a preview for the subsequent poster session, offering students a valuable opportunity to refine their public speaking skills.
REU trainee James Zhu presenting his lightning talk at Summer RosettaCon 2026.
“Summer RosettaCon for me was very intellectually stimulating,” said trainee Kelvin Lartey. “I love the diversity of talks available to go to and really love the end of day activities.”
In keeping with RosettaCon tradition, attendees gathered at various spots around campus each evening to relax, socialize, and build connections after long days of sessions.
Ultimately, rejoining their cohort to share research and celebrate their achievements served as the perfect conclusion to the REU program.
REU trainee Hannah Lott presenting her poster at Summer RosettaCon 2026.
“I had a fantastic experience this summer,” said trainee Hannah Lott. “I had high expectations when I accepted the Rosetta Commons REU offer, and the summer more than delivered!”
The 2026 Rosetta Commons REU Trainees were hosted at:
- Colter Bufford, Gray Lab, Johns Hopkins University
- Steven Engelbretson, IPD, University of Washington
- Allie Gibson, Whitehead Lab, University of Colorado Boulder
- Lia Headley, Schoeder Lab, Leipzig University
- Kegan Hitt, Samanta Lab, University of South Florida
- Francisco Jimenez, Khare Lab, Rutgers University
- Rosemary Jurado, Gray Lab, Johns Hopkins University & Damo Lab, Bowie State University
- Olivia Kong, Oberdorfer Lab, TU Graz
- Shuaicheng Lai, Merck Rahway
- Kelvin Lartey, Ovchinnikov Lab, MIT
- Peter Le, Ljubetič Lab, Kemijski Inštitut
- Celeste Litchfield, IPD, University of Washington
- Hannah Lott, Yarov-Yarovoy Lab, University of California, Davis
- Andy Luu, Cooper Lab, Northeastern University
- Martina Madrzak, Strauch Lab, Washington University St Louis
- Daniel Martinez, Khmelinskaia Lab, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich
- Noah Mitton, IPD, University of Washington
- Marwa Naji, Merck South San Francisco
- Tony Peonio, Hosseinzadeh Lab, University of Oregon
- Alan Talavera, IPD, University of Washington
- Sina Yarmohammadi, Tandem AI
- Iris Zheng, Merck Cambridge
- James Zhu, Drew Lab, University of Illinois at Chicago
To read more about their first week in the REU program, check out part one of the Rosetta Commons REU experience series. To explore the science they accomplished, check out part three of the series.