Welcome to SCBS 2024!

We are glad to invite you at the 2nd Student Conference on Biological Sciences. Same as the first edition (SCBS 2021), SCBS 2024 will provide an opportunity for students and early career researchers from all around the world, to come together, share their knowledge, and discuss the latest advances and challenges in biological research.

Our mission is to create a collaborative and inclusive environment where participants can present their research, receive valuable feedback, and engage in stimulating conversations with peers and professionals. 

The conference will feature a diverse range of topics, including conservation biology and ecology, molecular biology and genetics, microbiology and biotechnology, biochemistry and physiology, biomedicine and neuroscience, biostatistics and computational biology, biological education, and more. Participants will have the chance to attend insightful presentations, workshops, and networking.

We encourage you to explore the conference workshops, keynote and invited speakers, and registration details, and we are looking forward to seeing you at the conference!

Invited Speakers

Melissa Basso

PhD Researcher, University of Surrey, UK

Marilica Zemkollari 

PhD Researcher, Boku University, Austria

João F. Carrilho

PhD Researcher, NOVA University of Lisbon, Portugal

Xhoela Bami

PhD Researcher, Dartmouth University, US

Oresta Saliaj

PhD Researcher, University of Tirana, Albania

Veronika Yletelenova

PhD Researcher, Comenius University, Slovakia

Erinda Rruci

PhD Researcher, Arhus University, Denmark

Eni Sinani

Postgraduate, Anhalt University, Germany

Artenisa Peculaj

PhD Researcher, University of Camerino, Italy

Ledi Selgjekaj

Environmental Biologist, PPNEA, Albania

Keisi Mecaj

Postgraduate, KU Leuven, Belgium

Paola Xhelili

Researcher, Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania

Erta Zykaj

Research and Teaching Assistant, Concordia University, Canada

Workshops

Improving science worldwide through open science  

Speaker: Alise Ponsero, PhD. Quadram Institute of Biosciences, United Kingdom

About: This workshop will explore open science's principles, benefits, and practical implementation. Participants will learn how open access, open data, and open methodologies can enhance research transparency, reproducibility, and collaboration across the globe. The workshop will also provide an opportunity to learn the main concepts of research ethics and academic writing.  

Using Statistics and Computation to Better Understand Our Genes 

Speaker: Brooke N. Wolford, PhD. Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway

About: Our genome is 3.055 billion-base pairs with millions of these base pairs differing between people, referred to as genetic variation. Understanding how this genetic variation relates to human disease and health requires statistic and computational methodologies. In this workshop we will cover some of the foundations of the field of statistical genetics including genotype imputation, genome wide association studies, burden tests, and polygenic risk scores. 

Environment and Sustainable Development 

Speaker: Ermelinda Mahmutaj, PhD. Center for Flora and  Fauna, University of Tirana & EDEN Center, Albania

About: This workshop will introduce in one frame and practical terms the logic of sustainable development, its goals, and the role of education in sustainable development. The workshop will provide a practical approach to connect environmental themes and behaviors with sustainable development goals and increase understanding of how our institutions can be Eco-institutions and how our little daily actions can be translated into contributions to a sustainable society.  

Promoting Well-Being in Doctoral Education and Beyond 

Speaker: Luisa Solms, PhD. University of Amsterdam, Netherlands

About: We all know that doing a PhD is difficult at times but often we don’t feel comfortable to talk about the issues that we face. In this workshop, we would like to invite you to do just that. In addition to small-group and plenary discussions, participants will learn about potential ways to deal with difficulty in a functional way. We will focus on self-compassion as a tool that has been proven to be effective in boosting PhD students’ well-being. 

Discussion panel: Careers in Biology

This event will feature a panel of distinguished professionals from various sectors, including academic research, industry and healthcare. It is designed to provide students and early-career scientists with a comprehensive overview of the diverse career paths available within the field of biological and biomedical sciences. 

Panel: TBA