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Next BioLeader
A student-led initiative empowering aspiring scientists through mentorship, community, and professional development.
Next BioLeader is a Stanford-based network of research trainees, graduate students, and faculty dedicated to the success of your scientific career.
Next BioLeader is a Stanford-based network of research trainees, graduate students, and faculty dedicated to the success of your scientific career.
Next BioLeader is your scientific family: it is more than a workshop series.
With mentorship, peer support, and a lasting network, we are here to guide you every step of the way.
Upcoming Workshops (Spring 2026)
Upcoming Workshops (Spring 2026)
Next BioLeader hosts career development workshops led by graduate students, postdocs, and faculty who've successfully navigated the journey you're now pursuing. We host workshops at three levels:
Next BioLeader hosts career development workshops led by graduate students, postdocs, and faculty who've successfully navigated the journey you're now pursuing. We host workshops at three levels:
PhD Application Series: Monthly workshops led by graduate students who've been recently admitted into Biology and/or Neuroscience PhD programs, as well as faculty who have served on admissions committees and/or are recruiting graduate students.
PhD Application Series: Monthly workshops led by graduate students who've been recently admitted into Biology and/or Neuroscience PhD programs, as well as faculty who have served on admissions committees and/or are recruiting graduate students.
Physician-Scientist (MD-PhD) Series: Monthly workshops led by MD-PhD students and faculty.
Physician-Scientist (MD-PhD) Series: Monthly workshops led by MD-PhD students and faculty.
Prof-To-Be Series: Career development talks for those pursuing a career in academia. Invited faculty speakers reflect on their own career paths and share practical advice for grant writing, career planning, and leadership.
Prof-To-Be Series: Career development talks for those pursuing a career in academia. Invited faculty speakers reflect on their own career paths and share practical advice for grant writing, career planning, and leadership.
January 19th, 2026: PhD Interview Workshop 1
January 19th, 2026: PhD Interview Workshop 1
PhD Application Series
Next BioLeader is excited to announce two bonus workshops of our PhD Application Series for those who are now preparing for PhD interviews in the current cycle!
Genper Wong (PhD student, Andreasson lab) and Matthew Matrongolo (PhD candidate, Abu-Remaileh lab) will lead a Q&A about what to expect during the interview process, as well as interview do's and don'ts.
Special thank you to Novogene for sponsoring our workshop!
January 30th, 2026: PhD Interview Workshop 2
January 30th, 2026: PhD Interview Workshop 2
PhD Application Series
Our second interview workshop (for the current PhD admissions cycle) will feature two faculty members who have participated in the admissions interview process. Expect to learn what makes an excellent candidate shine during the interview, as well as tips on how to discuss your research experience with faculty.
Special thank you to Novogene for sponsoring our workshop!
Faculty Speakers
Faculty Speakers
Next BioLeader is honored to host faculty speakers from leading bioscience departments across the country. Our invited speakers share insights from their experience on PhD admissions committees, reflect on their own career paths, and highlight exciting projects from their lab.
Rongxin Fang, PhD
Rongxin Fang, PhD
Assistant Professor, Stanford University Departments of Neurosurgery and Genetics (by courtesy)
Jennifer Yokoyama, PhD
Jennifer Yokoyama, PhD
Associate Professor
University of California, San Francisco
Department of Neurology
Andrew C. Yang, PhD
Andrew C. Yang, PhD
Assistant Professor
Gladstone Institutes & University of California, San Francisco
Department of Neurology
John Lukens, PhD
John Lukens, PhD
Professor
University of Virginia
School of Medicine, Neuroscience Department
Xiaoyu Chen, PhD
Xiaoyu Chen, PhD
Assistant Professor
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Neurology Division
Martine Therrien, PhD
Martine Therrien, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of California, Davis
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
[ Who do you want to learn from? ]
[ Who do you want to learn from? ]
Send nextbioleader@gmail.com a message with the name/ website of a PI who inspires you!
Student Speakers
Student Speakers
Alena Smith
Alena Smith
PhD student, University of Southern California Neuroscience Graduate Group
Margarita Artiukhova
Margarita Artiukhova
PhD student, Stanford University, Molecular and Cellular Physiology
Max Hauptschein
Max Hauptschein
PhD student, Harvard Medical School Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Albert Ay
Albert Ay
PhD student, Integrative Neuroscience at Dartmouth
Shoxruxxon Alimukhamedov
Shoxruxxon Alimukhamedov
PhD student, UCSF Neuroscience Graduate Program
Matthew Matrungolo
Matthew Matrungolo
PhD candidate, Stanford University Neurosciences Program
Olivia Zhou
Olivia Zhou
MSTP (MD-PhD) student, Stanford University
Eshaan Rawat
Eshaan Rawat
Medical student (MD), Harvard Medical School
Aulden Foltz
Aulden Foltz
MSTP (MD-PhD) student, Baylor College of Medicine
Genper Wong
Genper Wong
PhD student, Stanford University Neurosciences Program
[ This could be you ]
[ This could be you ]
Want to share about your journey to grad school? Apply to be a NextBioLeader mentor!
Leadership
Leadership
Andy Tsai, PhD
Andy Tsai, PhD
Founder
Larry L. Hillblom Postdoctoral Fellow,
Wyss-Coray Lab, Stanford University
andytsai@stanford.edu
Alena Smith
Alena Smith
President
Ph.D. student, University of Southern California
Former research assistant at the Poston Lab, Stanford University
alenasmi@usc.edu
Eduardo Ramirez Lopez
Eduardo Ramirez Lopez
Vice-President
Research Assistant
Wyss-Coray Lab, Stanford University
eduardor@stanford.edu
Undergraduate Liasons
Undergraduate Liasons
Amara Martin
Amara Martin
Stanford University
Undergraduate student leader
Ava Yeh
Ava Yeh
Stanford University
Undergraduate student leader
Andrew Mi
Andrew Mi
Stanford University
Undergraduate student leader
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