Download the Poster

Program Information

Schedule of Events

Program Book

Full Abstracts

Program Book

The entire contents of the Program Book and the text of all abstracts, will be available online by February 15, 2017. Please note that the Program Book will list the title and presenting author only. When submitting an abstract, the author will have the option of including their e-mail address and twitter username in the body of the abstract so others may contact the author directly for questions and collaborations.

All registrants receive one complimentary copy of the Program Book, with full schedule information including platform and poster session date, time, title, authors, etc. as well as the keyword, speaker/author and Flybase Genetic indexes. Full abstract text will only be available online and will not be printed in the Program Book.  You are encouraged to print full abstracts for those sessions of interest before leaving home.

Online Planner and Abstract Search

The online planner is best used on a desktop or laptop computer. You may also plan your schedule on the DROS17 Meeting mobile app.

Use the online planner to easily browse the entire conference program, filter by topics and keywords, or search for specific sessions or presenters. Once you log in, you can schedule and bookmark sessions to build your personal itinerary and plan your days. Your itinerary and bookmarked items will synchronize with the mobile conference app. If you don't have a mobile device to install the app, you can go to the Agenda tab to download a printable PDF of your personalized schedule, or simply export your entire itinerary as an iCal file, which you can import into a calendar application like Microsoft Outlook.

Online Planner Tips:

• Use the Abstracts tab to search across sessions, authors, and content types.
• Use the Agenda tab to filter among session categories, meeting tracks, and continuing education eligibility.
• Create an account and log in to optimize your experience by saving your content and syncing across devices.

Author Presentation Notification

On and after December 21, 2016, the highlighted letters below provide access to alphabetical lists of the authors whose abstracts have been accepted for the 58th Annual Drosophila Research Conference. Please click on the first letter of the presenting author's last name (surname) to view the assignment for either a platform or poster presentation. It is not possible to view abstract assignments using co-author names.  Selected speakers for the PI Early Career Forum will be posted in January, 2017.

• Detailed preparation instructions for plenary/platform presentations: Click Here
• Detailed preparation instructions for poster presentations: Click Here

Plenary Speakers

We are delighted to announce that the following individuals will be giving plenary talks at the Conference:

Larry Sandler Memorial Lecture

Deadline for Submission December 22, 2016

The Larry Sandler Memorial Lecture was established in recognition of Dr. Larry Sandler's many contributions to Drosophila genetics and his dedication to the training of Drosophila biologists. The recipient of the Larry Sandler Award for the most outstanding Ph.D. dissertation submitted this year will lecture on the evening of March 29. For information on submitting nominations for this award, see the Call for Nominations. The Larry Sandler Award winner also receives a complimentary conference registration as well as free accommodations, airfare and a lifetime membership in GSA.  PIs are encouraged to submit their student’s work for consideration. The deadline for submissions is December 22, 2016.

Platform Sessions

The program committee will select a subset of abstracts for platform presentations, basing their selections on several criteria, including research area, scientific impact and laboratory representation. Authors of abstracts should indicate their preference for either a platform or a poster presentation by marking the appropriate field on the on-line abstract submission form. Note, however, that the program committee will determine the final designation of platform or poster presentations.

Because platform presentation requests far exceed available presentation slots (only 10-15% of all abstracts received can be accommodated in platform sessions), all authors should be prepared to present a poster if their abstract is not selected for a platform presentation. This poster must be displayed in the poster area from 11:00 PM on March 29 through 10:00 PM on April 1.

Each platform presentation will be limited to a 12 minute presentation, with an additional 3 minutes for questions and discussion.

To fairly accommodate the large number of requests for platform presentations, authors presenting a talk in a platform session may not present the same work in a workshop. Any author offered positions in both forums is expected to decline or withdraw from one.  Photography is not allowed where posters are displayed.  Anyone taking photographs will be asked to leave the hall.

Poster Sessions

The majority of the submitted abstracts will be scheduled as posters. Poster presenters will be required to attend their posters for multiple sessions. All abstract authors who are not selected for a platform session MUST display a poster in the Exhibit Hall. Those presenting in a workshop must still display a poster in their designated spot in the Exhibit Hall. A note directing people to the workshop will not be accepted. The poster area will be open 24 hours a day beginning at 5:00 pm, March 29 until Saturday evening, April 1 at 10:00 pm in the Exhibit Hall. Posters may be mounted on boards beginning at 5:00 pm on March 4 and all must be in place by 11:00 pm. Posters must be removed by 10:00 pm on Saturday, April 1. Posters that are larger than 3’8” tall by 2’10” wide will be removed. Please note that the posters should be in a vertical layout. While security is monitoring access to the Hall, GSA cannot be responsible for items left in the hall including but not limited to poster tubes, purses, backpacks, etc. Please keep personal items with you at all times.

Photography is not allowed where posters are displayed.

Anyone taking photographs will be asked to leave the hall.

Authors of posters that either do not present their poster and/or do not display their poster will be excluded from future submission opportunities.  Posters may not be displayed for abstracts that have not been submitted and approved.

Poster Awards

Nine awards will be given for the best poster designs. First ($500), second ($300) and third ($200) place prizes will be given to the students (both undergrad and grad) and postdocs judged to have the best posters. Both scientific merit and clarity of presentation will be taken into account. To be eligible, your poster must be displayed from 11:00 PM on March 29 through 10:00 PM on April 1, 2017. This competition is only open to students and postdocs. PI's are not eligible. Awards will be presented at the Plenary Session on Sunday morning.

Workshops

Workshop Listing with Speakers (where available) can be found on through the Schedule of Events and app.

Rooms and times have been reserved for the presentation of workshops on Friday afternoon and Saturday evening. Individuals interested in organizing a workshop should review the selection criteria and complete the Workshop Application. To be considered for a workshop, applications must be received by November 7, 2016. Strict adherence to workshop time allotment will be required.

Authors presenting a talk in a workshop may not present the same work in a platform session. Those authors whose abstracts are selected as poster presenters MUST display their poster for the length of the conference in the poster area and MUST present that poster during scheduled times. If the poster will be needed for the workshop, a duplicate poster will be necessary. Authors of posters that either do not present their poster and/or do not display their poster will be excluded from future submission opportunities.

Workshop Guidelines
Audio/visual: An LCD projector, screen, and microphone will be provided. Workshop organizers must provide their own computer and are responsible for loading all presentations onto that laptop. There will be no switchers for multiple laptops. Presenters do not upload their talks in the speaker ready room.
Time: Workshops must end promptly when the allotted time is over. If a workshop starts late, it still must end at the scheduled time.
Room Set: The room will be set theater style. Please do not change the room set (move chairs, a/v, etc.). The room will be used again later for another session.
Presenters: Presenters are listed where the information has been provided by the workshop organizer.
Handouts: If you will have handouts that you would like for participants to have, you will need to bring copies with you.

Audio-Visual Equipment

Standard equipment provided without request in each plenary, workshop and platform session room includes an LCD data projector, screen, lectern, pointer and microphone.

With the exception of workshop speakers, all speakers (plenary, platform, award, etc.) must upload their presentation at least one day in advance of their session. Presentations can be uploaded in advance via the Internet. There will also be a speaker ready room onsite with technicians standing by. Because of the tight timing of over 200 presentations, it is critical that you come by and test your presentation and the equipment in the speaker ready room one day before your presentation. This will insure a flawless presentation from the podium. All speakers will be sent details and reminders via e-mail. Loading your presentation in the meeting room will not be an option. However, speakers are required to be in the meeting room at least one hour in advance of the beginning of the session to become familiar with the equipment.

Each platform presenter will be given 12 minutes for presentation and an additional 3 minutes for questions and discussion.

Workshop speakers should coordinate with the workshop organizer(s) for instructions on their presentation.

Optional Events

PI Early Career Forum

Wednesday, March 29
9:00 AM-4:00 PM
The PI Early Career Forum is designed for new PIs, within the first 5 years of setting up a lab, working on Drosophila. The purpose of this event is to provide an opportunity for early career PIs to meet one another, showcase the research pursued in their new labs, network with more senior members of the fly community, and take part in a discussion about how to navigate the challenges that accompany the process of starting a new lab. The event will include short science talks from early career PIs, lunch with members of the National Drosophila Board of Directors, and an interactive panel discussion. Our goal is to create a supportive welcoming space for the next generation of Drosophila PIs. Although this event is targeted at early career PIs, and preference for talks will be given to those scientists, everyone (graduate students, post doctoral fellows, and more senior PIs) is welcome to register and attend. When submitting your abstract, you will be asked if you would like to participate in this forum.  Presenters will be posted here in January, 2017.
Limited Attendance

 

Advance registration required.

Fee: $50. Limited Attendance.

 

How To Get Published Breakfast

Thursday, March 30
7:15-8:30 am
Hear the ins-and-outs of getting your articles published, featuring editors from the journals GENETICS and G3:Genes|Genomes|Genetics.
Advance Registration Preferred

 

GSA "Meet the Speakers" Careers Luncheon

Thursday, March 30
12:15-1:45 pm
The GSA "Meet the Speakers" Careers Luncheon is an excellent opportunity for undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows to have informal conversations with senior career scientists regarding the unique challenges and rewards of a scientific career. The luncheon moderators will feature plenary speakers and session chairs and no topic is "off the table." Come to this session with your toughest questions regarding starting a lab; academic and non-academic career choices; work/life balance; tenure and more. Each table will have one or two moderators who are ready and willing to answer your questions.

 

Advance registration required.

Fee: $20. Limited Attendance.

 

 

How I Fly (HIF) ScienceSlam

Friday, March 31
7:30-9:00 pm
What would you say to someone who knew nothing about Drosophila research to convey the importance of this model organism? The goal of the How I Fly (HIF) ScienceSlam is to promote the concise communication of science to a general audience, while stimulating creativity, awakening minds, honing science communication skills, and promoting a sense of excitement about the outstanding research being accomplished within the Drosophila community. Starting at 7:30 pm on Friday, we’ll kick off this entertaining event with a happy hour (cash bar). The slam is open to everyone. Just bring your great ideas to help the general public understand why this basic research is so vital- in 3 minutes or less! Awards will be given to the top three contestants, as decided by a panel of judges. In addition, there will be an Audience's Choice award. Slammaster, Mike Eisen will moderate.

 

While there is no fee for this event, we do ask that you register in advance so we know how many to expect. If you do not register in advance, no problem. You can still join the group on site.