We are looking forward to the upcoming retreat. Please review the information linked below before and during the event. Check back regularly for updates.
Update (6/4): Below are the current tasks for retreat attendees:
- Shuttle and Leisure Activities Coordination: BCMM is excited to host a shuttle to transport attendees to/from UCSF and Chaminade as well as some organized leisure activities during the trip. Please take a brief survey to confirm your participation in the shuttle and/or leisure activities. Complete by Monday, June 9.Take the survey
- Community Feedback: The program also includes separate closed-door discussions with trainees and faculty. To guide these discussions, please submit anonymous feedback via a short survey. Complete by Friday, June 13. Submit anonymous feedback
About Chaminade
Chaminade Resort and Spa: https://www.chaminade.com/
Weather: In late June, Santa Cruz typically experiences warm, sunny weather with average daily temperatures in the mid-70s. In the morning, you can expect foggy weather. We recommend layered clothing and comfortable shoes, especially if you are planning to join the hike.
Recreation: Chaminade Resort and Spa has two heated outdoor pools and three heated outdoor whirlpools, a fitness center, three miles of scenic hiking trails, as well as tennis and a pickleball court.
Traveling to/from Chaminade
The retreat will be held at the Chaminade Resort and Spa.
Location Address:
Chaminade Resort and Spa
1 Chaminade Lane
Santa Cruz, CA 95065
Traveling to Chaminade by Shuttle
BCMM has arranged for a shuttle to transport attendees to/from UCSF and Chaminade. When you arrive at the shuttle stop, please check in with Amber Atkinson, who will confirm your presence. For any questions or concerns, please contact Amber Atkinson at [email protected].
If you miss the shuttle, it is your responsibility to make alternative travel arrangements. Please ensure you are at the designated stop 15-minutes before the scheduled departure time to avoid any inconvenience.
UCSF Stops and Pick-Up Times:
- Parnassus: The shuttle will leave from 513 Parnassus Ave. at 9:00AM on June 20th.
- Mission Bay: The shuttle will leave from 1651 4th St. at 9:30AM on June 20th.
Return Trip from Chaminade:
The return trip will depart on June 21st no later than 2 PM from Chaminade.
If you plan to take the shuttle, please follow the link below and complete a short form.
Traveling to/from Chaminade by Car
Chaminade has ample parking, which is free for guests. Electric charging stations are available onsite near the meeting and event rooms.
Retreat Check-In
Time: Retreat registration opens at 11 am in front of the Seascape Ballroom (located in the main resort building). Lunch is served at 12 pm and the science program will start at 1 pm. A full program is below.
Check-in process: The registration table will be in front of Seascape Ballroom between 11 am and 1 pm on Friday, June 20th or inside the Seascape Ballroom after 1 pm on that day.
Room check-in time: Given the size of our group, Chaminade has asked us to stagger when attendees visit reception to check into your room. You will be notified upon arrival of your assigned check-in window. Please honor the assigned time to avoid heavy traffic at the reception desk. Please note that all guests are required to leave a credit card on file for incidentals. For families’ check-in, only one card on file is sufficient.
Roommates: We've assigned roommates based on your preferences or lab affiliation whenever possible. Most attendees, except faculty, will share a room.
Retreat Program
A summary of the program is listed below. Check back later for a complete program.
June 20, 2025
9:00am |
Shuttle departs from UCSF Parnassus |
9:30am |
Shuttle departs from UCSF Mission Bay |
11:00am-12:00pm |
Arrival at Chaminade. Check-in at the BCMM retreat registration table outside the Seascape Ballroom (follow directional signage) |
12:00pm-1:00pm |
Lunch Sunset Restaurant |
1:00pm-3:00pm |
Science Session Seascape Ballroom |
3:00pm-3:30pm |
Coffee Break Seascape Patio |
3:30pm-4:00pm |
Trainee-only meeting (mandatory for trainees) Seascape Ballroom |
3:00pm-4:15pm |
Room Check-in Given the size of our group, Chaminade has asked us to stagger when attendees visit the reception desk to check into your room. You will be notified upon arrival of your assigned check-in window. Please honor the assigned time to avoid heavy traffic at the reception desk. |
4:15pm-6:00pm |
Leisure Time Honey tasting* *Optional activities. Advance sign-up is required. |
5:45pm-6:00pm |
Poster set-up Manresa Room |
6:00pm-7:00pm |
Dinner Sunset Restaurant |
7:00pm-8:30pm |
Poster Session Manresa Room |
8:30pm – 9:30pm |
Reception Each attendee will receive two drink tickets to redeem during the reception. You can purchase additional drinks from the reception’s bar (cash only) or any other bar on the premises (major credit cards accepted). The bar will open at 6 pm, at the start of our dinner time, and close at 10 pm, when the quiet hours begin. |
9:30pm |
Poster collection Manresa Room |
10:00pm |
Quiet Hours |
June 21, 2025
7:30am-9:30am |
Breakfast Sunset Restaurant |
7:30am-8:30am |
Yoga, optional Recreation center |
9:00am-9:30am |
Faculty-only meeting (mandatory for faculty) Seascape Ballroom |
9:30am-10:30am |
Science Session Seascape Ballroom |
10:30am |
Group Photo Seascape Patio |
10:30-11:00am |
Coffee Break; Room Check-Out |
11:00am-12:30pm |
Science Session Seascape Ballroom |
12:30pm |
Closing Remarks and Poster Award Ceremony Seascape Ballroom |
12:45pm-1:30pm |
Lunch Sunset Restaurant |
2:00pm |
Departure (shuttle) |
Presenter Information
Poster Presentation Guidelines
The maximum poster size is 4 feet wide by 4 feet high (1.2 meters by 1.2 meters), which allows two posters mounted per side on the corkboard. We recommend printing a 48 inches wide x 36 inches tall (122 cm x 91 cm) poster, which is the most widely used size. Use minimum 20-point Arial or Helvetica font so that it can be seen in the back of the presentation room (or in the back of the crowd looking at your poster).
BCMM will not cover the poster printing fees. It is your responsibility to print your poster and bring it with you to the retreat.
Please mount your poster on the poster board located in the Manresa Room starting at 5:45 pm on 6/20. Posters should be removed when the reception concludes at 9:30pm. Any poster remaining after 9:30 pm on 6/20 will be discarded.
Poster presenter map:
Abstract Number |
Name |
A1 |
Alicia Sanchez-Sanz |
A2 |
Chen Zhang |
A3 |
Christine Olson |
A4 |
Ivan Zhedulev |
A5 |
Lorenzo Ramirez |
A6 |
Natasha Hunt |
A7 |
Rachel Rock |
A8 |
Rafaella Shima |
A9 |
Rebecca Knoll |
A10 |
Shenwei Zhang |
A11 |
Rahul Bodkhe |
A12 |
Mikaela Matera-Vatnick |
A13 |
Leen Arnaut |
A14 |
Claire Dubin |
A15 |
Vanya Sofia Villa Sotto |
A16 |
Holly Steininger |
A17 |
Margareta Mayer |
A18 |
Marina Ferrer Clotas |
A19 |
Rahim Khan |
A20 |
Darren Dumlao |
A21 |
Lu Yang |
Poster presentation requirements:
- Please prepare a concise and clear 3 min presentation of the presented work
- Plan to stand in front of your poster between 7:00-8:30pm
Oral Presentation Requirements
File Format: Save your presentation in a format compatible with the presentation equipment (usually PowerPoint, PDF, or Keynote).
Backup Copy: Have a backup copy of your presentation that is relatively easy to access (email, box, etc.).
Presentation upload: Please upload your presentation as early as possible, but no later than 5 min prior to the start of the session. Include your last name in the file name. Use this link to upload your presentation.
Test Slides: Test your slides on the presentation computer beforehand to ensure proper display and functionality. Don’t overcrowd or have too many slides. Plan time for questions.
For Attendees Bringing Guests/Family
All UCSF attendees will be provided with meals as part of the retreat. For those attendees who are bringing extra guests, please see below regarding dining options.
Additional Meal Tickets: If you're bringing guests, you can purchase spouse program passes at the Chaminade front desk. The spouse rate is $89.90 per day (+tax) and includes shared room accommodations with the meeting attendee, breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the Sunset Restaurant, on-site recreational amenities on a daily basis, and service charges. Purchase of the family/guest meal plan is optional.
The Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine (BCMM) stands committed to dismantling the structural barriers to education, research and employment endemic in our society, to promoting awareness of implicit bias and reinforcing inclusivity.
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