By Allie M. Graham and the KU Center for Genomics Organizing Committee
The University of Kansas Center for Genomics (KUCG) held its 5th Annual Research Symposium on May 8, 2026, at the Jayhawk Welcome Center, in Lawrence, Kansas. Supported in part by a Special Event Award from the American Genetics Association, the symposium brought together 281 students, postdoctoral researchers, staff scientists, and faculty from across Kansas and neighboring states to share research spanning genomics, genetics, evolution, ecology, development, and biomedicine.
Founded in 2021, the KU Center for Genomics aims to build an integrated community of researchers using genomic approaches to address questions ranging from human disease to biodiversity and evolution. The annual symposium has become one of KUCG’s flagship events, with a particular emphasis on highlighting the work of early-career scientists. This year’s symposium hosted nearly a full day of scientific programming, including oral presentations, flash talks, poster sessions, a keynote lecture, a professional networking event, and the popular Up-Goer Five Challenge, which encourages participants to explain their research using only the 1,000 most used English words.
The program featured research from a wide range of institutions, including the University of Kansas, University of Kansas Medical Center, Children’s Mercy Research Institute, Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, University of Oklahoma, University of Virginia, and others. Topics ranged from ancient DNA and population genomics to microbiome research, rare disease genetics, cancer genomics, evolutionary biology, and bioinformatics. Collectively, participants presented 12 oral presentations, 12 flash talks, and 95 posters, demonstrating the breadth of genomics research being conducted across the region.
A highlight of the symposium was the keynote lecture by Dr. Bárbara Sousa da Mota (Harvard University), who presented “Investigating the ecological suicide (“ecocide”) theory in Rapa Nui with ancient DNA data.” Dr. Sousa da Mota described how ancient genome analyses can be used to reconstruct demographic history and presented evidence challenging the long-standing hypothesis that the people of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) experienced a catastrophic population collapse prior to European contact.
Professional development was another major focus of the event. During a dedicated networking lunch, trainees met with scientists representing academia, industry, government, research cores, and data science careers. Participants had opportunities to discuss topics such as transitioning to postdoctoral positions, obtaining faculty appointments, working in biotechnology companies, and navigating research careers inside and outside academia.
As the KU Center for Genomics enters its sixth year, the growing attendance and scientific diversity of the symposium underscore the value of creating opportunities for trainees and early-career researchers to present their work in a supportive and interdisciplinary environment. We are grateful to the American Genetics Association for supporting this event, which helped make these opportunities possible.
For additional information about the symposium and the KU Center for Genomics, visit: https://genomics.ku.edu/ku-center-genomics-symposium-2026
