HUNTSVILLE – A Cummings Research Park campus will be the destination for students throughout north Alabama this week to attend a mini-conference designed to bring awareness of career opportunities in the field of biotechnology.

The students, who were recommended by their high schools, will visit HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology for the event Wednesday.  

The students, who were recommended by their high schools, will spend the morning rotating through three tracks: Agriculture, Cancer and Neuroscience. 

• Agriculture – During this track, students will learn about plant genomics from world-renowned researchers facilitating the work and the applications of agriculture. Students will also have a guided tour of the Chan Greenhouse and make breeding decisions through a hands-on activity.
• Cancer – Students will learn about the projects and careers of people working in cancer research, public health, and entrepreneurship at HudsonAlpha. Audiences also get hands-on exposure to the field of genetic counseling.
• Neuroscience – As part of the “neuro” track, students will hear about some of the latest research into the genomics of both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions across the lifespan, from developmental delay to Alzheimer’s disease. Students will also be able to learn about emerging technologies to identify and treat these conditions.