West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference (WCBSURC)
Join us for one of the nation’s longest-running intercollegiate conferences dedicated to undergraduate research in the biological sciences!
đź“Ť Location: Sonoma State University, Sonoma County, California
đź“… Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
Nestled in the heart of California’s scenic wine country, just over an hour from the San Francisco Bay Area, Sonoma State University offers an inspiring setting for this exciting one-day event.
Register Here
Conference Highlights
WCBSURC provides a dynamic platform for undergraduate students to:
Present original research in biology, biochemistry, biophysics, and related fields.
Connect with peers and faculty from institutions across the West Coast and the United States who are passionate about undergraduate research in the life sciences.
Make the Most of Your Day
Since WCBSURC is a single-day event, we encourage you to plan ahead using our Conference Planner:
Browse talks and poster sessions.
Select your favorites using checkboxes.
Filter sessions by type with the dropdown menu.
Download or print your personalized schedule as a PDF.
Stay Informed
Be sure to check out our Conference Agenda, where you'll find the full Conference Booklet—including a complete list of presenters and presentation titles.
We look forward to welcoming you to a day of discovery, collaboration, and inspiration at WCBSURC 2026!
Schedule
- 7:30am-8:30am: Registration and Continental Breakfast
- 8:30am-8:45am: Welcome Remarks and Announcements
- 8:45am-10:45am: Seminar Sessions #1
- 11:00am-1:00pm: Poster Session
- 12:00pm-1:30pm: Lunch will be served at The Kitchens
- 1:30pm-3:30pm: Seminar Sessions #2
- 4:00pm-4:45pm: Keynote Address
- 4:45pm-5:45pm: Awards Reception
Live Presentations
| Session | Name | Room |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aquatic and Marine I | Alexander Valley Room |
| 2 | Aquatic and Marine II | Bennett Valley Room |
| 3 | Biochemistry and Biophysics I | Dry Creek Valley Room |
| 4 | Biochemistry and Biophysics II | Knights Valley Room |
| 5 | Cell Biology | Russian River Valley Room |
| 6 | Cell Biology and Immunology | Sonoma Valley Room |
| 7 | Ecology and Evolution | Alexander Valley Room |
| 8 | Microbiology | Bennett Valley Room |
| 9 | Molecular Biology I | Dry Creek Valley Room |
| 10 | Molecular Biology II | Knights Valley Room |
| 11 | Neurobiology | Russian River Valley Room |
| 12 | Physiology | Sonoma Valley Room |
Campus Map
Click on the map to open our interactive campus map! (Opens new page)
If you're driving to the conference, please navigate to:
Sonoma State University
1801 East Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Complimentary parking is available for all WCBSURC attendees in Parking Lots D and J—we’ve covered the cost for you. Look for posted signs on campus with directions to these lots.
Once parked, follow the signs from the parking areas to the Student Ballroom, located inside the Student Center.
We’ll have plenty of signage to guide you along the way!
Guest Information
Registration Information
Please note:
The registration deadline is January 31, 2026.
On-site registration will not be available.
Registration Fees
Students: $55/Faculty: $85
Includes:
Access to all conference sessions
Continental breakfast
Lunch and afternoon snack
Printed conference agenda
General Attendees: $85
Attendance Policy
Guests, faculty, and students who have not registered for the conference are welcome to attend the event; however, please note the following:
Food and beverages will not be provided to unregistered attendees.
In the event that a room reaches full capacity, priority will be given to registered participants. Unregistered guests may be asked to wait outside or step aside to ensure space for those who have registered.
Cancellation Policy
Refunds will not be issued for cancellations made after March 1, 2026.
Nearby Dining Options
There are several food options available on campus at Lobos, and the Wolf Den, and University Square, just a short walk from campus. Guests are encouraged to explore these local eateries during meal breaks.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!
Accommodation Options
There are nearby hotel accommodations nearby:
Doubletree Sonoma Wine Country
Please use this booking link to receive the discounted WCBSURC rate!
If you would prefer to call in your reservations, please call the Doubletree Reservations Line at (707) 584-5466 and select option (1) and provide the booking code: CDT90O
If you would rather book the reservation directly through Hilton.com, please apply Special Rates- Group Code: CDT90O
Keynote Address: Dr. Elizabeth Dahlhoff and Dr. Nathan Rank
Dr. Elizabeth Dahlhoff, a faculty member at Santa Clara University, and Dr. Nathan Rank at Sonoma State University have a decades-long collaboration, rooted in their work at SCU and SSU respectively, and the White Mountain Research Station. Their overlapping pursuits and inclusion of undergraduates beautifully exemplify the spirit of this meeting! Both Drs. Dahlhoff and Rank's research programs have long placed undergraduates at the center of discovery, whether in the laboratory or in the field. Team Beetle has provided generations of students with transformative scientific experiences through collaborative, interdisciplinary work.
WCBSURC was founded at Santa Clara University in 1976 by Dr. William Eisinger.
Elizabeth Dahlhoff
Work in my research laboratory focuses on examining physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms by which animals respond to environmental change. The fundamental questions we ask are: Why do organisms live where they live, and how do they do so? What causes populations to remain stable, grow, fluctuate in size, or go extinct? How does the physical environment, the presence predators, the genetic properties of a population and the abilities of individuals to adapt to the environment all influence their distribution and abundance? As ecosystems experience rapid climate change, it is imperative to understand and address these questions in vulnerable natural populations. The heart of this research program are the efforts of undergraduates, who work intensively in the laboratory and field as a collaborative, interdisciplinary team. Team Beetle.
Nathan Rank
I am interested in ecological interactions among plants and their herbivores and pathogens, and in the adaptive significance of genetic variation in natural populations of insects. Since 1984, I have studied populations of the leaf beetle Chrysomela aeneicollis in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, focusing first on effects of insect predators on host plant suitability, and then on population and genetic responses to thermal variation in montane populations. Most insects, including leaf beetles, are hosts to bacteria that females transmit to their offspring and that affect the metabolism and reproductive biology of their insect host. I am interested in how these bacteria contribute to adaptation to local conditions and affect interactions between the beetles and their natural enemies.
Abstract Submission and Presentation Format Guidelines
Eligibility
The primary author must be an undergraduate student. Co-authors may include other students, faculty members, or research advisors.
Abstract Requirements
Length: 250–300 words maximum. Abstracts exceeding 300 words will not be accepted.
Content: Your abstract should include a concise summary with the following elements:
- Introduction
- Objectives
- Methods
- Results
- Conclusion
Submission Format
Abstracts must be submitted as plain text via the conference submission portal.
Presentation Type
Please indicate your preferred presentation format:
- Oral presentation
- Poster presentation
- Either (if you’re open to both)
NOTE: Final presentation assignments will be determined by the review committee based on availability and scheduling considerations.
Submission Deadline - January 31, 2026
All abstracts must be received by January 31, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered.
Presentation Format Guidelines
Poster Presentations
- Poster Size: Maximum dimensions of 36 inches wide by 48 inches tall (vertical orientation).
- Materials: Pushpins will be provided at the venue.
- Presentation Time: Presenters are expected to stand by their posters during the assigned session to discuss their work and answer questions.
- Removal: Posters must be taken down immediately after the session ends.
Oral Presentations
- Time Limit: Research talks should be no longer than 10 minutes, followed by up to 5 minutes for audience questions.
- Format: Please prepare your presentation using Google Slides or PowerPoint. A projector and laptop will be provided.
FAQ's
Continental breakfast, and lunch will be provided as well as coffee and an afternoon snack. Dinner is not provided; you can check Rohnert Park or Cotati for options for dinner.
No. Registration fees are already as low as they can be.
No, once accepted to give a poster or a talk, you have to present in the format you were notified.
Yes, this is a conference for undergraduate students to present their research. You can submit your abstract from October 1st to January 31st, 2026 for consideration. You can select between poster, talk, or either.
No, please have your poster printed before the conference!
Please bring your talk already saved on a USB-A storage device. Do not bring it with a USB-C storage device as we cannot guarantee we will have adapters. Please practice your talk on a different computer other than yours, to make sure all videos, external links and pictures are working properly.
There are NO travel grants through SSU. Your research mentor can be a good resource to help you find travel grants through your school or professional societies.
You can prepare your talk on Google Slides or Power Point. Please practice your talk and make sure it is no longer than 10 minutes. You will also have 5 minutes for questions. Giving a talk is a great way to practice communicating your research and is great for your CV!
Review the conference program when available and plan your schedule ahead of time. Make sure to bring business cards (or a QR code to your LinkedIn profile), prepare an elevator pitch about your research, and familiarize yourself with the venue and transportation options.
You can register online through the conference website. Registration opens October 1st, 2025.
Talk and poster selection will be done by the conference committee, and it depends on availability. If you selected poster but we notify you that you can only give a talk, you have the option to accept or reject that, and vice versa. If you reject, then we will not be able to accommodate your research.
No, there is a fee for registration but not for abstract submission.
The posters should measure 36 inches wide by 48 inches in length (vertical posters, tall and narrow). Pushpins will be provided.
Contact conference organizers as soon as possible. Remember reimbursements are not allowed after March 1, 2026.
You have to cancel before March 1, 2026 to receive reimbursement.
Your poster cannot be larger. If your poster is larger, it will disrupt other participants, and we cannot display it.
Dress how you will feel the most confident to present. Business casual is often recommended for science conferences.
Contact the conference organizers as early as possible to discuss any special needs, so they can make the necessary arrangements to ensure your participation is smooth.
Yes, you will be able to park at SSU. A map will be provided and you will be able to follow the signs when arriving to SSU.
You will be notified about acceptance of your abstract within 10 business days from date of abstract submission.
More FAQs may be added later so don't hesitate to check the website again before sending an email.
Organizers
For more information please contact [email protected]