MSTP Retreat 2008

This year the MSTP Student Council decided against holding the retreat out of town at a lakefront hotel in Michigan or Wisconsin as done in recent years. Instead they chose to hold the retreat at the two campuses of Northwestern University on beautiful Lake Michigan. Here are a few highlights about the 2008 retreat:

1.         There will be 9 oral presentations of thesis research by the clinical phase MSTP students, 42 poster presentations (one by each graduate phase MSTP student), a faculty keynote address, an alumni keynote address, and an alumni panel on career planning during a dinner cruise on Lake Michigan.

2.         The first event of the retreat will be continental breakfast on Saturday morning beginning at 8:00 AM. We'll have lots of fun on Saturday afternoon and evening. The Evanston campus offers venues and equipment for a variety of recreational activities during the free time on Saturday afternoon (see below). Since nothing ruins the second day of a retreat more than sunburns and bug bites, we recommend that you bring sunscreen, a hat, and bug spray on Saturday.

3.         We'll conclude Saturday's session with a dinner cruise and a panel discussion on career planning with the alumni from the NIH, the University of Chicago, and Johns Hopkins University.
 
4.         As in past years, we will offer prizes for the three best oral presentations and the three best posters.

Check back here to download the brochure for the 2008 MSTP Retreat. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday and Sunday, July 26-27, 2008!!

Your 2008 Retreat Planning Committee,

For information on past MSTP retreats, click here for the 2007 retreat, here for the 2006 retreat page, here for the 2005 retreat page and here to view photos from the 2005 retreat, here for the 2004 retreat web page, here to view photos from the 2004 retreat and here for the 2003 retreat web page. You can also learn more about Northwestern MSTP Alumni speakers at MSTP retreats - Dr. Thad Stappenbeck in 2003 and Dr. Jose Florez in 2004, Dr. Neil Chi in 2005, Dr. Lucy Godley in 2006, and Dr. Todd Kuiken in 2007.

Recreational Activities at the Evanston Campus

The Henry Crown Sports Pavilion offers a 165-meter, 3-lane indoor walking/jogging track, 6 varsity grade tennis courts, 4 racquetball courts, 4 squash courts (including 2 international courts) , 3 multipurpose courts for basketball and aerobics, indoor lounge areas, outdoor sundeck and beach patio, men's and women's locker rooms with showers and saunas, Convenience Shop, and access to Northwestern’s private beach, North Beach. The Norris Aquatic Center features an Olympic-sized swimming pool (50 meters x 25 yards) with 2 movable bulkheads, a hydraulic pool lift, two 1-meter spring boards, two 3-meter springboards, 1, 3, and 5-meter platforms, and 80 degree water temperature. The Northwestern Sailing Center offers 8 laser-class sailboats (capacity - 2 maximum), 12- 420-class sailboats main/jib (capacity - 2 minimum, 3 maximum), 2-Club 420-class sailboats (capacity - 2 minimum, 3 maximum), 20-Windsurfing boards with rigs (capacity - 1 maximum), Hobie 16 Catamarans (capacity - 3 maximum), and Hobie 14 Catamarans (capacity - 2 maximum). The Lakeside Athletic Field features 8 acres of grass playing fields, 3 softball fields, 2 soccer fields, lacrosse and rugby field, and permanent seating for 300. The Combe Tennis Center offers six indoor tennis courts and the Vandy Christie Tennis Center offers 15 hard-surface outdoor tennis courts.