Young Investigator Workshop
Sunday Aug 8 - Monday Aug 9
The YIW is for students working in soft matter to learn from experts and connect with peers. A theme of this event is strengthening the bridge between academia and industry.
Day 1 | participants will attend one of a selection of half-day short courses led by experts in soft matter. That afternoon, soft matter scientists, primarily from industry, will present a series of talks focused on challenges facing their industry or subfield.
Day 2 | participants will form groups of 5-6 to brainstorm ideas for addressing industry-relevant challenges in soft matter. Facilitators will help to guide these discussions. Teams will then present their ideas for feedback. A final group of teams will present their ideas to all and compete for awards.
Day 2 Alternatives | For participants not interested in forming teams to discuss industry-relevant challenges in soft matter, there will be two alternatives offered, contingent on participant interest. The first will involve organizing a squishy physics outreach event on Monday. The second will involve participating in a mock NSF-style proposal review panel.
| Time | SundayAug 8, 2027 | MondayAug 9, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 – 8:30 am | Breakfast | Breakfast |
| 8:30 – 10:00 am | Short Courses | Team Discussions with Facilitators |
| 10:00 – 10:30 am | Coffee Break | |
| 10:30 am – 12:30 pm | Round 1 Showcase; Participants and facilitators vote on finalists |
|
| 12:30 – 1:45 pm | Lunch | Lunch |
| 1:45 – 2:30 pm | Industry-focused Talks | Final Round Showcase of Team Presentations |
| 2:30 – 3:00 pm | Coffee Break | |
| 3:00 – 3:30 pm | Coffee Break | Final Round Showcase of Team Presentations |
| 3:30 – 4:00 pm | Industry-focused Talks | |
| 4:00 – 4:30 pm | Awards and Concluding Remarks | |
| 4:30 – 5:00 pm | ||
| 5:00 – 6:00 pm | Team Breakouts, Brainstorming Session |
Questions? Reach out to the YIW Chair, Ryan McGorty rmcgorty@sandiego.edu