The Nutrition 2026 conference was not only about presenting your work, it also brought new perspectives about building a career in nutrition science and policy. To Cristina Franco, PhD and postdoctoral student, it was also a learning experience. “I had a great discussion at the joint CPHN-MPP forum regarding funding and the importance of applying to a variety of funding opportunities, including small ones, especially as your career builds up, and to not get discouraged when something doesn’t work out.” She added that hearing about others’ funding experiences helped her by discussing lessons learned in the dynamic field of research, including a lot of trial and error.
The posters eventually come down, and the conference badges come off. But the conversations, questions, and new ideas travel home with the students. For Friedman students, taking learning beyond the classroom means bringing those experiences back to their research, their communities, and the challenges they hope to help solve next.