U2C/TL1 Ignite KUH Professional Development Retreat
U2C/TL1 Ignite KUH Professional Development Retreat
Date: Jan. 16, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Lobby and Room G101 A/B, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, 4 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, Virginia
Retreat Schedule
*All events are in Room G101 A/B, 4 Riverside Circle, unless otherwise noted
8:30 a.m.: Check-in / Coffee / Networking (Lobby, 4 Riverside Circle)
9 a.m.: Opening Remarks — Michael Friedlander, Ph.D., Executive Director, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Vice President for Health Sciences and Technology, Virginia Tech
9:10 a.m.: Keynote Speaker: Brenda Davy, Ph.D., RDN, Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise; Virginia Tech
9:50 a.m.: Break / Network / FBRI Facility Tours (Lobby)
10:25 a.m.: Stephn LaConte, Ph.D., Professor and Interim Co-director, Addiction Recovery Research Center, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute; Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Tech (Room M203, 2 Riverside Circle)
11:30 a.m.: Lunch (Provided in the Lobby)
1:40 p.m.: Mini session 1: Zhen Yan, Ph.D., Professor and Director, Center for Exercise Medicine Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC; Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech
2:05 p.m.: Mini session 2: James Smyth, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech
2:30 p.m.: Mini session 3: Roberta Freitas-Lemos, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech
2:50 p.m.: Break / Networking
3 p.m.: Lightning Round Competition
4 p.m.: Networking Reception / Closing Remarks (Lobby)