The Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program’s (KCGIP) annual Genomics in Action meeting returned for its 12th year on January 29 and 30, 2026. The flagship event, hosted by the program’s bioinformatics and genomics track, is a dynamic gathering of external and internal program partners to share the latest approaches and discoveries within the field. The meeting’s primary outcome is to jump start bioinformatics track students’ transition to the internship portion of their degree program.
This year’s event schedule included a broad range of presentations by partner institutions, companies, and alumni, that went beyond pure genomics. Some speakers made a strong case for researchers to curate their metadata for more impactful open science. Other talks this year included innovative approaches in spatial biology; cancer subtypes and human disease; therapeutic design; sequencing RNA using mass spectrometry; and understanding ancestral disparities in cancer.
Conference attendees included prospective students interested in pursuing a master’s degree through the KCGIP bioinformatics and genomics track who attended an alumni panel to hear about first-hand experiences within the program. Both days concluded with networking, which occurred during poster presentations by student project groups and other conference attendees.
A Relationship-Focused Ecosystem
By design, the alumni play a pivotal role in the program’s ecosystem. Some attended as representatives for companies that once hosted them as interns, eager to hire new colleagues from the bioinformatics track.
"As an alum, I love to attend Genomics in Action,” says John Cheney, 2022 alumni. “One powerful strength of the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program is its vast bioinformatics alumni network, one that spans more than a decade and multiple continents, both in industry and academia that all share the same origin: The University of Oregon. Connecting and reconnecting with alumni, hearing about their recent work, publications, professional achievements, new positions, promotions and successes are great causes for celebration and further strengthen the impact of our alumni network as we welcome the newest cohort as they interview and prepare to embark on their new internship opportunities.”
For bioinformatics students like Manasvi Lingampally, Genomics in Action provides a space to see how people from a variety of backgrounds approach genomics problems. “Conferences like this make the field feel dynamic and approachable, not intimidating,” notes Lingampally.
The poster sessions—showcasing the KCGIP students’ research projects—have become a centerpiece of the conference and allow students to show off their progress and engage with industry and academic partners across a variety of fields that apply bioinformatics techniques.
“Genomics in Action provides a unique opportunity to engage with exciting projects while also serving as a strong bridge for fostering professional connections and opening doors to collaboration with a diverse network of partners,” notes bioinformatics student, Dom Nhem.
A Program that Fuels Student Success
The KCGIP has a record of student success based on its strong research partnerships and exceptional career outcomes. With a historical 98% graduation rate, and most students completing their degrees within 15 to 18 months, the program continues to serve as a model for accelerated, partner-informed immersive scientific training. The Genomics in Action meeting reveals something less quantifiable: the culture of mutual support that sustains the program’s success.
“One thing I really love about Genomics in Action is the atmosphere, which I think comes from the fact that everyone here cares so much,” states Laura McKnight, KCGIP Senior Director. “This extended community buys into the model of how we do things, adding to the excitement about the amazing science being discussed. Our partners value mentoring, they care about training the next generation of scientists, and they value that our students are talented and curious. Prospective students are considering becoming a part of it, and there is a strong alumni presence because they want to continue being a part of it. I think it speaks volumes that our alumni remain so engaged, and I’m so grateful for their continued contributions.”