USCCN Conference 2026 – From Preservation to Innovation: Connecting Microbial Collections to Advance Science
June 18, 2026
July 31, 2026
Location
Providence, RI, USA
REGISTER NOW
About the Conference
Join us on July 31, 2026 at the Providence Convention Center (Rhode Island, USA) for the USCCN Conference “From Preservation to Innovation: Connecting Microbial Collections to Advance Science”, taking place the day before the start of Plant Health 2026, the annual meeting of the American Phytopathological Society.
This conference will bring together collections managers and users, researchers, and industry partners to:
- Share updates on USCCN past, present, and future
- Discuss current challenges and opportunities facing microbial collections
- Highlight success stories and best practices
- Explore collaborations
- Shape the path forward for a sustainable USCCN community
Important Dates
- May 1, 2026 –
Travel stipend application deadline– CLOSED - June 19, 2026 – Registration cancellation deadline (no refunds after this date)
- July 3, 2026 –
Hotel discount booking deadline– CLOSED - July 31, 2026 – Conference
Registration
Registration fees are in USD.
| Regular Fee* | On-Site Fee** | |
|---|---|---|
| Student | $125 | $150 |
| Professional | $200 | $250 |
*Regular registration available March 24 – July 28, 2026
**On-site registration July 31, 2026
Registration includes:
- Coffee breaks
- Lunch
- Networking reception
Cancellation Policy:
Full refunds available until June 19, 2026 (minus $10 of precessing fees). No refunds will be granted after this date.
Final Agenda
Friday, July 31
| Time | Topic / Talk |
|---|---|
| 8:30 AM | Registration and badge pick-up |
| 9:00 AM | Welcome, introductions and opening remarks |
| 9:15 AM | USCCN 2.0 Overview: Structure, Aims, and Progress – Dusti Gallagher, USCCN Project Manager |
| Session 1: Challenges & Opportunities with Microbial Collections | |
| Moderator: Andrew Newman, Ginkgo Bioworks | |
| 9:30 AM | From Strains to Sequences: Why Culture Collections Are the Trust Layer for AI-Ready Biology – Jonathan Jacobs, ATCC |
| 9:50 AM | From Slants to Self-Driving Freezers: Scaling Culture Collections with Automated Storage and Data Management – Ryan McCann, Ginkgo Bioworks |
| 10:10 AM | Practical Lessons from Transforming Strain Collections into Dynamic Digital R&D Assets – Thomas Roder, Abrinca Genomics |
| 10:30 AM | Learning the Language of Bacterial Genomes with Genomic Language Models – Maciej Wiatrak, University of Cambridge |
| 10:50 AM | ☕ Coffee Break & Networking |
| Session 2: Collection Success Stories | |
| Moderator: Dusti Gallagher, USCCN | |
| 11:20 AM | Panel Discussion – How collections drive measurable scientific impact Participants:
|
| 12:20 PM | Group Picture |
| 12:30 PM | 🍽 Networking Lunch |
| 1:30 PM | Keynote: George diCenzo, Queen’s University, 2025 Porter Award Winner Rhizobial Genomics and Taxonomy: An Overview of the Canadian Collection of Agricultural Soils |
| Session 3: Mobilizing Collaborations Across Collections | |
| Moderator: Victoria Knight-Connoni, ATCC | |
| 2:15 PM | Collaboration Dynamics of Culture Collections in the United States – Kirk Broders, USDA-ARS, NRRL |
| 2:35 PM | European Culture Collections: Achieving Greater Impact Through Collaboration – Matthew Ryan, CAB International |
| 2:55 PM | ☕ Coffee Break & Networking |
| Session 4: Paving the Way for the Future | |
| 3:25 PM | Session Introduction – Dusti Gallagher, USCCN |
| 3:30 PM | Community Thought Leaders Panel Discussion: The Value of Collaborations Moderator: Andrew Newman, Ginkgo Bioworks Participants:
|
| 4:15 PM | Guided Discussion & Q&A – Moderators: Rick Bennett and Kyria Boundy-Mills, USCCN Steering Committee |
| 5:00 PM | Wrap-up & Announcements – Dusti Gallagher, USCCN |
| 5:15 – 7:15 PM | 🥂 Networking Reception with Light Hors d’Oeuvres |
Practical Information
The Conference will take place at the
Rhode Island Convention Center
1 Sabin St, Providence, RI 02903, USA
Accommodation – Room Block Booking Deadline Has Passed
The conference room block and discounted conference rate are no longer available. Attendees may still be able to reserve rooms directly with hotels close to the Providence Convention Center, subject to availability.
Travel Stipend – Applications are now CLOSED
A limited number of travel stipends ($1,000 each) are available to support conference attendance.
Important: Recipients are responsible for registering for the conference, booking their travel and accommodation, and covering all other expenses upfront. The $1,000 stipend will be provided at the start of the Conference on Friday, July 31.
Eligibility & Review Criteria:
Applications will be reviewed based on career stage, relevance of work to microbial collections, and potential impact on the field.
Application Timeline:
- Applications open: March 24, 2026
- Application deadline: May 1, 2026 – 5:00 PM EDT
- Notifications: May 18, 2026
Conference Organizing Committee
- Rick Bennett, University of Kentucky
- Edward Dudley, Penn State University
- Dusti Gallagher, USCCN and Phytobiomes Alliance
- Victoria Knight-Connoni, ATCC
- Adam Newman, Ginkgo Bioworks
Questions?
For questions about registration, travel stipend, or the conference program, please contact us.
Registration