Early this February, the NERVLAB team had the privilege of travelling to the 2026 Lorne Proteomics Symposium. Held at Mantra Lorne along Victoria’s stunning coastline, this meeting consistently brings together leaders, innovators, and emerging researchers across the proteomics community for science by the seaside.

For me, it was especially meaningful to return to Lorne — the Lorne meetings are one of my favourite events in the conference calendar, and something I missed while overseas. There is something uniquely energising about discussing world-leading science just a few steps from the ocean, and Lorne did not disappoint - stunning blue skies, beautiful beaches, and extra-friendly locals (of the feathered variety!).

This year was particularly special as I had the privilege of attending as a Group Leader for the first time, sharing the ins and outs of scientific conferences with our Honours and PhD students who represented the lab wonderfully. Watching them step onto the conference stage, either literally or figuratively, and share their science while engaging confidently with questions from experts in the field was a proud supervisor moment to be sure! Below, they share their reflections on attending their very first scientific conference.

Reflections from the team: Aquilina Kazzi (PhD candidate) and Nikkita Maxwell (Hons student)

We just wrapped up our first conference at the Proteomics Symposium, and it honestly felt like such a big moment for both of us! As early-stage and soon-to-be PhD students (one just starting second year, the other about to begin the first), we weren’t quite sure what to expect, but the whole experience ended up being incredibly motivating.

It was great to step out of our usual routine and spend a few days immersing ourselves in the broader scientific landscape. We got to hear about new methods, exciting data, and all the creative ways people are pushing the field forward. It’s one thing to read papers, but seeing the science presented and discussed in real time hits differently.

One of the best parts was meeting other researchers, from PhD students just starting out to people with decades of experience. Everyone was welcoming and open to chatting, which made us feel much more comfortable and included than we expected for our first conference.

NIKKITA: Approaching this conference, my biggest fear came from the single word, “networking”. I knew that presenting to an audience of academics would be scary and I was a little worried about whether I would completely understand the other presentations, but nothing was as daunting as approaching strangers and talking to them. Now, I feel the people I met during this conference were the best part of the entire experience. Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed the conference and presenting my project. Having other academics introduce new perspectives for me to approach my work was fantastic. I also adored the location of the conference at Lorne. As an avid bird-watcher I was having the time of my life and I can’t wait for my next conference.

AQUILINA: I presented a poster on my work using TurboID proximity labelling to investigate the interactome of HERV proteins. I talked visitors through how the method works and why these interactions matter. It was really enjoyable explaining the project to others and seeing how interested people were. It also felt like a real step outside my comfort zone, since it was my first time presenting a poster, and I’m really glad I pushed myself to try something new. I learned so much from the experience, including learning how to talk about my work in a clearer, more engaging way and becoming more confident speaking one-on-one with researchers I hadn’t met before. Overall, it was a really valuable experience that left me feeling more confident and motivated to keep sharing my research. We left feeling inspired, grateful for the experience, and excited about continuing to grow in this area of research - looking forward to the next conference and everything we will learn along the way!