There are scientific conferences—and then there are the meetings that genuinely move a field forward. Yeast 2026 is shaping up to be the latter.

From cutting-edge evolutionary genetics to new directions in synthetic biology and industrial yeasts, this year’s conference will showcase the full breadth of discovery happening across the yeast research landscape. But more than that, it’s a chance to reconnect, collaborate, and drive the science further.

Science that opens new directions

Organizers Caiti Smukowski Heil and Vivien Measday are especially excited about sessions on evolutionary genetics, genomics and systems biology, life cycle biology, synthetic biology, and industrial yeasts. These areas represent both the depth and expanding scope of the field.

Expect broadly exploratory work that uses yeast to reveal fundamental biological principles, particularly at the population and systems levels. Creative combinations of genetics and evolution. Unpublished, high-quality science. Research that sparks entirely new lines of inquiry. “I’m looking forward to science that opens new directions,” says organizer Joseph Schacherer. 

And here’s the truth about yeast conferences: you often walk into a session outside your immediate focus and leave with ideas that reshape your own research. That kind of intellectual cross-pollination is part of what makes this field so dynamic.

Why you should submit an abstract

If you’re debating whether to submit—don’t overthink it. Submit by March 5!

Presenting a poster or giving a talk is the most direct way to engage with the community. For trainees especially, presenting builds confidence, sharpens your ability to explain your work clearly, and generates feedback that can meaningfully strengthen your research.

Abstract submission also ensures that the most exciting and diverse science rises to the surface. It’s how you put your work in front of an engaged audience ready to ask good questions and offer thoughtful insight.

Time and again, researchers say the same thing: conversations that begin at a poster often turn into collaborations, new experiments, or entirely new directions. If you want your work to grow, put it in the room for others to see. So, don’t wait until it’s presentation-ready, submit now.

A community unlike any other

This is a community known for generosity. Scientists share strains, reagents, protocols, and hard-won advice. New techniques are developed with the intention of spreading them widely. Researchers connect across continents and languages over a shared fascination with yeast biology.

For investigators who may run the only yeast lab at their institution, these meetings are more than professional gatherings. They are lifelines into a supportive and collaborative network.

Perhaps most importantly, yeast meetings create space for open discussion of unpublished data. That openness allows collaborations to begin early, giving labs and trainees a meaningful head start on new ideas. “I always find it amazing that I can connect with someone from another part of the world, who speaks a different language than me, over our shared interest for a particular research area of yeast,” says Measday.

Heil emphasizes how meaningful conference attendance is for long-term connections, “Attending the yeast conferences has been essential for me in becoming part of the community.” And for many long-time members of the field, there’s something special about seeing colleagues year after year, watching trainees grow into leaders, and welcoming newcomers into the fold. 

Why this year matters

In a time when collaboration, community, inspiration, and shared momentum are more important than ever, Yeast 2026 offers exactly that: a setting where rigorous science is presented seriously, feedback is thoughtful, and enthusiasm for discovery is contagious (and yes, it doesn’t hurt that the meeting takes place along the beautiful California coast.) This is a meeting you don’t want to miss.

Submit your abstract. Share your science. We’ll see you at Yeast 2026.

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