The 2007 Gordon Research Conference "Dendrites: Molecules, Structure and Function" marks the first time that this important field will have its own meeting bringing together researchers who use a variety of techniques and approaches to understand the role of dendrites in healthy brain function and in disease.

Dendrite research is an emerging, multidisciplinary field, comprising a large number of young scientists - graduate students and early postdoctoral fellows. The "Gordon Research Seminar on Dendrites" aims to integrate these young scientists more fully into the main meeting, and into the field. It will offer a stimulating and relaxed social setting for graduate students and young postdocs to get to know each other, as well as selected faculty speakers of the main meeting, and thus represents an outstanding networking opportunity. Faculty attending the GRS will be asked to act as "mentors" of the young scientists during the 2007 GRC. We hope that the symposium will serve to break the ice between graduate students, postdocs, and more established investigators attending the meeting.

The GRS will have several sessions on the Saturday and Sunday immediately before the main conference. Fifteen graduate students and postdocs will be selected to present their work in 15-minute talks (plus 10 minutes for discussion); the remainder will be expected to present a poster. Sessions will be chaired by the young postdocs that are part of the organizing committee. The poster session will be on Saturday evening, followed by a round-table discussion, in which students will have the opportunity to ask faculty participants questions on topics of their choosing. Suggested topics will include scientific issues, grantsmanship, and job searches. The purpose of these sessions is to give students and postdocs an opportunity to present their work to their peers and to faculty in the field and to get expert advice on subjects relevant to their success in the field. Thus, all faculty participating in the main conference will also be encouraged to attend the GRS.