iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

📣 The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences @utah.edu is recruiting! We seek researchers addressing exciting questions in vision science using innovative approaches. Join our community @moraneyecenter.bsky.social! Repost and contact me with questions! utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/206...

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

It was a real joy to attend the 40th Anniversary Symposium and Celebration of the Pfeffer Lab at Stanford this past weekend. I did my undergraduate honors thesis in the Pfeffer Lab, and I’m so deeply grateful to Suzanne and everyone there who set me on the path to where I am today.

Pfeffer Lab alums who were able to attend the 40th Anniversary Symposium

With Elva Diaz, Carmen Rancaño, Christian Itin, and Kathrin Itin

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Celebrating the 2026 GRC on Visual System Development: a great meeting with exciting science and fantastic colleagues! Thanks to @jnklab.bsky.social and @flyeyelab.bsky.social for all of their work! Looking forward to planning the next one with @latorrelab.bsky.social and @macdonaldlab.bsky.social!

Some past and present Chairs and Vice Chairs of the GRC on Visual System Development (L-R): Jeremy Kay, Seth Blackshaw, Valerie Wallace, Ryan MacDonald, Nadean Brown, Bob Johnston, Kristen Kwan, Anna LaTorre, and Justin Kumar

Aforementioned folks not being so serious

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Morning in Maine for the Visual System Development GRS Day 2 and GRC Day 1

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

It was an absolute JOY to be in Vienna to see my colleague David Grunwald be awarded the @izfs.bsky.social George Streisinger Award! David gave us an inspiring reminder of who we are as a community, how we got here, and what we can accomplish when we work together. #zebrafish #EZM2026

Lila Solnica-Krezel introducing David Grunwald, the recipient of the 2026 George Streisinger Award

David telling us about George, scientific courage, and community

David reminding us what makes our zebrafish community so special

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

View from my office this morning: the upper part of the foothills are charred from a wildfire that has been burning behind the university

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Related: this previously little guy just graduated from high school

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Congratulations Skyline High School Class of 2026!!!!

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Had a fantastic time at #ARVO2026 - so much exciting science, great food, wonderful colleagues, and any form of weather you might want! I am especially honored to have been elected to the AMPC for the Retinal Cell Biology section along with @latorrelab.bsky.social!

Beautiful view of Denver from the convention center

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Had a great visit to the University of Kansas! I got to catch up with a bunch of Utah Human Genetics alums, saw the ctenophores, had Rock Choc Jayhawk at Sylas and Maddy’s, and got to bond with my brother’s cat.

Kristi, Hans, Kristen, Jason, and Allie - Utah Human Genetics everywhere!

Fantastic ice cream from Sylas and Maddy’s

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Had an absolute blast visiting the NEI yesterday! It was great to see so many fantastic people including @samerhattar.bsky.social @jeffreyafarrell.bsky.social @katwrog.bsky.social @abhinavsur.bsky.social @tmr65.bsky.social and so many more!

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Huge congratulations to Pramod Karthikeyan from the lab on winning the 2026 Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award from the University of Utah School of Medicine! Here’s Pramod in action presenting at Capitol Hill Day last month! @utah.edu @uuhsresearch.bsky.social

Picture of a student presenting his research poster to another person in the rotunda of Utah’s State Capitol

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Best kind of surprise for the weekend: an unexpected meet-up with Chase, the first PhD student from the lab!

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Tonight’s diversion: a combined performance of the Wasatch Junior High Concert Band, Skyline High School Wind Ensemble, and the Salt Lake Symphonic Winds

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

First project of the year: a hat for a friend Harlow Flip, Icy Sunset colorway from @spincycle-yarns.bsky.social @dreareneeknits.bsky.social 🧶 #knitsky

One side of a reversible hat with lots of pink, orange, yellow, and purple

Flip side of the reversible hat with prominent teal colors

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Survivorship Bias Sugar Cookies for the Human Genetics Department Holiday Baking Extravaganza

Tray full of airplane-shaped sugar cookies shaped decorated with red sprinkles

Close-up of one airplane-shaped sugar cookie decorated with red sprinkles

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

Le Pas Espagnol Op. 56, No. 6 by Fauré Super-fun performing with my son (17) despite the near-disaster of our music being blown off of the piano in the drafty recital hall - we were saved by my daughter (13)!

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Snapshots from end-of-summer travels: NYC and Woods Hole (2/2)

Woods Hole: This village runs on science

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Snapshots from end-of-summer travels: Pennsylvania (1/2)

Sunset on Gold Key Lake through the trees

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

Huge congratulations to Sarah LaPotin from the lab for winning a poster prize at #IZFC2025!!

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

The winners of the 2025 George Streisinger Award are the Course Directors of the Zebrafish Development and Genetics course at MBL, for their tremendous contributions to our amazing community for >25 years! #izfc2025

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

So very, very happy to be back in Madison for #IZFC2025!

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

Some personal news: amid everything going on, I’ve been promoted to Professor. I am so deeply grateful to all of the past and present members of the lab, who allowed me to be a part of their journey. I am so honored to call all of you my colleagues.

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Spam text messages are getting aggressive

Text message asking “Are you capable of working?”

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

Made it to the end of a long week

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

The start of the summer downtown farmers market is almost like a holiday

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

Some drinks and good company to kick off the long weekend

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

It was so awesome to have @jeffreyafarrell.bsky.social here to give a departmental seminar today!!

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

So proud of 13, who just won 3rd place in her division at the Salt Lake Piano Competition!

3 people smiling, standing in front of a piano: the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in their division at the Salt Lake Piano Competition

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Spending the weekend frantically catching up on everything after #ARVO2025, but still thinking about all of the science - and grateful for the time with friends, colleagues, and mentors from around the world