The 10th Midwest Auditory Research Conference (MARC) - The Midwest Auditory Research Conference (MARC), established in 2005, gathers auditory and vestibular
scientists, clinicians, and trainees in an inclusive, accessible, and cost-effective forum. Unlike most well-
established auditory/vestibular conferences, the MARC is intentionally low-cost to enhance opportunities for
trainees to attend, while providing a national slate of prominent keynote speakers and broad attendance from
researchers across the Midwest. The 9th MARC was held in 2022 at the University of Michigan, hosted by the
Kresge Hearing Research Institute. It was a great success with 158 in attendance, including 89 trainees. The
10th MARC will be held at NEOMED (Northeast Ohio Medical University) on June 19-21, 2025 and hosted by
the NEOMED Hearing Research Group. The conference has been extremely well-received by past attendees,
and the 10th MARC will improve upon previous iterations by incorporating suggestions from end-of-conference
surveys. The 10th MARC aims to provide a collegial and diverse forum for exchanging the latest ideas,
techniques, and results related to auditory and vestibular research, to foster collaborations, and to advance the
scientific and professional training of the next generation of researchers.
Located in the Midwest, the MARC’s proximity to a wide range of universities enables us to attract and
engage a diverse range of attendees, helping promote diversity in the field. Travel awards will be reserved for
trainees from underrepresented groups and the conference will be heavily advertised at Midwest universities
serving large, underrepresented populations. Furthermore, a Thursday evening panel discussion will focus on
career advice with an emphasis on supporting and enhancing diversity in the field, and will include
representatives from industry, academia, and federal science administration.
The conference format will include podium and poster sessions, as well as professional development and
networking opportunities. Each podium session will be anchored by a keynote speaker. Confirmed keynote
speakers include Catherine Carr, Nace Golding, Lisa Goodrich, Jeffrey Holt, Laura Hurley, Ingrid Johnsrude,
Charlie Liberman, and Dan Sanes. A Friday evening event at the Akron Art Museum will focus on translational
and clinical research and achievements in the field. At least half of the podium slots are reserved for
postdoctoral fellows, residents, and graduate students, who will be selected from the abstract submissions.
The sessions will cover a broad range of topics relevant to the NIDCD mission, ranging from molecular biology
in the cochlea to psychoacoustics and translational research, and will feature a diverse group of speakers.
Breakfast, lunch, and coffee breaks will be provided to increase the number of informal opportunities for
trainees to interact with established researchers. Outcomes will be assessed with an end-of-conference survey
that will be provided during breakfast on the final day of the meeting. All attendees will receive a digital
directory of conference participants to encourage the continuation of interactions that begin at the MARC.
