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Farewell symposium for Anne Ephrussi – Course and Conference Office

EMBL Conference

Farewell symposium for Anne Ephrussi

Overview

This conference will take place at EMBL Heidelberg.

Conference overview

This special one-day symposium to celebrate the distinguished career and many achievements of one of our most esteemed colleagues, Anne Ephrussi.

From leading EMBL’s developmental biology research unit to setting new directions for the organisation’s training offerings, Anne has made an indelible mark on European life sciences.

Anne’s academic path began at Harvard University for her undergraduate studies followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where she earned her PhD. After two postdocs – at Harvard University and the Whitehead Institute, MIT – she began her career at EMBL. In 1992, she launched her EMBL research group. Using the oskar gene as a paradigm, her team focused on understanding how RNA molecules are transported and their translation regulated in animal development, and how the germ plasm forms and induces germline formation.

Anne was actively involved in shaping EMBL’s training programmes, and in 2005, became Head of the newly created EMBL International Centre for Advanced Training (EICAT). In this role, she oversaw EMBL’s predoctoral and postdoctoral programmes, as well as EMBL’s courses and conferences. She served as Associate Dean and then Dean of the PhD Programme and was instrumental in developing what is now the EMBL Postdoctoral Programme. At the same time, she led EMBL’s Developmental Biology Unit from 2007 to 2021, whose focus she oriented towards organismal morphogenesis.

Anne’s formal accolades are numerous. She was elected to the French Académie des Sciences in 2008 and to the US Academy of Sciences in 2022. In 2023, Anne received the Society for Developmental Biology Lifetime Achievement Award, and a year later, the FEBS/EMBO Women in Science Award.

We are thrilled to bring together many of Anne’s key scientific colleagues, collaborators, and friends, for a memorable day of talks and exchange to mark her formal retirement.

Speakers

Alexander Aulehla

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Florence Besse

Institut de Biologie Valrose

France

Elena Conti

Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry

Germany

Denis Duboule

Collège de France

France

EPFL

Switzerland

Eileen Furlong

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Ruth Lehmann

MIT Department of Biology

USA

Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard

Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology

Germany

Joel Richter

University of Massachusetts Amherst

USA

Erin Schuman

Max Planck Institute for Brain Research

Germany

Gertrud Schüpbach

Princeton University

USA

Robert Singer

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

USA

Daniel St Johnston

The Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge

UK

Pavel Tomancak

Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics

Germany

Scientific organisers

Alexander Aulehla

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Jürgen Deka

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Conference organiser

Chris Stocks

Chris Stocks

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Programme

  • Please note that the programme is subject to change. Some speakers may need to join virtually to give their talk.
  • Please keep checking back as the programme is currently being updated
Day 1 – Tuesday 30 September 2025

Time (Europe/Berlin)Speaker
09:30 – 10:00Registration and light refreshments
10:00 – 10:15Opening remarks
10:15 – 10:35Speaker 1
10:35 – 10:55Speaker 2
10:55 – 11:15Speaker 3
11:15 – 11:45Coffee break
11:45 – 12:05Speaker 4
12:05 – 12:25Speaker 5
12:25 – 12:45Speaker 6
12:45 – 14:15Lunch
14:15 – 14:35Speaker 7
14:35 – 14:55Speaker 8
14:55 – 15:15Speaker 9
15:15 – 15:35Speaker 10
15:35 – 16:05Coffee break
16:05 – 16:25Speaker 11
16:25 – 16:45Speaker 12
16:45 – 17:05Speaker 13
17:05 – 17:20Closing remarks
17:20 – 18:00Pre dinner drinks
18:00 – 21:00Dinner
21:00 – 22:00After dinner drinks & farewell speeches

Practical Information

Registration fees

On-site registration is open to EMBL staff and alumni and is free of charge to attend. Registration for the onsite symposium is on a first come, first served basis and capacity is limited.

There are two types of registration:

  1. Registration to attend the symposium only – includes admission; lunch and coffee breaks
  2. Registration to attend both the symposium and symposium dinner – includes admission; lunch; coffee breaks and symposium dinner with drinks

Virtual registration is not available for this event.

Abstract submission

There will be no abstract submissions or posters for this symposium

Accommodation and travel

Accommodation is not included in the symposium registration.

As changes to events are possible, you are advised to consider booking flights, trains and hotels with flexible options and favourable cancellation conditions.

Travel information

For travel information, please see here.

If you are travelling to the conference within Germany then you are eligible for the Deutsche Bahn ‘Event Ticket’ (called the ‘Veranstaltungsticket’ in German). This will result in a lower ticket price if your travel distance to Heidelberg is more than 100 km. You need to provide proof of your event attendance when purchasing the ticket.

For more information in English see here or in German see here.

You can book your ticket here.

Further details

Address: EMBL, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.

For more information about accommodation and travel, please refer to the FAQ page.

On-site information

Catering

Please wear your badge at all times when serving yourself.

No food or drinks are allowed in the auditorium.

Charging lockers

There are lockers available next to the stairs leading down into the Auditorium. You will find some of those equipped with sockets to charge your smartphone/tablet etc.

Electricity and charging station

In most places the electricity is 220 volts AC (50 cycles). An adaptor and a plug that fits the German socket may be needed for your appliances/laptop (i.e. American, Japanese, etc.). A USB charging station for electronic devices is available at the registration desk.

EMBL merchandise

If you are interested in purchasing EMBL merchandise (products presented in the glass display in the registration area), please email the EMBL shop to place an order or get in contact with your Course Organiser.

Kindly note the EMBL shop is only open upon request and all purchases must be made in cash (Euros only).

Health and safety notes

Do not smoke in any EMBL building.
Eating and drinking is prohibited in the Auditorium and all laboratories.
Do not enter any restricted areas or the laboratories unless instructed to do so.

If first aid is required …

  • The first aid room is located next to the ATC Registration Desk (room 10- 205).
  • Dial the Emergency number 222 from any EMBL internal phone only.
  • Where is the accident? What happened? How many injured?
  • Emergency number 06221-387 7821 from mobile phones.
  • Please report all accidents to the conference officer at the registration desk.

In case of fire …

  • Press the nearest fire alarm button or the Emergency number 222 from any internal phone.
  • A loud fire alarm will go off if an evacuation is required. On hearing the alarm leave the building immediately following the escape route and fire wardens and head to one of the meeting points
  • Do not use the lifts.

Beyond first aid…

Please remember to bring your own medication, if needed, to the conference. Note that the next pharmacy is a 4-minute drive from the EMBL, but for many medications you will be required to see a doctor to get a prescription.

Ensure in advance that your medical insurance will cover you during your visit in the event that you do need to see a doctor while in Heidelberg. In any case, the EMBL Course and Conference Office will assist you to get to the pharmacy and a doctor of your choice if necessary.

Internet

Wi-Fi is available on campus using the EMBL-Events network and the event specific password, which will be provided on site. The eduroam network (secure, worldwide roaming access service developed for the international research and education community) is also available.

Lost and found

‘’Lost and Found’’ items are kept at the registration desk until the end of the conference.

Luggage

There are lockers available on-site to store your luggage, which require a 2 EURO coin to operate. There is another luggage room on level E0, which is free to use but remains unlocked during the conference.

Nursing room

There is a nursing room available in the ATC Rooftop Lounge on level A29.

Photography

During the conference, an EMBL Photographer may be taking photos. If you would not like to appear in these, please inform the photographer or a member of the Course and Conference Office.

Printing

We can help to print your boarding pass/train ticket. Please send it to events@embl.de and collect your print-outs at the registration desk.

Room for prayer, yoga and meditation

There is a room for prayer, meditation and yoga located on level E0 behind the Auditorium. Please be respectful of others using the room.

Sightseeing

A variety of activities in Heidelberg can be found on the website of Heidelberg Marketing.

Travel to and from the venue

There is the public bus 39A that serves the EMBL campus and taxis can be easily booked at any time. More detailed information on travelling to EMBL can be found on our Travel Information page.

Useful German expressions

HelloHallo
GoodbyeAuf Wiedersehen (formal)
Tschüss (informal)
Good morningGuten Morgen
Good afternoonGuten Tag
Good eveningGuten Abend
Good nightGute Nacht
I’m sorryEs tut mir leid
Excuse me…Entschuldigen Sie
How are you?Wie gehts?
I’m fine thanks. And you?Mir geht es gut , danke. Und Dir/Ihnen?
What is your nameWie heißen Sie? (formal)
Wie heißt Du? (informal)
My name isIch heiße…
Do you speak EnglishSprechen Sie englisch?
I don’t understandIch verstehe nicht
Please speak more slowlyKönnen Sie bitte langsamer sprechen
Thank youDankeschön
Where is the toilet?Wo ist die Toilette?
Please call me a taxiBitte rufen Sie mir ein Taxi
How do I get to….?Wie komme ich zum/zur…..?
A beer/two beers pleaseEin Bier/zwei Bier bitte
A glass of red/white wine pleaseEin Glas Rot/Weisswein bitte
The menu, pleaseDie Speisekarte, bitte
Is there a local speciality?Gibt es eine Spezialität aus dieser Gegend?
I’m vegetarianIch bin Vegetarier
It was deliciousEs war hervorragend
The bill, pleaseDie Rechnung, bitte
I have a headacheIch habe Kopfschmerzen
I have a sore throatIch habe Halsschmerzen
My stomach hurtsIch habe Magenschmerzen
I’m allergic toIch bin allergisch gegen
I need a doctor who speaks EnglishIch brauche einen Arzt, der englisch spricht

Date: 30 - 30 Sep 2025

Location: EMBL Heidelberg


Deadline(s):

Registration: 30 Aug 2025


Organisers:


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