Visualising Life – Interdisciplinary Approaches to Biology

Overview

As in the previous edition, the 2026 Summer School will focus on Visualising Life. The programme will introduce students with non-biology background to the dynamic interdisciplinary world of current biology research.

Modern life science has benefitted tremendously from new technologies and concepts in physics, engineering and mathematics, while computer science has changed the way we can analyze and exploit data for new insights.

Are you eager to engage in these ideas and help shape the future of biology? Join us for an exciting 2-week course at one of the leading biology research institutions in Europe.

Course aim

The program’s aim is to provide insightful and hands-on experience in current biology methods, such as building a high-speed microscope to image developing organisms, and using machine learning to extract insightful data from the resulting complex images. EMBL group leaders and PhD students will lead theoretical lectures, complemented by experimental practicals and stimulating discussion rounds. In addition, the program offers a myriad of social activities that foster a collaborative spirit, which is a hallmark of research at EMBL.

Target group

Our programme targets advanced Bachelor and Master students from Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science searching for a graduate-level program (e.g. Master or PhD). Students should have a strong interest to work in a highly interdisciplinary environment and must be fluent in English.

Previous knowledge of biology is beneficial, but not required.

With profound thanks to the Manfred Lautenschläger-Stiftung

Scientific Organisers

Jessica Ewald

Group Leader

Ewald group

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Thomas Quail

Group Leader

Quail Group

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Alejandro Torres-Sánchez

Group Leader

Torres-Sánchez Group

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Hanh Vu

Group Leader

Vu Group

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Timo Zimmermann

Team Leader

EMBL Imaging Centre

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Matthew Benton

Developmental Biology Unit Imaging Manager

Developmental Biology Unit

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Shilpi Dhar

Predoctoral Fellow

Quail Group

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Diana Mengdesh

Predoctoral Fellow

Petridou Group

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Marina Simunovic

Predoctoral Fellow

Korbel Group

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Application

Deadline for applications: Monday 6 April 2026, 23:59 CEST.

The summer school is limited to 20 participants.

Motivation letter and CV

For selection purposes, you are required to submit a motivation letter and a CV. In order to ensure a fair and equal selection process, please refrain from adding a photo to your CV. Applications without a CV or motivation letter will not be considered.

Instructions

1. Include your relevant skills, experience and qualifications showing why you would be suitable for this summer school.
2. Explain why you would like to attend, including:

• what you can contribute
• how you think you will benefit from the summer school

Deadline for applications: Monday 6 April 2026, 23:59 CEST.

Financial support

Travel grants and fee waivers are available for the Summer School participants.

The travel grant will cover the cost of travel up to a maximum (economy tickets only).
The fee waiver will cover the cost of the registration fee.

You can apply for financial support when submitting your application.

Confirmation and Payment

Registration fee: 200 EUR

The registration fee includes:

• admission and materials
• accommodation
• local transportation
• meals and coffee breaks at EMBL Heidelberg

Payment of the registration fee will be possible only once your application has been accepted. Selection results will be notified by late April or early May.

Programme

The programme is still work in progress and the final programme for the 2026 Summer School will be confirmed later. Like in previous years, the programme will consist of a mixture of lectures given by EMBL PIs, Postdoctoral and Predoctoral Fellows, and selected visiting speakers, as well as hands-on practical sessions, tours of the facilities and more.

Week 1

Week 2

Impressions

Feedback from 2026 participants

This Summer School was one of the most important experiences of my life. It showed me how in science, and particularly in life science, collaboration between experts from different fields truly makes a difference. Given my background in Theoretical Physics and Biophysics, it was exciting to do hands-on lab work and see how the experimental side of this field works. These two weeks have certainly strengthened my desire to pursue a PhD in a biologically relevant field, and I hope to find a stimulating and high-quality environment like this one (perhaps even EMBL itself) to do so. Last but not least, the group was wonderful, as were the people who took care of us and ensured we had an unforgettable experience.

Francesco Orlandi, Italy

During this two-week stay, I gained so much scientific knowledge as well as really good life advice. As a master’s student, I am soon going to face a lot of decisions, and talking to knowledgeable people from such different backgrounds and levels really gave me a lot. Everybody was super approachable and really easy to talk to. The group of people that we were there as students was absolutely amazing, and I had the best two weeks with them. It showed me how much more there is to science and biology, and what we, as people from non-biology subjects, can do in biology and why it matters. We had the chance to listen to and discuss with people at the top of their fields and have hands-on practicals, which gave us an even deeper understanding. Thank you.

Emma Tekulová, Czechia

The EMBL Lautenschläger Summer School is an extremely unique and valuable opportunity. It hosts an open environment where genuine curiosity and interactions across all levels in academia are fostered. The fantastic organization enabled us to fully focus on connecting with one another and learning from world‑class lecturers. The program covered a wide variety of lecture topics, introducing branches of theoretical biology that I didn’t even know existed! We were also encouraged to visit many of EMBL’s amazing facilities and labs that aligned with our interests. Furthermore, we received a lot of career-related advice. I am certain this summer school is going to have lasting effects on my academic journey. This is mainly because it has confirmed my passion for interdisciplinary research in biology, but also because I have met so many inspiring people whose career path motivated me to get out of my comfort zone and to go all out to achieve my goals.

Mai Nguyen, The Netherlands

Contact

Martina Alice Candela

Administrative Trainee

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Anna Alasalmi

Programme Officer / Training & Events

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EMBL Heidelberg

Meyerhofstraße 1
69117 Heidelberg
Germany

Tel: +49 6221 387-8612
Fax: +49 6221 387-8400
Email: summerschool@embl.de