EMBL PhD

Symposium 2026

28th EMBL PhD Symposium · Heidelberg, Germany

Shifting Gears

Automation, AI, and High-Throughput Methodologies

December 2–4, 2026

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EMBL Heidelberg, Germany

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12 Invited Speakers · 3 Days

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About the Symposium

Biology at a
new scale

The 28th EMBL PhD Symposium explores how automation, high-throughput methodologies, and artificial intelligence are accelerating scientific discovery — enhancing speed, reliability, and reproducibility across biological disciplines.

Over three focused days, we bring together researchers and engineers at the frontier of scalable science: from robotic wet-lab workflows and large-scale screening to AI-driven data analysis and translational biomedical applications.

12

Invited Speakers

3

Focused Days

100+

Participants

Scaling the Experiment

Automation, Robotics & High-Throughput Methodologies

Scaling the Analysis

AI, Machine Learning & Real-Time Data Science

From Lab to World

Biomedical Engineering & Translational Applications

Invited Speakers

Invited
Speakers

All Speakers →

Day 1 — Dec 1

Jennifer Roth

Director, PRISM
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

Biomedical and cancer discovery, PRISM platform, multiplexed high-throughput chemical screening, CRISPR

Day 1 — Dec 1

Petra Dittrich

Professor of Bioanalytics
ETH Zurich

High-throughput bioanalytics and biophysics, microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip, droplet screening, artificial cell engineering

Day 1 — Dec 1

Invited Speaker — Day 1

TBA
TBA

TBA

Day 1 — Dec 1

Ross King

Professor
University of Cambridge & Chalmers University of Technology

Automated scientific discovery, robot scientists, AI for science

Day 2 — Dec 2

Giovanni Stracquadanio

Associate Professor
University of Edinburgh

AI-driven automation in synthetic and engineering biology, accelerating therapy development for rare diseases

Day 2 — Dec 2

Invited Speaker — Day 2

TBA
TBA

TBA

Day 2 — Dec 2

Invited Speaker — Day 2

TBA
TBA

TBA

Day 2 — Dec 2

Invited Speaker — Day 2

TBA
TBA

TBA

Day 3 — Dec 3

Invited Speaker — Day 3

TBA
TBA

TBA

Day 3 — Dec 3

Kerstin Howe

Head of Production Genomics, Tree of Life Programme
Wellcome Sanger Institute

Genome assembly, genome annotation, and reference genome curation

Day 3 — Dec 3

Invited Speaker — Day 3

TBA
TBA

TBA

Day 3 — Dec 3

Norbert Kraut

Senior Executive Scientist
Boehringer Ingelheim

Cancer drug discovery, precision oncology, translational research

Important Dates

Mark Your
Calendar

01

Early-Bird Registration Deadline

August 10, 2026

02

Abstract Submission Deadline

August 26, 2026

03

Abstract Selection Notification

September 16, 2026

04

On-Site Registration Deadline

October 21, 2026

05

Virtual Registration Deadline

November 25, 2026

06

Symposium Begins

December 2, 2026

Featured

07

Symposium Ends

December 4, 2026

Venue

EMBL Heidelberg

Set in the wooded hills above Heidelberg, EMBL's main campus is home to world-class research facilities and a vibrant international community. The ATC Auditorium seats 500 and provides state-of-the-art conference facilities.

→ Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117 Heidelberg

→ 15 min from Heidelberg city centre

→ On-campus accommodation available

Acknowledgements

Our Sponsors

The 28th EMBL PhD Symposium is made possible by the generous support of our institutional and industry partners.

Interested in sponsoring?

Contact us to discuss partnership opportunities for the symposium.