Events calendar: page 2

The Joint FEBS/EMBO Lecture Course ‘Physical virology: From form to function’ is taking place from 13-18 June 2027 in Sant Feliu de Guixols, Spain. The course will bring together researchers working at the interface of virology, biophysics, structural biology, chemistry, engineering, synthetic biology and computational science. It is aimed primarily at PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, while also engaging established investigators and industry scientists.

The central theme is the deeper integration of viral structure-function relationships across physical scales. The course will examine how viral architecture, mechanics and dynamics determine functional outcomes throughout infection, including receptor engagement, entry, membrane fusion, genome organization, assembly and intracellular remodelling. Particular emphasis will be placed on membranes, phase separation and emergent behaviour, highlighting how collective interactions between viral and host components generate dynamic condensates and drive membrane remodelling.

A distinctive feature of the 2027 course is the integration of computational modelling, artificial intelligence and machine learning with experimental virology. Theory, simulations and data-driven approaches will be discussed as tools for interpreting complex viral dynamics, predicting infection outcomes and guiding experimental design. The programme will feature next-generation optical, atomic-force microscopy, single-particle, single-molecule, cell-free and quantitative methods for resolving viral processes in space and time across scales.

The course will also explore synthetic and engineering approaches inspired by viruses, including protein design, bottom-up reconstitution, engineered viral systems, and virus-inspired nanostructures, delivery systems and biomolecular devices.

Lectures will be complemented by selected participant talks, poster sessions, meet-the-speaker discussions and a forward-looking round table. The residential format is designed to encourage intensive scientific exchange, interdisciplinary networking and interaction across career stages. By connecting molecular form, physical mechanisms and biological function, the course aims to train a new generation of researchers capable of addressing fundamental questions in infection biology and translating physical principles into antiviral, biomedical and biotechnological applications.

We invite you to read a FEBS Network post from a participant in the previous course, held in 2025.

Organizers: Christian Sieben, Raya Sorkin, Roger Castells-Graells

Morphogenesis, or change in the three-dimensional configuration of cells within a tissue, remains less well understood than many other aspects of biological development. Explaining morphogenesis requires looking beyond interactions within cells to interactions between cells and their organization at various spatial scales. To study the effect of cell organization on morphogenesis, we must investigate how the spatial arrangement of multiple cell lineages, their interactions, and their local extracellular and mechanical environments influence cell behavior and, ultimately, tissue-level structure. Such investigation is crucial not only for understanding development, but also for understanding how genetic changes propagate through cellular and tissue organization to generate morphological change over evolutionary timescales.

These themes will be the focus of the Joint FEBS/EMBO Lecture Course ‘Biological organization and the evolution of form’. Taking place from 22–27 August 2027 in Venice, Italy, the course continues the tradition of evo-devo summer schools in Venice that has run since 2009. We will address the following four questions:

1. How does biological organization (spatial-temporal patterns, shape, extracellular and mechanical context) impact the development of complex form and function?
2. How do we measure, model, and manipulate the organization of biological systems?
3. What are the relative contributions of genetic programs versus physical properties and interactions in the emergence of complex forms?
4. How should the above influence our understanding of the evolution of novel morphologies?

Lectures span diverse approaches (tissue mechanics, gene regulation, cell–cell interaction, evolutionary genetics), model systems, and methods (mathematical, machine learning, physics-based modelling), together with conceptual and historical perspectives.

The format is question-driven, exploratory and participatory. The programme includes participant elevator pitches, small-group journal clubs, and thematic discussion groups chosen by participants. The course is designed primarily for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, both experimental and theoretical, who are interested in conceptual problems in development and evolution. FEBS grants will be available by application to support registration costs.

Organizers: James DiFrisco, Nicole Repina, and Mihaela Pavličev

The 18th Congress of the Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB) will take place on 24–27 August 2027 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in conjunction with the 51st Annual Conference of the Malaysian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IM-MSBMB51).

Under the theme “Innovating Tomorrow, Redefining Possibilities”, the Congress will bring together researchers from around the world to explore advances in biochemistry and molecular biology, covering structural biology, molecular health and disease, biotechnology, biointelligence and sustainability.

The programme will feature plenary lectures, scientific symposia, oral and poster presentations, including a FEBS plenary lecture and symposium. A Young Scientist Programme will also take place on 21–23 August 2027.

Key dates:

• 15 January 2027: Young Scientist Programme fellowship application deadline.
• 31 March 2027: Abstract submission deadline.
• 15 April 2027: Early-bird registration deadline.

For programme details, registration and abstract submission, visit faobmb2027.com.

Organizers: Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB) and Malaysian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (MSBMB)

Deadline for applications: 31 March 2027

Mitochondria are far more than the powerhouses of the cell. These dynamic organelles are central to metabolism, signaling, stress responses, and cell fate, while their dysfunction is closely linked to ageing and disease. Rapid advances in cryo-electron microscopy and tomography, super-resolution imaging, proteomics, and functional genomics are now transforming our understanding of mitochondrial organization and function.

This Joint FEBS/EMBO Lecture Course brings together leading researchers and early-career scientists to explore mitochondrial biology from molecular structure to organismal physiology. The program spans mitochondrial biogenesis, metabolism, gene expression, dynamics and quality control, inter-organellar communication, physiology, and disease. A special focus will be the emerging structural biology of mitochondrial biogenesis, highlighting how cutting-edge imaging approaches are reshaping our understanding of respiratory chain assembly, cristae architecture, membrane remodeling, mitochondrial gene expression, and mtDNA dynamics.

True to the tradition of the course, these topics will be explored across diverse model systems, including mammals, yeast, Drosophila, plants, myxozoas, and trypanosomes, bringing together structural, molecular, cellular, physiological, and evolutionary perspectives.

Interaction is at the heart of the course. Early-career researchers will have numerous opportunities to present their work, discuss ideas with experts, and build new connections. Posters will be displayed throughout the meeting, with dedicated evening poster sessions and 1-minute flash presentations providing additional visibility.

Through Meet the PI sessions, students and postdocs can engage in focused one-to-one conversations with PIs at different career stages about science, career development, funding, and future opportunities. Participant-driven round-table discussions will provide further opportunities for open exchange on topics selected by students and postdocs themselves.

Combining cutting-edge science, active participation, mentoring, and networking, the course provides an immersive and collaborative environment for the next generation of mitochondrial researchers.

The website for this course is under construction. 

Organizers: Nina Bonekamp, Torsten Ochsenreiter