Events and activities for students
16–23 August 2026 in Varbergs Stadshotell, Varberg, Sweden
This international summer school brings together students and early-career researchers working at the forefront of materials science, with a strong focus on sustainability. It offers a unique opportunity to deepen your knowledge, engage with leading experts, and connect with peers from across Europe.
Who can apply?
- Master’s students in the final stage of their studies
- PhD students
- Early-stage postdoctoral researchers
What is covered?
- Accommodation and full board for all participants
- Travel costs for participants from institutions in Sweden, Germany, and Ukraine
Application requirements:
- CV
- One-page motivation letter (why you want to participate and how it supports your career)
- One reference letter
Application deadline: 31 May 2026
More information here
7th to 18th of Sep at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany, and the ILL - Institut Laue Langevin, Grenoble, France
The course is designed to be an introduction to the field of neutron scattering and covers diverse neutron scattering techniques.
This intensive program consists of:
- one week of lectures and exercises at FZJ, covering the fundamentals of neutron scattering.
- one week of hands-on training at ILL’s world-class neutron facilities, providing practical experience with neutron scattering techniques and their applications in research.
It is open to students (BSc, MSc) and early-career postdocs in physics, chemistry, materials science, biosciences, and related fields. Participation is free with accommodation (shared rooms, 2-4 people) and meals provided by JCNS.
More information hereThe EPICS Summer School 2026 takes place at the European Spallation Source ERIC in Lund, Sweden.
During the event, you will gain insights into the engineering principles underlying particle accelerators and other large-scale scientific projects. You will learn how scientists and engineers collaborate to conduct groundbreaking experiments and operate these machines with the highest level of precision. You will acquire a deep understanding of the control systems that govern big scientific projects (and some smaller ones) and have the opportunity to work on a hands-on project utilizing real scientific hardware.
Who should apply:
- Students nearing graduation who are seeking to broaden their knowledge of control systems for large-scale scientific projects.
- Professionals in science and technology who want to strengthen their knowledge of control systems, in particular with EPICS.
Registration deadline: May 31, 2026
Register here
24-28 August 2026 in Lyngby, Denmark and Lund, Sweden
Organised by the European Spallation Source (ESS), the summer school invites participants to explore the role of data throughout the entire scientific lifecycle - from proposal to publication. It provides comprehensive training across the full ESS Data Pipeline, equipping participants with the knowledge and skills needed to manage, analyse, and exploit neutron data effectively.Who should apply:
- PhD students and early-career researchers in neutron scattering or data management
- Scientists who want to master data reduction, analysis, and FAIR principles
- Data enthusiasts seeking hands-on expertise in managing experimental data, regardless of prior level of education.
Registrations close: 1 June
Register here
14th to 23rd of September at Argonne National Laboratory
Training the next generation of light source users, the National X-ray School will provide an intensive nine-day introduction to x-ray characterization. Targeted at second- and third-year graduate student who have completed most of their coursework and are beginning to define their research direction. This immersive school will feature lectures by experts from academia, industry and national laboratories and hands on experiments at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. Lectures will cover the fundamentals of X-ray interactions with matter, X-ray generation and source characteristics and the application of X-ray microscopy, spectroscopy, and diffraction methods to a range of scientific subjects.
More information here
15th to 18th of June at Sandbjerg Estate
We’re excited to share that the next edition of the Summer School on Neutron, XFEL, and Synchrotron Science will take place on 15–18 June 2026!
After the great success of previous years, we’re once again bringing together students, early‑career researchers, and leading experts for four inspiring days of talks, hands‑on workshops, and networking.
This year’s Summer School is organized jointly by the SMART ESS Lighthouse and the DNRF Center for Sustainable Energy Materials, and will be hosted at the beautiful Sandbjerg Gods near Sønderborg.
More details on the programme, registration, and practical information will be shared soon.
15 - 18 June 2026
UXSS 2026 is a week long program organized by Stanford University's PULSE Institute in collaboration with the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science at DESY in Hamburg, Germany, and Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI), Switzerland. The goal of UXSS is to disseminate information and train students and post-docs for the new opportunities in ultrafast science using X-ray Free Electron Lasers. Expert scientists will lecture on exciting scientific fields where XFEL sources are making impacts.
The core lectures cover the foundational principles and current state-of-the-art in ultrafast X-ray applications across a broad spectrum of scientific domains:
- Fundamentals of X-ray free-electron lasers
- Theory of x-ray matter interaction
- Atomic and molecular physics
- Ultrafast chemical dynamics
- Condensed matter physics
- Structural biology
- Matter in extreme conditions
Beyond the core lectures, participants will have the opportunity to bring research posters for a poster session with a welcome reception, work on a guided hands-on project to develop a mock proposal, visit the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) beamlines, and bond with colleagues on an excursion in San Francisco.
Register here
Summer Student Projects PSI Center for Neutron and Muon Sciences
Find potential summer student projects at the PSI Center for Neutron and Muon Sciences.
Check out PSI's homepage for more details.
2-29 Sept 2026 at the European Photon & Neutron Science Campus (EPN), ILL/ESRF, Grenoble, FR
The ILL/ESRF International Student Summer Programme on X-Ray and Neutron Science is aimed at undergraduate students.
It will consist of a 4-week experimental project embedded in a research group of ESRF or ILL, together with a series of introductory lectures on the principles and applications of X-ray and neutron science (magnetism, materials science, soft matter, structural biology, imaging, etc.).
Undergraduate students from a Member Country (or Scientific Associate Country) of ESRF or ILL are eligible to the Summer Programme.
The number of participants is limited to about 20. All selected participants will receive a financial support and free accommodation in Grenoble.
Register here