From 22–24 June 2026, around 70 PhD researchers from three Leibniz institutes gathered in Plön for the annual LCI Summer School, held at the Youth, Recreation and Education Centre Koppelsberg amid summer temperatures.
The event, which is part of the Leibniz Center for Infection (LCI) Graduate School, brought together early-career scientists from the Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV), the Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center (FZB) and the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM). The meeting once again provided a platform to discuss current advances in infection research, present individual projects and facilitate scientific exchange across institutes. The focus was on modern omics technologies and data-driven approaches to studying pathogens and their interactions with the host.
The programme combined scientific presentations with a diverse social agenda. Keynote speaker Prof. Dr. Nicole Fischer (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and LIV) opened the scientific programme with a lecture on “Metagenomics in Infectious Disease Diagnostics”. Further talks addressed viral pathogenomics, computational analyses of virus–host interactions, transcriptomics, artificial intelligence in infection biology, and multi-omics approaches to viral infection processes.
In addition, researchers from the LIV technology platform High-Throughput Sequencing & Viral Data Science held a workshop on single-cell and single-molecule epigenetics in viral infections. A second workshop, led by Dr. Thomas Otto (BNITM), focused on transcriptomics, spatial biology, and AI-driven methods in infection research.
A central element of the Summer School was the active participation of PhD researchers, who presented their work in poster sessions and speed talks. Outstanding contributions were recognised by peer voting and awarded at the end of the meeting.
The winners:
- Andrea Salvatore Albanese (LIV) – 1. Platz, Best Speed Talk
- Robert Domènech Eres (BNITM) – 2. Platz, Best Speed Talk
- Lars Frenzel (BNITM) – 3. Platz, Best Speed Talk
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Victor Alonso Meyer (BNITM) – Best Poster
The awardees of the LCI Summer School 2026. From left to right: Victor Alonso Meyer (Best Poster, BNITM), Lars Frenzel (3rd place Speed Talks, BNITM), Andrea Salvatore Albanese (1st place Speed Talks, LIV), and Robert Domènech Eres (2nd place Speed Talks, BNITM). Photo: Marina Rolf, BNITM
Beyond the scientific programme, participants had ample opportunities to network and connect informally. Participants first met in a Science Speed Dating session before continuing the evening with a campfire, music, and traditional “Stockbrot” by Lake Plön. Furthermore, a joint barbecue evening provided further opportunities to make new contacts and strengthen collaborations across the institutes.
The Summer School was organised by Gemma Villagómez (LIV), Marina Rolf (BNITM), and Silke Luckow (FZB). Scientific coordination was provided by Prof. Dr. Maya Topf and Prof. Adam Grundhoff (LIV).
About the LCI Summer School
The LCI Summer School is an annual training event of the Leibniz Center for Infection (LIV, FZB, BNITM). It is part of the structured doctoral programme of the LCI Graduate School and serves as a platform for scientific exchange, interdisciplinary networking, and the presentation of current research.
Contact
Gemma Villagómez
Leibniz Institute of Virology
Tel: +49 (0) 4048 051-125
