ITQB Microscopy Symposium 2026: Imaging the Cell with Photons, Electrons, and AI
Event Overview
The ITQB Microscopy Symposium 2026 brings together researchers, students and imaging specialists for two days of lectures and hands-on training, open to researchers at any career stage, and run on ITQB NOVA's imaging facilities.
Day 1 features presentations from international and local speakers covering the latest advances in optical and electron microscopy, with a particular focus on AI applications in biological imaging.
Day 2 offers practical workshops with advanced microscopy systems and computational analysis tools incorporating machine learning, giving participants hands-on experience with the latest imaging technologies.
Featured Topics
- Optical Microscopy: Advanced imaging techniques and super-resolution methods
- Electron Microscopy: Structural imaging at nanoscale resolution
- AI & Machine Learning: Computational tools for automated image analysis
- Hands-on Training: Practical workshops on the facility's microscopes
International Speakers
The symposium features 20 speakers including keynote presentations from:
- Cécile Morlot (Institut de Biologie Structurale - CNRS, France)
- Guillaume Jacquemet (Åbo Akademi University, Finland)
- Séamus Holden (University of Warwick, UK)
Our Participation
The HenriquesLab is co-organizing this major imaging event, with Ricardo Henriques presenting as a local speaker and seven lab members serving as workshop instructors:
- Ricardo Henriques, local speaker
- Estibaliz Gomez-de-Mariscal, workshop instructor
- Daria Aristova, workshop instructor
- Mario Del Rosario, workshop instructor
- Bruno Saraiva, workshop instructor
- Pedro Matos Pereira, workshop instructor
- Leonor Morgado, workshop instructor
- José Damián Martínez Reyes, workshop instructor
Our team contributes expertise in AI-driven microscopy and computational image analysis, leading hands-on training sessions that demonstrate the lab's latest tools for automated microscopy and machine learning-based image processing. The workshops are delivered in collaboration with instructors from other ITQB NOVA research groups, including the Bacterial Imaging Cluster and Biological Engineering & Microfabrication facilities.
The symposium trains younger imaging scientists and builds international collaborations in biological microscopy.
Impact
The ITQB Microscopy Symposium 2026 provides a unique platform for:
- Knowledge Exchange: Connecting researchers working on new imaging methods
- Hands-on Training: Time on microscopes most researchers rarely reach
- Collaboration Opportunities: New research partnerships between institutions
- Career Development: Networking opportunities for early-career researchers
By combining theoretical presentations with practical training, the symposium ensures participants gain both conceptual understanding and hands-on skills applicable to their research.
Registration
Registration is open via the event website.
