Young researchers flock to the ESRF User Meeting 2026

With increased participation compared to previous years, the ESRF User Meeting 2026 will serve as a platform for discussion, networking, and exchange within the synchrotron community.

The programme, which includes user-dedicated mycrosymposia and tutorials, has attracted a significant number of early-career researchers, either PhD students or postdoctoral scientists. “We have doubled the number of young scientists participating and are delighted by this trend, which shows that synchrotron-based science remains at the forefront of new research projects”, explains Gema Martínez Criado, Director of Research at the ESRF.

 With the aim of making the User Meeting more accessible and reduce financial barriers, the User Organisation has introduced early-career travel grants, with six awarded this year. “For us, it is very important that this meeting is the main forum for discussion and exchange in the ESRF User Community. We want to emphasize the active participation of young scientists,” explains Tilman Grünewald, chairperson of the User Organisation.

As a result of the large participation, the poster session will host 110 posters this year.

“We are very excited about this year’s User Meeting; we have a very complete programme with three User-Dedicated Microsymposia, a satellite-event for the battery hub, tutorials and the plenary session. We are ready to accommodate the bigger attendance thanks to a much larger marquee than in previous years”, explains Stephanie Monaco-Malbet, deputy head of the User Office and in charge of the organisation.

Text by Montserrat Capellas Espuny