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Cryo-EM in Structural Biology March 2026

Course details

Course dates: March 2-6 2026

Format: Hybrid (online lectures and in-person hands-on training)

Course schedule

Training leads: Meet the trainers

Course overview

Cryo-EM in Structural Biology 2026 is part of the Wellcome/MRC-funded cryo-EM training programme. The course is aimed at students, and postdoctoral researchers who plan to use cryo-electron microscopy in their structural biology research and have little or no prior hands-on experience.

The course provides a broad introduction to both single-particle cryo-EM and cryo-electron tomography. It combines core theoretical background with practical exposure to key experimental steps, covering end-to-end workflows from sample preparation and screening through to data collection and an introductory overview of image processing.

Course format and structure

The course will run in a hybrid format over one week.

Lectures will take place remotely on Monday 2 March and Tuesday 3 March. Wednesday is reserved for travel. Practical sessions will take place in person on Thursday and Friday, with participants distributed across several partner cryo-EM facilities: ABSL (University of Leeds) eBIC (Diamond Light Source), Birkbeck College (University of London), the Midlands Regional Cryo-EM Facility (University of Leicester), and the Scottish Centre for Macromolecular Imaging (University of Glasgow).

We offer financial support for travel and accommodation to participants with limited access to funding. This support includes reimbursement of travel expenses up to £400, and accommodation for three nights in a budget hotel. Any expenses exceeding these amounts will need to be covered by the participants.

Day 1 and 2: Theory in single particle and tomography workflow covering sample preparation, data collection and data processing workflows.

Days 3: Travel day.

Day 4 and 5 : In-person practical sessions, including:

  • Sample preparation for cryo-EM and cryo-ET
  • Cryo-grid screening on Titan Krios microscopes
  • Setting up single-particle data collection and tilt-series acquisition
  • Demonstrations of data processing workflows for single-particle cryo-EM and cryo-ET

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a Master’s student, PhD student, or postdoctoral researcher who is new to the field and plans to use cryo-EM or cryo-ET as part of their research
  • Have access to cryo-EM instrumentation at their home institution or through a local facility, or have clear plans to secure such access in the near future

Organisers

The course is organised by The Astbury Biostructure Laboratory (University of Leeds) together with eBIC (Diamond light source), Midlands Regional Cryo-EM Facility (University of Leicester), Birkbeck college (University of London) and Scottish Centre for Macromolecular Imaging (University of Glasgow).

Please contact [email protected] for more information.