Info

Keynote & Workshop Speakers
Meet our invited speakers—leading experts sharing their latest research and tools. 
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Petra Bleeker 
University of Amsterdam
Petra Bleeker's scientific career spans both industry and academia. Her research interests are in plant defensive metabolites, specifically phloem- and trichome-based resistance in tomato to whiteflies.


Plant Physiology - SILS - University of Amsterdam

Prof. Alex Costa 
University of Milan
Alex Costa is well known within the field of Calcium imaging and signaling, employing state-of-the-art fluorescence microscopy and imaging techniques to visualize Calcium dynamics both within cells and throughout the whole plant.

Costa Alex | University of Milano Statale

                 Prof. Markus Geisler
                      University of Fribourg
Markus Geisler has a long-standing interest in the transport of the phytohormone auxin. Recently, his lab has advanced our understanding of the evolution and substrate specificity of auxin transporters.

geislerLab | Department of Biology | University of Friborg

Speaker to be determined
Workshops
Dr. Tom Schreiber
Gene editing

What you'll do:   Will be updated soon
Dr. Fabio Esteban Herrera Rocha
Using online bioinformatic tools
What you'll do:   Will be updated soon
Conference Schedule
Times and titles might change as the event approaches
Day 1 — June 10, 2026
Check-in • Welcome • Keynote • Talks • Workshop • Posters • BBQ
08:30–09:00
☀️Check-in at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry
09:00–09:30
👋Welcome & Opening Remarks                    
Prof. Dr. Alain Tissier & PhD Representatives
09:30–10:30
🌿Keynote lecture               
speaker:  Dr. Petra Bleeker 
10:30–11:00
☕ Coffee break
11:00–12:00
🌱PhD student presentations 
 3 sessions: 20 min each (15 min presentation + 5 min discussion)


12:00–13:00
🍽️ Networking Lunch
13:00–14:40 
🌱PhD student presentations 
 5 sessions: 20 min each (15 min presentation + 5 min discussion)
14:45–16:00
🧪Workshop "Gene editing"                
Speaker: Dr. Tom Schreiber
16:00–16:30
☕ Coffee break
16:30–18:00
🪧Poster session I
Group A
17:00–18:00
✨Meet the speakers
 Dr. Petra Bleeker 
18:00–21:00 +
🫕BBQ & Networking
Day 2 — June 11, 2026
Keynote • Talks • Posters • Dinner
09:00–10:00
🌿Keynote lecture               
speaker:  Prof. Alex Costa
10:00–10:20
☕ Coffee break
10:20–12:00
🌱PhD student presentations 
 5 sessions: 20 min each (15 min presentation + 5 min discussion)
12:00–13:00
🍽️ Networking Lunch
13:00–14:00
🌿Keynote lecture               
speaker:  Prof. Markus Geisler


14:00–14:20
☕ Coffee break
14:20–16:00 
🌱PhD student presentations
 5 sessions: 20 min each (15 min presentation + 5 min discussion)
16:00–17:30
🪧Poster session II
Group B
16:00–17:00
✨Meet the speakers 
 Prof. Alex Costa & Prof. Markus Geisler
17:30–18:00
🌐Vineyard Campus Tour
18:00–21:00 +
 💃Conference Dinner
Day 3 — June 12, 2026
Keynote • Talks • Workshop • Closing remarks
09:00–10:15
🧪Workshop "Using online bioinformatic tools"                
Speaker: Dr. Fabio Herrera Rocha
10:15–10:30
☕ Coffee break
10:30–11:30
🌿Keynote lecture               
speaker: TBD
11:30–12:30
🌱PhD student presentations 
 3 sessions: 20 min each (15 min presentation + 5 min discussion)
12:30–12:45
🗳️Voting Break


12:45–13:15
🏆Best Poster Awards & Closing Remarks
Our Donors:
We gratefully acknowledge the support of our generous partners without whom this event takes place