The Plant Metabolic Engineering GRS provides a unique forum for young doctoral and post-doctoral researchers to present their work, discuss new methods, cutting edge ideas, and pre-published data, as well as to build collaborative relationships with their peers. Experienced mentors and trainee moderators will facilitate active participation in scientific discussion to allow all attendees to be engaged participants rather than spectators.
Over the last decades, plant metabolic engineering has advanced from the stepwise elucidation of individual biosynthetic pathways to the broader recognition that these pathways operate within highly interconnected metabolic networks. Advances in metabolomics, transcriptomics, genomics, and computational biology now allow to probe regulatory complexity, compartmentalization, carbon allocation, and environmental responsiveness with unprecedented resolution. A central challenge for the next generation of scientists is integrating pathway-level discoveries into predictive, network-level models that enable efficient and sustainable production of high-value natural products.
This GRS will bring together trainees working at the interface of pathway discovery, systems biology, synthetic biology, and computational modelling to explore strategies for decoding and engineering plant metabolic networks. By connecting emerging leaders across disciplines, the seminar aims to accelerate innovative approaches for resource-efficient production of future medicines, materials, and bio-based products. A career panel featuring experts from academia, industry, and publishing will provide practical guidance for navigating diverse career paths, providing attendees with valuable insights to guide the next stages of their careers.
Application Instructions
The seminar will feature approximately 10 talks and 2 poster sessions. All attendees are expected to actively participate in the GRS, either by giving an oral presentation or presenting a poster. Therefore, all applications must include an abstract.
The seminar chair will select speakers from abstracts submitted by March 7, 2027. Those applicants who are not chosen for talks and those who apply after the deadline to be considered for an oral presentation will be expected to present a poster. In order to participate, you must submit an application by the date indicated in the Application Information section above.
Program Format
Gordon Research Seminars are 2-day meetings which take place on the Saturday and Sunday just prior to the start of the associated GRC. The GRS opens with a 1-hour introductory session on Saturday afternoon, followed by a poster session, dinner and a 2-hour session in the evening. Sunday morning begins with breakfast and is followed by another 2-hour session, a second poster session, and lunch. A final 1-hour session takes place just after lunch, and the associated GRC begins later that evening.
